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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To want to stop at one child in this situation?

26 replies

Desperatelyseekingsleep12 · 01/09/2019 17:22

My husband and I are incredibly lucky to have a beautiful 16-month old daughter. She was conceived after 4 years and 5 IVF attempts, followed by an extremely anxious pregnancy and a diagnosis of tokophobia (intense fear of childbirth) on my part. After her birth, I struggled with anxiety, mainly caused by the fact that I felt like I should be enjoying every moment as I have waited for this for so long, but in reality, parenthood was stressful, scary and relentless. I feel much, much, better now and am loving spending time with my daughter- she is charming, sleeps so much better and I love my life. However, family members are asking when we will try for another (we have three frozen embryos of average quality which we could transfer) and I feel a huge pressure to have another. My husband is unsure at the moment, but I think he is leaning towards trying for another. The thought of going through IVF again, followed by an anxious pregnancy, my tokophobia and the first couple of years with a newborn and a toddler is terrifying to me. I just don’t want to do it and want to leave the last 5 years behind and enjoy the life that I am now loving. Am I selfish in thinking this way? Should I get over myself and at least try to give my daughter a sibling? Will she miss out in not having one? Should I do it for my husband if he ultimately decides that he wants to try again? I just feel so confused with it all! Any thoughts either way would be gratefully appreciated.

OP posts:
Aaarrgghhh · 02/09/2019 18:32

Whatever you decide is the choice that is made really. Quite simply, it doesn’t matter what anyone else says because your body is your own and no one can force you to become pregnant. Given all you have said I think waiting is a good idea, five years sounds great as then your first will be older and more independent so maybe tackling another pregnancy would be easier then than now.

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