Baby fever - is this just hormones?

[KeyboardWhinger]

I’ve got two children 5 and 2.5, I had a terrible first birth, ectopic pregnancy and then a successful pregnancy and second child but developed awful PND and PPA which I’ve addressed but hasn’t altogether gone - I have some lingering (but milder) depression and anxiety.

I was SO anxious about becoming accidentally pregnant that I insisted my DH have a vasectomy. I really feel the overwhelm and mental load (DH works away a lot) and don’t think I could mentally cope with a third child.

So why am I broody? Is this just biological? Rationally I know having a third baby is a terrible idea (and not possible now, as a result of the vasectomy) but I have that feeling of wanting to have a baby.

Is this just one of the many irritations of being a woman??

you have lingering trauma from your previous births but that doesn't stop you loving your children or wanting another. Its very natural to mourn the end of child bearing too.

Would counselling be an option. You definitely aren't alone in this I'd imagine.

Thank you for such a lovely and understanding post. I had a lot of counselling following my PND and PPA. Not about not having more children in particular though.

I remember my mother said she cried her eyes out when she put away my youngest siblings baby clothes for the last time. She knew she had enough but it was still an ache.

I'd imagine you can go to counselling and talk about any of these things but I'd pick someone who specialises in pregnancy and trauma because it's linked.