How do you deal with broodiness when you’re done having kids?

[Giraffesandducks]

I had kids young, in my twenties. Late thirties now and not planning (rationally) to have any more. But I keep getting these waves of broodiness/longing for another baby before it’s too late!

Did anyone else have this? How did you deal with it?

Also - those who had kids young that have now grown up, please tell me about the advantages!

@Iwantacookie

Sorry to derail but 3 children by mid 20s now on 3 cats & dp says no more children or cats so what do people do in my situation slightly light hearted

Puppy?

Puppy! :)

I had a third in my late thirties!

It actually worked very well with being on mat leave while my eldest did the transition from primary to secondary. The year off work when my older children were fully aware of me being around was amazing.

The toddler goes to bed much earlier, so I still get time with the older ones. Currently she's dragged along to their social lives, but they will be pretty independent by the time she has her own, so we shouldn:t suffer too much with clashes of interests.

I'm prepared for the fact having a last teenager when I'm menopausal and struggling might be harder, but so far no regrets about listening to the screaming ovaries and having one more.

I've got an older teenager currently so thinking about going through the teen stages all over again is enough to put a quick end to broodiness, let alone remembering the sleepless nights. I've had a weird thing for a few years though where I don't actually want to have another baby in the slightest but I really miss the feel of holding/cuddling a baby, I can almost feel it physically, I really miss the particular shape/size/weight of holding a baby, makes me sound nuts though! Maybe that's why some people are into those expensive doll babies.

Whenever my ovaries twitch, I mutter the word "toddlers" until the feeling passes. It doesn't take long

My body hated pregnancy and birth in my early 30s and it's hardly likely to do a better job a decade later. Surviving the world champion tantruming toddler and the bolt was quite enough!

I like babies and 4+ though.

I dunno op, my heart says we're not done, but the big one is 5, the twins not quite 1. DH doesn't want more and the house is barely bog enough for us. It would be ridiculous.

And yet, my heart says....

My mum went through this at around 40, she used to cry every day and tell us (early teens) to ask our dad for another baby. Bloody weird time. I reminded her of it recently and she was very sheepish! But she said it was the strongest hormonal urge she ever felt.

Reminding myself of all the reasons I only want 2 dc (the environment, being able to fit in a regular car or hotel room, more money and energy for the dc I have) and the horror bits about having a baby (giving birth, establishing breastfeeding and the fact that they did not sleep).

I also got kittens.

I just think about the awfulness of the sleepless nights.

I had it for a while but my youngest is ASD and never seems to grow up so I've never needed a younger one. I also have 3 silkie chickens, cat and indoor rabbit.

I can recommend silkie chickens to the person with 3 kids and 3 cats. They are so fluffy the cat doesn't realise they are chickens.

I’m majorly broody. Have 4 kids and not physically capable of any more.
I love babies and toddlers. Friends have them and normally get my fix that way but obviously can’t get the cuddles and playing with them at the moment.

Yep, I just distract myself with a lifestyle not compatible with kids to keep reminding myself. My dp might go for it if he knew but my kids would kill me,

@daydreams @dancewithme
No dogs I cant be doing with them.

I have a two-pronged approach - got a dog, which is almost as much trouble as a toddler but without the tantrums, and then help with the littlies at Sunday School - after an hour or so with the 2-4 year olds I am exhausted and desperate to go back to having a teenager who spends most of her time quietly in her room!

[quote Iwantacookie]**@daydreams* @dancewithme*
No dogs I cant be doing with them.[/quote]
You'll have to get a horse then cookie