To wonder why the hell I'm so broody...

[CesareBorgiasUnicornMask]

...and ask how to make it stop?!

DS is 16 months. I really really can't have another one for at least three years, and swore until a couple of months ago that, wonderful though he is, he might well remain an only.

Now it's like a switch has been flipped and I can't stop thinking about having another baby. I keep imagining being pregnant, newborn snuggles etc - I didn't even like the newborn stage!! I saw someone with little little twins today and instead of marvelling at the fact that she was upright, dressed and out of the house (something I struggled to achieve for the first three months with just one) I thought how lucky she is to have two at once and got quite teary . It's like even though I know it's definitely not a sensible thing to do for every reason ever my brain has been hijacked by a super broody alien.

Wtf is this? Is it normal?! And how do I stop it before I start talking to DH about having another one?! Because the man has no sense and would probably go for it.

What's stopping you from having another child.

What stops me in my tracks is cuddling my 2 month old nephew and realising how hard work a baby is.

Me and DH always said we would only ever have one child and at first I was happy with that decision. However, when DS was about 15 months old I started getting a yearning for another one. I waited to see if it would pass, which it didn't, so eventually I spoke to my DH about it. He did not feel the same, said he has no interest in having another child and so I thought that was that. It upset me but I had to accept it.

However, the other day after talking about it again DH has said we can have another baby - I was absolutely gob smacked. DS is almost 21 months now.

Why do you have to wait so long for another child?

I'm in the middle of medical school. In some ways it would be great as I could just take another year out, but we're already struggling on just DH's salary. It doesn't seem fair to leave him as sole earner even longer...

That's exciting though Writer - maybe it's just taken him this long to get past the new parent shell-shock?

Are you ovulating?

My youngest is 5 and definitely our last but the combination of a tiny newborn and ovulating will make me practically beg DH for one more baby, even though he's had the snip so cannot oblige!

I'm not sure you can make it stop unless you can find a reason for why you feel this way. If the reason is because you do actually want another child then I'm afraid it doesn't just go away.

16 months is still really little, the reasons I had for not having another one when my DS was 16 months all disappeared once he got to 2. Now he's 3 and we have DS2 who is 6 months and everything works fine. It's hard work but DS1 seemed more difficult on his own than having 2 DC is now.

How old are you? If times on your side, finish your degree. Its going to be much harder with 2 ir 3

I'm 25 so not in a massive rush, though have PCOS so it could take a while if we did want another not that that stopped me getting pregnant with a coil in . I may be ovulating now but pretty sure I haven't been for the last month!

Ugh it's ridiculous. It doesn't help that DS is currently lying next to me in bed and is SO INCREDIBLY CUTE. Oddly the broodiness does subside somewhat when he's awake and emptying the bin/ removing his nappies/ eating my homework...

Stop! Wait!

Ds3 is nearly two. Lately I've found myself wondering if 4 is really much more work than 3.

I'm not sure I'm the best person to advise, but am following with interest.

I'm 60 & show me a lovely baby & I still feel broody in every way!

I know I couldn't cope with one & have no intention of being the 'miracle aged mother' but I still feel the physical ache of wanting a baby even though I am totally through the menopause.

I have but one dc (couldn't have any more) so that may have something to do with it.

If you really want another I'd say go for it - you don't know how long it will take you to conceive so don't wait. Time has this awful habit of ticking away.

Hmm... I can't say I've ever felt broody or maternal instincts that mothers all get. Though, I do enjoy DD, I think one is enough for me.

Think about expenses, your career, your sex life, your ability to keep track of two tiny tornadoes in a couple years.

Some people feel complete at one kid, you might feel complete at two or four.

Instead of focusing on wanting more, try focusing on what's so awesome about your current DS. That might keep your fulfilled for a bit longer. :)