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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Another baby??

61 replies

Funtimes88 · 28/11/2018 20:03

Hey looking some advice please. Have a boy 2yrs 7months and thinking of having another baby. I have lupus (currently controlled and drs happy for me to have another). Husband has a brain tumour,has had two awake brain surgerys,he is not 100% on having another baby as feels it would be too much but also sees the benefit for our son.
I have great family support and think it would be better in long run to have another now as great company for son especially when he is sent to grandparents when we are sick. Also think better for him on holidays,Christmas and just generally to have someone to play with. Also worries me of him having to look after us or one of us die and he has no sibling to talk to,share his experience.
Our boy has slept in his own room from two months and all through the night,just this week he has started wanting to stay in our bed and has got quite clingy. What are peoples suggestions on another baby??

OP posts:
NewishMum85 · 29/11/2018 16:32

I absolutely 100% would not have another in your situation. I think going from one to two children can be difficult even if both parents are healthy and well-off etc. I agree with pps that you can't guarantee the siblings will have a good relationship and it will be much easier for your family to support your child if you stop at one. It sounds like your DH isn't completely happy with having another either. I think it's best to focus your love, attention and support on the child that you have already.

I'm planning to stop at one too (albeit for different reasons) so I am not recommending something for you that I wouldn't do myself.

NewishMum85 · 29/11/2018 16:36

I should add that my parents had me to keep my older brother company. He was jealous of the attention given to me when I was a baby and never grew to like me when we got older. Things don't often turn out the way they are planned.

Adviceforhouse · 29/11/2018 16:39

My advice would be not to as well, sorry.
I am a 30 year old woman with a 30 year old partner and have 2 DC, my youngest being a year old. We were happy with one and coped well, had lots of babysitting offers etc, although I don’t regret DC2 life has never been as exhausting, stressful and bloody hard work, I’m ready for bed at 7pm with the kids!! I thought it wouldn’t be much harder but for me and my partner it has been and pushed us to our limit, absolutely nothing wrong with an only child and tbh sometimes I look at parents of only and feel a little envious, I had my second child for the same reasons you want one, for my eldest, at the mo they fight a lot, so like I’m finding out there’s no guarantees that they will get along.

It’s your call though xx

blackteasplease · 30/11/2018 09:49

I wouldn't. I know it's not what you want to hear. You have You think about the second child and what they are coming in to, not just how it would affect your existing child.

There's nothing wrong with an only. I know loads of really happy only kids around here- they never seem to feel they are missing out.

ASundayWellSpent · 30/11/2018 10:15

Nope sorry I wouldn't have a second in those circumstances. Agree with a poster who said you have to think if you could manage alone as help can be dependent on factors that will appear later down the line.

I think, seeing as you already have other limitations and distractions on your time, you should dedicate the rest to your son. There are a lot of disadvantages of having two, and I say that as a mum of two with no health issues and they get on wonderfully with each other! Even the best case scenario for your imagined siblings is bloody exhausting and throws spanners in the works when you least expect them.

sorry

NameChangerAmI · 30/11/2018 10:55

I think it's beyond difficult when you have one DC, to realistically visualise life with additional children in the long term. My first pregnancy was an absolute joy, if I was tired, I could put my feet up and rest and sleep in the afternoon if I wanted to.
When DC1 was born, I was a SAHM, so if we'd had a really awful night, we could sleep in, if I was shattered, I could sleep when DC1 slept. There was no one else to factor in, so life was pretty easy and could roll at DC1's pace when it needed to.

I found motherhood with 1 DC a pretty chilled out place.

All of that can go out the window with DC2. When you've had no sleep, but still need to get up and get DC1 to nursery/school, or when one is ill and you're up all night looking after them.

If you opt for a 2nd pregnancy, you won't be able to sit with your feet up & sleep when you're shattered, unless someone else steps in to help, the same when DC2 is born.

If you found preganancy 1 easy, tbh, it's probably because you didn't have any other DCs to take care of at that time.
Being pregnant when you already have another child is completely different IMHO.

If I hadn't been in the position of having additional DCs after DC1, my concept of pregnancy would be what yours currently is, because that would be my reference point. The tiredness came as a shock, but tbf, when DC2 came along, I already had one child at school with various hobbies (biger age gap than you would have).

Even so, you can't over estimate how much harder and more tiring, even in good health, being pregnant and having a newborn is 2nd time around.

Surely, though, the main crux is, that your DH isn't ready for another child, so to press on with this, given your health issues doesn't even seem like an option to me.

NameChangerAmI · 30/11/2018 10:57

And it doesn't get easier as they get older, necessarily. My youngest is now 9 years old, and it's still exhausting. Very worthwhile and life enhancing but very tiring, and that's without health issues.

EverythingsDozy · 30/11/2018 11:15

I definitely wouldn't in your situation. I think you've got an awful lot on your plates as it is, and while I understand the benefits of having two, I wish so much that someone had told me how difficult having two is. My first child was a doddle and my second is very very different, but the two of them combined is insanely hard work.

Barbie222 · 30/11/2018 11:35

I think it's easy to think it'll always be as easy as it is now, but grandparents may well not be able to help in a few years just when you really need it. I wouldn't, I'm afraid.

puddlesplashing · 30/11/2018 11:48

YABVU

Bp2boys · 30/11/2018 11:51

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