How many children in until you knew you were "complete"?

[anywhichwaytoo]

I have 2 happy and beautiful and healthy DC.

But I don't feel "done" or "complete".

Did you have a strong feeling of feeling 100% content when your youngest, or only, child was born?

I wonder if there's something wrong with me?! Will I always yearn for more DC even if I go on to have another one? I've always pictured myself with 3 DC...

Three, when I had two I didn't feel done. Was super broody with babies still. When I had my third I felt our family was complete didn't want anymore and I have no interest or broodiness around babies etc. Dh got the snip a couple of months after our third was born.

I knew I was done when I was in labour with the last and felt relieved that I’d never do it again.

I wanted 3 but I decided to stop at two. I made my peace with it recently and know I won't have any regrets in the future. I had my two in my mid-late 20s. Ill be 45 when youngest turns 18.

One. She is enough. No one is missing.

I'm sorry.... but I felt complete with 0 kids.
I dud have one and had a difficult pregnancy and was advised not to have any more.
I love my baby more than life itself now that I have him but I still felt complete without him... he or any siblings he might have had don't define me ...

❤️ Very sorry to hear about your beautiful boy.

I was perfectly complete and happy before I had my children; just happier now to have them in my life!

Yes, after 3. Two just wasn't enough. DH wasn't as keen but DS2 (DC no 3) is the most like DH of the DC. He's such a great member of our family, although he was the most difficult in some ways in his earlier years. No regrets at all of any kind.

Two

I do now think that there’s a dog shaped hole in the family. Under discussion!

Every woman I know wants more than she had. It’s a completely normal biological urge.

Always wanted 4 and when that little fourth one was born I knew instantly we were done. Don't regret it at all, and DC4 is incredible - she ties our whole family together.

@AledsiPad can I ask what the gap is between oldest and youngest?

I wanted two, I have two and I can say with absolute confidence that I’m sticking with two!

I find raising small children so ridiculously exhausting that there’s no way I could do it again, it feels me with dread. I always liked the idea of three (particularly as they get older) but the time, effort and cost that goes into each child is just too much. I’m 31 and my kids are 4.5 and 2, so I guess I have time to change my mind but I really don’t think I will.

Always thought we'd have two, had a terrible pregnancy with ds and a traumatic delivery and decided no more. Then 6 years later we decided to have another before it was too late, I was 34 when dd was born and was definitely done then. 43 now and peri menopausal and have never had the desire for a third. I got asked several times while pregnant with dd if we'd have another if I had another boy but I knew two was my limit and wasn't bothered either way.

1, I'm one of 4 and despite my mum being wonderful and loving I never got nearly enough parent to child time growing up, which I feel had an impact on my MH. Also grew up in my sister's shadow which I can't imagine risking putting my own child through!

@dontknowhow2help

Ahh that’s a shame. I’m one of four and no effects on my MH due to a lack of one to one. Guess the main thing for me was how secure and loved I felt, which I did . Never felt like I was in any siblings shadows and now as adults we all still get on. Tons of nieces and nephews so lots of cousins for my children.

I work in MH and I would say the living in someone else’s shadow means you didn’t feel very important. I don’t think that’s related to having 4 kids as people can feel that way even when they only have 1 sibling.

Irrespective of how many kids you have parents shouldn’t play favourite or give one child the spot light over the other.

Four. It was like flicking a switch after that. Never got broody again.