Have had no 3 and still feel broody......

[Sallie]

Does the broodiness ever go away? Have three lovely kids - ds, dd1 and dd2, all quite close in age. Am no 12 week post partum and in my heart of hearts, I would love, love, love to have a no 4. Like being pregnant and have had three easy deliveries with no problems at all, not even a stitch. Dh and bank balance are saying no to a no 4 but I yearn for one. A friend of mine celebrated after she had no 3 that she never had to go through it all again. Another told me she felt her family was complete once she had given birth to her no 3 but I still feel broody!! HELP!

You would always look back & regret what might have been if you don't have baby no. 4.

But You would never look at baby no. 4 & regret having him/her

Guess you can see which way I'm tending towards..... .

My older sister has had 8 children and she is still broody at 52yrs old!!!! i really noticed on having my babes how much she totally adores them.She knows her baby days are over though.

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I felt like you for about the first 4-5 months after having ds3 - I can tell you, it has most certainly worn off. I don't know the ages of yours but I've got 3 under 5 now and it's completely exhausting. I know that's my limit and I could not cope with anymore. When ds3 was immobile it was a doddle quite honestly - now he's toddling about it's a whole different ball game.

Mine are 12 weeks, 21 months and 3 years 3 months. So fairly close in age. Life is very very hectic but cannot imagine that my childbearing days are now over. Know that I would want to stop at 4 for sanitys sake but dh and finances are a big limiting factor. How do I persuade dh?!!!

I can honestly say I don't feel broody for the first time in ten years. I have four and that's enough.

Have to agree with ionaming. A friend once said to me 'you will never regret having a child but you may regret not having one' (she is a mother of 4!). Maybe your broadiness will never go. 4 is a nice number. I am one of 4. Personally I couldn't think of anything worse (I have 3) and thats enough for me! I think I would end up dribbling in a corner somewhere! You know your own limits.

well, my number 3 is a chatty little 2 yr old now and IME it never goes away.
I have times when I really don't any more but if I'm really honest with you (and myself) the broodiness is always there, I just say that I don't feel broody because I'm trying to convince myself I'm not.
If my Dh said he wanted another baby I'd agree to it in a heartbeat. He never will though.

I know how you feel. i have five children and if I was younger I think I would have had more. The broodiness is starting to fade now, but it is sad to see ds4 growing up knowing there will be no more babies.

If I was in your shoes and enjoyed pregnancy and birth then I would definately have a fourth. As it is, I'm pg with no. 3 and suffering health wise quite a bit - I know I can't put my body through it again, it wouldn't be fair on me or the family. This makes me sad, but I have to accept that this one is my last. If health isn't an issue for you though, I say go for it!

Thanks for all your comments. At the moment, money is rather tight so can understand dh's reticence. However, things may well improve in a few years time and as I am only just 33, I guess time is on my side to a certain extent. The yearning is with me all the time but maybe thats because I am all hormonal after having dd2???? Still in my heart of hearts, I would love no 4 and then call it quits......

I was VERY broody after ds3 was borm in Feb 05. Im not sure if it was becaiue I realsied I would be unlikely to have a dd (3 boys) but felt really sure I wanted a 4th. and i am almost 41. dh was on board too but b we agreed to wait until ds3 was 1. Like someone said , now he's moile and the hormones have settled Im alot LESS sure I want another !

Good luck either way

hormones

I felt like this from 3 months with dd2 it wore off when she started walking though

although I am now pg with no 3 so I guess it came back

I am tempted to do a video of s4elf moaning about how awful this pregnancy is to get out on future occasions of broodiness...

I've known since the nanosecond that I squeezed DS3 out that this was it. Have been exposed to lots of new babies and pg women recently - not a flicker of broodiness. Like your friend, I celebrate never having to go through it again.

I dont think it goes either. I'm v v broody with dd approaching 1yo (ds1=5 and ds2=3.5yo). V ominous with a holiday approaching and perfect cycle timing to come home yet again with a bit more than bargained for, BUT, the more rational, sensible me says I've got to give up the cravings for that 1st year with a new babe and concentrate more on the growing up and maturing part. Doesnt give me anything like the same high feeling that lasts for sev months after the birth, but it does give me big "heart bursting with pride" moments on a regular basis. And I feel I'm spread thin enough already between the 3 of them let alone if I had a 4th.

The biggest turn off is the thought of having to drive a mpv. Yuk!