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AMA
Original poster

I have five children AMA

57 replies

JacintaJones · 12/07/2018 19:33

Ask me anything 😊

OP posts:
fivelittlethings · 12/07/2018 20:15

I also have five children ages 14,12,8,7 and 3 Smile

thereareflowersinmygarden · 12/07/2018 20:16

Spare time????

Hedgehog80 · 12/07/2018 20:17

My dc are 16,11,8,6 and 6 months

Original poster
JacintaJones · 12/07/2018 20:22

I don't know how I cope, I suppose five children is my reality so I don't compare myself to those with none/less.

As for affording it I have a good career, a low mortgage in the North West and a generous mum 😊

I don't know why the environmental impact doesn't bother me. Honestly if the UK birth rate was higher I may be more inclined to worry.
I don't think my children are disadvantaged materially by their siblings, certainly I would worry less about money if I had less children and I would have more savings but my children currently have the same things their peers do.

I have a people carrier, holidays are fine but yes, very expensive and necessitate a babysitter on occasion. We usually holiday with family/friends amd OH and I get a couple of city breaks per year.

Housework is the bane of my existence ditto laundry.

Best of luck Birthday!

OP posts:
Hedgehog80 · 12/07/2018 20:26

Don’t know about the OP but we have to be quite strict with schedules for things like 1:1 time, family time, time as a couple and also to keep on top of the housework. There’s not much spontaneity!

Original poster
JacintaJones · 12/07/2018 20:27

As for individual attention my mum babysits so we can take each child out on dates to the cinema or for dinner on their own, I also do 'girls' days and 'boys' days, time with the elder two on activities and the younger two at soft play etc.
They aren't all together all the time but time as a family is important too.

They all get along.
They bicker but don't fight or name call. I'm reliably told that bickering is 'normal' Grin

Spare time?
I get to read books and drink wine, is that what you mean?

OP posts:
Original poster
JacintaJones · 12/07/2018 20:31

Agreed Hedgehog although sometimes the house goes to shit in the interests of spontaneity

OP posts:
BirthdayKake · 12/07/2018 20:31

Thank you!

Yy to reading books and drinking wine

Original poster
JacintaJones · 12/07/2018 20:35

I wouldn't comment negatively on one child families.
I was very privileged but very lonely, however I know other only children who wouldn't change a thing about their childhood.

However, I think I'd be naive to pretend it didn't inform my choice to have a relatively large family.

OP posts:
Original poster
JacintaJones · 12/07/2018 20:41

No more, I'm sterilised as four were c section.
Otherwise yes, perhaps one more.

OP posts:
Hedgehog80 · 12/07/2018 20:55

I was sterilised with number 4 as well.......
Changed my mind straight after. IVF and then a reversal to have number 5

Hedgehog80 · 12/07/2018 20:55

All 5 were c sections

PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 12/07/2018 20:58

Sorry to keep pelting questions and invasive ones but which 4 were CS, for what reason and how the feck did you cope recovering with your children needing you?

Again I pry as a) 2 CS’ for failure to progress, I’m scared number 2 has fucked my insides a bit and fear a third may mean no more babies and b) number two took ages to heal from I think as I was dealing with 20mo DD too much

Original poster
JacintaJones · 12/07/2018 21:03

First was keillands forceps as I was a stupid twenty two year old who believed the NCT class bollocks and refused a c section after 24 hours active labour.
Cue syntocinon as I wasn't dilating and DS was a posterior lie.
The consultant implored me to have a section and I should have listened to him.
I learned my lesson and last four were elective sections.

Wow Hedgehog I'm so pleased you got your fifth DC after all of that!
Are you done now or planning six at any point?

OP posts:
Original poster
JacintaJones · 12/07/2018 21:06

Oh sorry I healed very well from all sections and as OH is a sahp he was always around to attend to the DC if I couldn't.
I appreciate its wildly different if your partner gets two weeks PL.

OP posts:
PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 12/07/2018 21:08

Wowers @JacintaJones I don’t blame you for having the last four as electives!

Hedgehog80 · 12/07/2018 21:11

I’m done ! Feel like I really and truly have pushed my body to its limit. Had HG in 4/5 pregnancies.
Recovery was v v easy after c section 5 and the surgeon said barely any scar tissue so although they’d never advise any more if I wanted to I could. I had placenta accretion with my second and fourth though so feel that my youngest is a blessing and that I was also v v lucky as it was a risk to take. I’m just enjoying him he’s wonderful I think to have another would take some of that away I waited so long for him I want to make the most of this and by the time id be considering about another I think I’d be too old !!! I tend to have quite big gaps between babies

Hedgehog80 · 12/07/2018 21:12

*accreta

Original poster
JacintaJones · 12/07/2018 21:16

PHSG I hope everything works out for you, perhaps have a large gap if you have time on your side and a chat with a consultant at your mat unit.
May help to allay your anxieties. I hope so, best of luck.

OP posts:
PaulHollywoodsSexGut · 12/07/2018 21:16

Five sections @hedgehog80 - you’re a tough cookie. I was really buggered after #2!

Moominfan · 12/07/2018 21:17

How much me time do you get?

Original poster
JacintaJones · 12/07/2018 21:18

Hedgehog I understand your sentiments entirely.
I too feel so very fortunate to have five healthy, happy children.
I think any more would have been pushing my luck too.
Enjoy your last baby, I'm finding it bittersweet and still dressing him in babygros at nineteen months Blush

OP posts:
HeyDolly · 12/07/2018 21:22

Do you secretly have a favourite?

Original poster
JacintaJones · 12/07/2018 21:22

I honestly don't know about 'me time'

I can MN, read, sit in my hot tub and drink wine once they're all asleep, get a facial, go out with my OH and with my friends every couple of weeks.

I suppose that's enough for me.

OP posts:
Hedgehog80 · 12/07/2018 21:23

It really is bittersweet I sobbed walking out of hospital with him. A combination of tears of elation after the years of hell being so depressed and desperate for another and the feeling that omg this is it the last time