AIBU?
AIBU to have a full time nanny if I have a 3rd child, and for that to be a condition of having a 3rd?
TattyDevine · 04/05/2013 18:33
Curious what others think.
On the face of it, I know it makes me sound like a decadent cow, which is not the end of the world.
But here's the history - I have 2 children, aged 3 and 5, love them to bits, a boy and a girl (irrelevant). I had 2 bloody awful pregnancies; pre-eclampsia with both, and placenta praevia with the 2nd. I would be having a C-section if I were to have any more babies. Barely slept for the past 3 months of each pregnancy - in fact it was sweet relief when each newborn arrived, even if they fed 3 times in the night I was still getting better quality sleep than in pregnancy!
I come from a family of 2 children, a boy and a girl, just under 2 years apart. I have basically replicated what my mother did, so it feels complete and right for me. If there were nobody else to consider, I probably wouldn't be thinking about having any more children.
My DH, who is the most wonderful loving father and excellent husband, doesn't feel the family is complete. He came from a family of 3 kids (irrelevant?) and both his sisters had 3 kids (irrelevant?) so perhaps he feels he just hasn't ticked that last box. He absolutely loves babies and children.
However. He doesn't have to carry them, something I wasn't terribly "good" at, and he doesn't have to do the majority of care - he is in a Directors role in the City and with that comes long hours, regular travel, etc etc. This is not going to change nor do I particularly want it to, its how we roll.
The thought of going back to "babyland" - nappies, night feeds, weaning, lugging them about, pushchairs, and everything up till about age 2 where they can do some preschool and reliably walk/run and stop plastering weetabix on the wall...it makes me feel TIRED. But it doesn't mean I don't want a 3rd child - if I could fast forward pregnancy and that first stage I know I would never regret it. I know you can't fast forward it, but how about make it as easy as possible?
A Nanny to either do the school run for the 1st 2 children whilst I lay in bed with the baby in the morning, who can then take the baby if I want to pop out or take it to a baby group or something whilst I get on with some housework or a leisure activity, then maybe have the baby whilst I do the afternoon school run, help with dinner pandemonium and all that malarkey, and leave at 5 with 2 fed older children and a bathed baby...that, I could do.
We can afford it. Husband has said "sure, no worries" - he just wants that 3rd child. Who am I to deny him? Is he wrong for wanting it so much when it is such a hard couple of years for me (whereas he's back at work in 2 weeks and apart from some disturbances at night and changes to the weekend routine...
AIBU? Sorry a bit long, didn't want to leave something majorly relevant out and dripfeed...
HollyBerryBush · 04/05/2013 18:36
Depends. Do you want a 3rd child? If you don't then I wouldn't be planning one. Personally, I'm no ones brood mare, so unless you are Kate Middleton breeding to order, then I wouldn't put myself through that physical trauma.
On the other hand if you are open to the idea and want a third and feel a nanny would help you achieve that goal, then do it.
TattyDevine · 04/05/2013 18:38
There is a bit of the brood mare about it I agree Holly, and that's mainly because its him that's driving it. Do I want a 3rd child? Yes. Do I want 9 months of pregnancy and 2 years of babyworld? No. Do I want to fast forward to about 2, 2 and a half and look back and say "I'm so glad we went for it" - yes.
MrsHelsBels74 · 04/05/2013 18:40
He's not wrong for wanting a third child you're not wrong for not wanting one.
If you think you could cope with another baby if you had a nanny, why not?
I have 2 boys & DH is muttering about a third, I've told him he'd have to leave work to help me if we did & we just can't afford that so that was the end of the discussion.
But you need to seriously think about it before coming to a final decision (but I'm sure you know that already!)
DontmindifIdo · 04/05/2013 18:43
Most people I know who went back to work and hired a nanny after the first, have kept the nanny for the second maternity leave rather than lose a good nanny and have to rehire after a year, meaning they can focus on the new baby and not upset the older DC's routines.
If it's the only way you feel you can cope with having a third and can easily afford it, then go for it.
If you don't really need full office hours, then you might find there's a lot of nannies who are looking for parttime roles to fit round other parttime roles with other families and/or study.
TattyDevine · 04/05/2013 18:48
Yes, I guess the real question is does having conditions attached to considering pregnancy matter? Deep down I think probably it doesn't, because it isn't the idea of a 3rd child in the family that bothers me at all, its the crap that is pregnancy (made much easier if I can rest whenever I want in the last 3 months because I have a nanny to deal with my children) and the drudge of weaning and just general conveyorbelt feeding/changing/napping etc that somehow just passes and gets suddenly easier at 2.
See, 2 year olds and toddlers and pre-schoolers and school aged kids are fine! Its the mega hands on care of babies that does me.
WhereYouLeftIt · 04/05/2013 19:01
" if I could fast forward pregnancy and that first stage I know I would never regret it."
Stop beating yourself up. You've had two stressful pregnancies, and a nanny would allow your third to be a lot better. It's practical, you can afford it and your husband has already agreed.
rootypig · 04/05/2013 19:02
YANBU. It sounds as though you'd like a third child, just not sure you can handle the baby years without a lot of help. Well, fine. You already have two DCs and you know what you're talking about. The baby years are hard, many people feel that way. I'd be more worried if you wanted a baby and not the child, iyswim. If you're worried that people think a full time nanny for a SAHP is excessive, it really is none of their business. If you can afford it and it's what your family needs, knock yourself out. As for conditions attached to pregnancy..... surely that's just the nature of building a family? I have 1 DC and before I have the second DH will be agreeing to a bloody hymn book of conditions-!
Go for it, and get the nanny in from when you're halfway through the pregnancy, at minimum, so you can put your feet up.
littlepeas · 04/05/2013 19:11
I would have done this without a second thought if we could have afforded it. I sometimes ponder it now (although we still can't afford it) thinking along the lines of the nanny being able to help me with the 'drudge' work, so I can focus more on the nice bits! YANBU.
Theironfistofarkus · 04/05/2013 19:12
I have 3 young DC and had a nanny during mat leaves 2 and 3. I have not found the jump from 2 to 3 particularly hard (perhaps because of the nanny!).
I actually still spent almost all my time with my Dc. Having the nanny meant though that I could have a shower and go for a run for half an hour if I wanted. She could cook lunch for my DC while I played with them. It really did mean I could spend more quality time with my DC and I was much happier for it.
zoobaby · 04/05/2013 19:12
Sounds like my ideal situation. I often apportion funds for this very scenario out of my fantasy lottery winnings 
. As long as baby is wanted and brought into a loving and caring home then all should be great.
But what type of nanny will you get? One of those cheapo glorified baby sitters who need instructions for absolutely everything, or a proper bells-and-whistles one who knows everything and will teach you a thing or two?
Maryz · 04/05/2013 19:13
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