Help! I can't shake wanting a 3rd child

[LovingLivingLife]

All the logic tells me 2 and done. I am definitely being unreasonable to still want another.

I had 2 C-sections, I think a third will probably ruin my body. Pregnancy with my last was tough on my body.
We have 2 gorgeous, healthy girls.
The pregnancy and post partum hormones made me a nightmare, it's taken me nearly 2 years to get back to normal and want any kind of sex life again. I don't want to put that kind of strain on our marriage again.
There's already a lot of noise in our house, I get over stimulated as it is.
I'm ready for more exciting holidays and not having to cater to very little people.
I'm ready to carry on with my career and get properly stuck in again.

But I just don't feel done, and not does DH. Both my DH and I are only children and I would love to have a bigger family. We have left decent age gaps and I think we could give them each individual attention.

Is it normal to long for a third? Do most people just look at the list of negatives and eventually get over it?

You have solid sensible reasons for stopping at two....and a wishy washy, not quite done, reason for having a third. On that basis, I wouldn't.

Not quite done is a real reason for having a child. It's biology for a start, designed to keep the human race going and is absolutely valid especially within the context of a happy, stable marriage. I've a third child because I wasn't quite done at 2, and feel like wanting another baby was reason enough to have one. It's like choosing to marry the person you love in real life over the guy who is great on paper but you've no real feelings for.

Disclaimer, following your feelings blindly isn't always the best decision, but I think OPs situation sounds promising.

I wanted 3. Was happy to stop there. And I've had 3 c-sections and am absolutely fine

Well we have to exist in a world which doesn't always align itself to our biological urges....I absolutely love pregnancy and babies...but I balance that biological urge with the reality I live in. All of us do, it just depends on what number is your limit.

Not in our case. We thought we'd want 2, didn't feel finished and had a 3rd and the family feels fully complete now.

We went for it and had the third. It is so different to having 1 or 2. People talk about the impact it can have on your older kids - for me this impact has been positive I think. Maternity leave and then going back to work on very reduced hours means I actually spend more time with them. And they love the baby! What people haven’t mentioned is the impact of being a 3rd child. I have spent a long time carrying guilt and adjusting to the fact that my youngest didn’t get the same mother that the other two had - not necessarily worse, just different. Always on the go. Not much time for quiet cuddles on the sofa or taking lots of photos, marking milestones etc.

Having said all that I’m very happy with my decision and I love that we are a big-ish family. We don’t need anyone else to have a party. The kids are very happy and love having each other to play with. I wouldn’t change it for the world.

Wow thanks everyone for taking the time to share your insights. It's a big decision but listening to all your stories perhaps there isn't a wrong answer either way. I feel really reassured that everyone seems happy with the choice they made in the end. Thank you!