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AIBU?

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AIBU to feel unsure about continuing an unexpected third pregnancy?

162 replies

Turtleseas · 16/09/2026 17:37

My husband had some medical treatment which at that time, the doctor said would make most people infertile, we stopped contraception but two years later, I unexpectedly found I’m pregnant. We already have two primary school aged children. I really don’t know if I should carry on with the pregnancy or give it up.

Financially, we are in the process of moving houses. We will spend next three years building our dream house, so the cash flow will be tight for the next couple of years. We will ultimately have enough bedrooms but not for two/three years. We have big enough cars. Both our children go to private school, but we don’t think we can afford the third child’s school fees. DH suggested taking children out of private school and send all three to state school if we have the third baby, I feel very reluctant about that.

Travel is another thing. We go travel a lot, normally a luxury holiday every year and then several package holidays. Annual travel cost is about 40k to 50k. As a lot of hotel rooms don’t accommodate 2 adults 3 children, having a third baby means booking an extra room or suite. The travel cost will at be doubled, we will need to either book cheaper holidays or have less holidays.

We have almost zero family help. So previously we paid for nannies and babysitters to go through the difficult baby times. With a new baby, we will need some form of paid help to start with, but my main worry is once baby turn two and has his/her own needs, we just won’t have enough helping hands to sort out all the logistics.

We do spend a lot of time with our children. One of them needs some extra support. At the moment we can still handle all the bills from doctor appointments and therapy sessions. NHS waiting time is like one year and they won’t provide therapies to kids who go to independent school. So we have to pick up expensive bills. At home support is also very important apart from specialist therapies. So I also worry with a new baby we won’t have enough time and energy for my current children. Or even worse, what if the new baby also had special needs?

So sensibly we feel our current family is complete. The children live a happy and luxury life. Having another sibling might mean less going out, less holidays, less attention from parents or even changing schools for them. But termination is also the most difficult decision that a woman could ever make.

OP posts:
RobertaFirmino · 16/09/2026 19:16

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Abortion cannot be used as contraception. How does abortion prevent conception? You need to have conceived in order to have one, you daft article.

The correct term is birth control.

Bogstandardname · 16/09/2026 19:14

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RobertaFirmino · 16/09/2026 19:13

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Flush away? Oh don't be so melodramatic.

Why should a termination be justified anyway?

Bitsostuff · 16/09/2026 19:13

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Not wanting to continue a pregnancy is a very valid reason for termination.

Skibididoo · 16/09/2026 19:13

It sounds as if you definitely don’t want this baby and your DH is perhaps more on board with it.

FrankAbagnalesLies · 16/09/2026 19:12

OP AIBU is not really the place for this. You can report your post so MN can move it.

I highly recommend non-directive pregnancy choices counseling to help you make up your mind. But you wouldn't be alone, it's not uncommon to terminate after having children for a myriad of reasons.

NoWordForFluffy · 16/09/2026 19:11

It isn't a child yet. No woman should be forced to have a baby she doesn't want, even if other people may find her reasons 'superficial'. It's not anybody else's choice to make.

OsfameronTanamoril · 16/09/2026 19:10

Bogstandardname · 16/09/2026 18:53

This is not a family struggling for money, a teenager or rape victim. They are worried about giving up a couple of holidays for a few years. Priorities - do I give up a holiday or terminate baby number 3?

Women can terminate for ANY reason they want. I would certainly terminate for more holidays because I don't think termination is a sin, and I don't need to be a teen or a rape victim to terminate.

Bogstandardname · 16/09/2026 19:07

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BelleEpoque27 · 16/09/2026 19:03

Bogstandardname · 16/09/2026 18:11

That is an appalling attitude.

Why? No woman should have to have a baby she doesn't want, particularly when it's very early on.

Strokethefurrywall · 16/09/2026 19:02

Bogstandardname · 16/09/2026 18:53

This is not a family struggling for money, a teenager or rape victim. They are worried about giving up a couple of holidays for a few years. Priorities - do I give up a holiday or terminate baby number 3?

Wait, so only people struggling for money, teenage or rape victims should be terminating? Utter rubbish.

I’d say that OP has more than “holidays” as the reason:

  • in middle of building a house
  • one child with additional needs
  • no family support around
  • unsteady finances for next few years
  • would need to move children from their school(s) to accommodate 3rd

It matters not that any of these reasons are determined to be “selfish” or not, lifestyle change for everyone in the family is as valid as any other.

Bitsostuff · 16/09/2026 18:56

Bogstandardname · 16/09/2026 18:53

This is not a family struggling for money, a teenager or rape victim. They are worried about giving up a couple of holidays for a few years. Priorities - do I give up a holiday or terminate baby number 3?

That's only really relevant if you're sometimes in favour of forced birth. The right to choose doesn't hinge on wealth or circumstance, not wanting a pregnancy for any reason is enough.

Bogstandardname · 16/09/2026 18:53

This is not a family struggling for money, a teenager or rape victim. They are worried about giving up a couple of holidays for a few years. Priorities - do I give up a holiday or terminate baby number 3?

Bitsostuff · 16/09/2026 18:49

Whyhaveibeencutoutofmamsnot · 16/09/2026 18:26

Think ahead twenty years - will you regret disposing of this child. You can simplify your holidays and use the cash for school fees.
My children of primary school age adored their baby sibling and they are still good friends.

How can you possibly know how the OP will feel in 20 years? Far better to regret an termination than a live birth.

Darkdiamond · 16/09/2026 18:43

Timeforachange26 · 16/09/2026 18:35

Not really. Why should anyone have to have a child that will make their life( and the lives of current children) worse?

In fairness, OP's mention of their older child asking where they will go on holiday and that she wouldn't know how to tell them they've had to downgrade from a 50k holiday doesnt make me think the children will be much 'worse'. And again, I say that as someone who travels a lot and has three children.

Timeforachange26 · 16/09/2026 18:35

Bogstandardname · 16/09/2026 18:11

That is an appalling attitude.

Not really. Why should anyone have to have a child that will make their life( and the lives of current children) worse?

Whyhaveibeencutoutofmamsnot · 16/09/2026 18:26

Think ahead twenty years - will you regret disposing of this child. You can simplify your holidays and use the cash for school fees.
My children of primary school age adored their baby sibling and they are still good friends.

Turtleseas · 16/09/2026 18:22

Random321 · 16/09/2026 18:12

Don't have a 3rd if you don't want to but to spend £40k-50k on holidays doesn't mean you can't afford another child or private school. It's completely disingenous.

If we have some financial wobbles we don’t have to spend that much on holidays. Because last few years we were quite fortunate so we did splash a bit. But sending a child to private school is a commitment for years, at least now I can’t see a stable enough cash flow for that.

OP posts:
Anon112345 · 16/09/2026 18:17

Posting anon. I am currently pregnant with our 3rd, an unplanned surprise and we are also in the process of moving house. I had all the same reservations as you, and it took me ages to get my head around it all. We have a bigger gap between 1 and 2 and less than 2.5 with 2 and 3. I've continued the pregnancy and now I've adapted to it mentally, I am super happy. We had been on the fence about number 3, and it was more to do with stretching our capacity too far and changing the potential financial support/holidays and experiences we could offer the other two but truly now I've imagined a future with the three I know it's the right choice for us and we will figure out all the other bits along the way. Best of luck with whatever decision you come to

Ponderingwindow · 16/09/2026 18:15

Just not wanting your life to change is a good enough reason not to have another child.

As long as you as a couple take serious measures to make sure you don’t end up in this same position again, you should feel no guilt about whatever decision you make.

Random321 · 16/09/2026 18:12

Don't have a 3rd if you don't want to but to spend £40k-50k on holidays doesn't mean you can't afford another child or private school. It's completely disingenous.

LVPLVT · 16/09/2026 18:12

Just have the baby and figure it out as and when. If your existing children grow up to resent their sibling because they got less holidays, they would need to give their head a wobble.

Bogstandardname · 16/09/2026 18:11

Timeforachange26 · 16/09/2026 18:07

Just not wanting a change of lifestyle is a perfectly good reason to terminate

That is an appalling attitude.

Bogstandardname · 16/09/2026 18:10

There will only be resentment if you lay the blame for fewer holidays on the new baby. It will be up to you how you handle situations. Your children will take their lead from you.

idontknow54789 · 16/09/2026 18:09

I had a planned third when other two were 4 and 6. I have to say it’s tough - having a toddler when the other two are much easier is difficult. I feel like I’m missing this time particularly with my eldest who would like to do more interesting things now rather than just playgrounds or soft plays which is all I can manage with the age gap.

We also like to travel and this hasn’t put too much of a stop. Plenty of hotel rooms can fit three but we prefer apartments/villas these days anyway to give the older ones more space.

they do absolutely adore him though and seeing their relationship has been amazing.