If you have 3 children..

[AnxietyForever]

How did you know you wanted a 3rd?
I have 2 DS, a 5 year old and 1 year old, I mean if number 2 was a girl I think I would have been content with just the 2, however I feel like I cannot rule out a 3rd and it's on my mind.
I suppose I would be fine with another boy but a girl would also be lovely and complete the family.
What were your reasons for having 3 or more?

I didn't have any fixed ideas about how many kids I wanted. We only decided on a third when we'd got the hang of two.

I always wanted two, close in age, same sex. I even it noted it in an A level essay. While I was being sewn up after my failed VBAC with ds2, shortly before Ds1’s 2nd Birthday I thought ‘next time, I’ll go straight for a planned c/s’

I spent over three years thinking the feeling would pass. Ds3 was born shortly before ds2’s 4th Birthday. They are 15, 13 & 9 now & they are an absolute joy.

3 was a surprise and I was thrilled. I would have a dozen if I could. Ages are 11, 9 and 6 and I've never though it was mayhem at all. We all get along great, they're always playing together and it's just wonderful. A third does make a big difference in some ways and yet makes no difference at all in others. If you can handle two, three is a breeze too.

I knew I wanted a third whilst still in hospital with my second. We don’t have the space and we can’t really afford it but we are still “seeing what happens”. Luckily have one of each so a third will be a bonus

I have a almost 19yr old daughter a 10yr old son and a 2yr old daughter big age gaps and recently been thinking I want another baby as never had 2 that's close together that would be lovely, but my youngest is a nightmare she sleeps in my bed and wakes up still through the night for bottle of juice so I think baby number 4 is out of the question

I wanted 6 -yeah I know I was young and daft Then had the first, changed my mind, then along came boy number 2 and thought I was done, but broody old me wanted a dd so we have three. After that I was fully done, not even broody.

We just knew we did. Had 2 DS and we had a third DS. DH would go for a fourth if I really had the urge to try for a girl (or a boy) but I’m happy with my lot and our family is complete.

I knew the moment DC2 was born that I wanted a third. Think hard though, three is intense and I have much less time for the older 2 (but DC3 is only 1). Cannot imagine a world without my baby DS, though.

As soon as I was pregnant with my first I knew I'd have 3 children. It never felt complete until I had number 3 then I knew for sure we were complete.

I knew I wanted a third whilst still in hospital with my second. We don’t have the space and we can’t really afford it but we are still “seeing what happens”. Luckily have one of each so a third will be a bonus

Was totally done after 2. Then when middle DD was starting school I realised I wasn’t quite done. Love being a family with three DDs.

I'm watching with interest. I knew before I was out of theatre after CS2 that I wanted another. Now I have a 3.5 and almost 1 year old I'm starting to think 2 is all I can cope with.

DS2 and DC was a monumental shock
At one point there was a 3.5 and 21 month and a newborn.

I nearly lost the plot, but they are their own little family and so precious so something is going well

I didn't always want 3, but when number 2 was three years old we decided to try. 2 children is very easy, neat and simple. 3 is far more work, but it's more a way of life. 2 is neat and can be fitted around jobs easily, 3 is a different ball game, it seems to take over! But it's so much fun. Occasions always feel so special and vibrant. And the dynamic between the 3 of them is lovely.

We have 3 DD. I got pregnant accidentally 1.5yrs after DD2, I was really upset, we weren't planning on anymore children but I miscarried at 10 weeks.
We decided after that that we did want to try for another-so along came DD3. She was the game changer to my (badly organised) life plan. Definitely completes our unit. But now I am done!

Always wanted 3, thought I’d have them all by my mid 20s when I thought that was old!

It is mayhem but I like it that way!

Won’t plan another but it won’t be a disaster if it happens.

I’d always thought 3 would be perfect, but had the more sensible idea to see how things went. I had the first 2 with a small gap (18months) and got severe PND with DS2 so was less sure about having another. Husband was a bit more sure as we had 2 boys and he would like a girl, I didn’t care about the sexes of kids. There was a period of about a week when I thought it was a good idea to have another before I changed my mind again, and yup I got pregnant in that week. I’m glad it happened though, DD3 is lovely.

Life is completely chaotic though and it is “easier” with 2, definitely. Once I’d had DD3 I was absolutely steadfastly adamant that was it. 3 is the absolute limit of children I can cope with!

It’s carnage.

I have 3. There’s nearly a 6 year gap between my first and second so I always knew that if we had a number 2, I’d want a number 3 so they had a buddy. There’s 18 months between 2 and 3. They’re both girls. It is lovely but at the same time everything is so difficult. If there had been less of a gap between 1 and 2 I would have stopped at 2 though.

I didn't, went for a second and got twins.

@kma80 I think is DC3 was a better sleeper then number 4 would have been a possibility.

She’s 2 now and is still up all night partying- except now she wakes her sister up to join in the fun 😩

The biggest thing I would say is don't do it because you want a girl OR because you want a third baby - do it because you want a 3rd child.

I have 4 and would love more babies but know that we don't have capacity for more children as they grow. With 2 DCs we did... And then we got a surprise bonus 4th!

I wanted 3 boys, I had 3 boys. They are 24,22 and 20. I’ve had the most amazing time with them. 3 is the magic number for me.

As mentioned upthread I have 5 now but I will say op that the leap from 2 to 3 was the toughest.

For me it was someone saying "when you are done you know you are done" and realising I wasn't. I spoke to so many people and without question anyone who contemplated a third and didn't do it regretted it. For me I didn't want to look back and had regrets. Best thing I ever did! I had two girls and thought I would have a third girl so it wasn't about having a boy- but I did and I love having three.