Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

If you’ve finished having children, Do you wish you had had more ?

157 replies

LovelyYellowLabrador · 14/02/2022 16:01

I sort of do
I could have sotsrted a family mid 20’s as was with dh from early 20s
But we wouldn’t have been able to do things how we wanted to if we had starters earlier

OP posts:
Mackmama · 14/02/2022 18:07

I’ve loved every minute of having my two and I’d love another, but it won’t be happening for a variety of very valid and sensible reasons, doesn’t stop me desperately yearning for one though.

Fireworksatforty · 14/02/2022 18:09

Nope I've got two and can barely cope with that many! DH has had the snip to make sure!

lifesnotaspectatorsport · 14/02/2022 18:17

I have 3 including twins, who were my second pregnancy. They're 2 now and I do have the odd pang for a squidgy newborn ... BUT I'm past 40, the chance of twins again would be high, more than 3 kids don't fit in a regular car, the cost, the sleep - no, I know I'm done. I'm happy with my three and never would have imagined having so many Grin

Anthurium · 14/02/2022 18:21

I'm a single mother by choice (IVF with a sperm donor) and recently had a baby boy aged 39 (he's almost 3 months old now). So far it's been a wonderful experience! I have 13 embryos on ice (very privileged and I'm grateful that my treatment was so successful on the first go), however I don't know if I could manage on my own 2 children although I'd love for DS to have a sibling... Plus there's another ethical dilemma what to do with the remaining embryos...

KobaniDaughters · 14/02/2022 18:26

Nope, 2 is perfect for us

HeyUpits2022 · 14/02/2022 18:44

We'd love to have had a second, but I ended up with slipped disc after DD was born, and I had countless episodes of sciatica during and after pregnancy.

I know that at my age (47) I can't have any more, and my back definitely wouldn't be up to it, but I wish we'd been able to have a second child. DD would love a brother or sister, and I feel quite sad that it won't happen.

DueyCheatemAndHow · 14/02/2022 18:44

I have a 3.5 year old and a 16 month old and feel utterly broken atm..

You couldn't pay me to go through this again. Though I'd love to replay some of the baby days.

IncompleteSenten · 14/02/2022 18:47

I have 2. I wanted 3 but my two are disabled and we felt it would be unfair on them to bring a third child into the family instead of putting all our resources into them.

It was and is painful but it was the right decision

Dinotruxagain · 14/02/2022 18:50

Not at all. DS was a wonderful baby but by heck he was hard work as a toddler.
We did consider another at about the 18 month mark but I'm really glad we stuck with just 1.
I'm nearing 40 and I really don't have the patience nor energy to start all the baby stuff again.
I do however love a squeeze of a newborn when my friends have had theirs but the best bit is handing them back to their parents!

Gowithme · 14/02/2022 18:51

I have one and it's perfect, I have never wanted another. We do so much and can give him so many opportunities because he's an only. He loves being an only fortunately.

IsItTooHotInHere · 14/02/2022 18:51

I was 22, husband 23, when our 1st was born. 2nd son 2 1/2 years later. Husband had a vasectomy at 27. (We're in our 60s now) Life has been good, with the 2 kids

Skeam · 14/02/2022 18:54

No, the one I have is plenty for me, and fabulous.

Ginger1982 · 14/02/2022 19:04

Would have liked two, but was only medically able to have one. I'm really embracing our little triangle family now.

Cofifeefee · 14/02/2022 19:05

I never had a number in my head for how many children I wanted. Turned out we went through years of infertility and were very fortunate to have one dc. Although I feel pangs for dc not having a sibling relationship, I have never wanted a second one.

Christmas1988 · 14/02/2022 19:07

I have two, I’d love another but financially it’s too difficult with the cost of putting two children through university, 2 lots of driving lessons and two house deposits in the future we couldn’t afford another, paying two lots of the above will be enough without adding a third to the mix.

didihearthatright123456 · 14/02/2022 19:08

Mmmm I’m going to say no, but with a caveat that if I’d been younger I might have liked a 3rd. I was 39 when I had my now 3 year old twins, as much as I adore them I do miss the baby stage and I think I grieved a normal pregnancy and that one on one time when you have a singleton.

RishiRich · 14/02/2022 19:14

No. I have 2 and felt broody for a few years afterwards but am now quite happy to cuddle friends' babies and hand them back. I like sleep, peace and time to do my own things.

Dyep · 14/02/2022 19:15

I have 3. My husband would love as many as we can but 1 more for me and I will be done. If it doesn’t happen, I am more than happy with 3. 3 was our least number.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 14/02/2022 19:17

Nope! Love my 2 but I never ever want any more children!!! Babies are lovely- children are demanding, difficult, time consuming- I don’t really get how people survive with more than 2 children without sacrificing aspects of childhood- ie. extra curricular activities, time for home work etc.

RoastedFerret · 14/02/2022 19:18

No. I have 2 that are early teens now. I wanted 2 and am happy with how it turned out. I had mine in my early 20s so could still probably have more if I want but I'm so done with the baby/young child stage and can't imagine ever going back.

BeanyBops · 14/02/2022 19:25

I have one and thats enough for me! Took me a little while to feel comfortable with that but I absolutely never want to revisit those horrendous early days. I absolutely hated it and will not be doing it again. Im a good mum to one but I feel like I'm at capacity now.

More dogs, on the other hand...

Frazzled2207 · 14/02/2022 19:26

Not really. Two was more than enougg

That said I had sons and part of me would love to have a dd. But I don’t want three children!

apprenticewage · 14/02/2022 19:29

No way!! I am very happy with two...it's definitely enough for me. I knew literally the second my second was born!

BitterTits · 14/02/2022 19:29

Nope. My two are fabulous and I feel fulfilled. I will admit I don't know how I'd feel if I didn't have one of each (I shouldn't admit that).

MrsGHarrison87 · 14/02/2022 19:30

No, 4 is enough for me and I don't think my body could cope with another pregnancy. I don't get broody in the slightest. I used to love seeing newborns and they would make me want to go and have another baby and I did do that until I had 4 kids but now I'm just not interested. I'm over it.