Thinking of TTC but larger age gaps?

[Tranquilitybaby]

Anyone else can't quite decide whether to TTC or not because of a large age gap?

Our children are almost 12 and almost 9 and I've been broody for 4 years but DH hasn't. Now they're growing up he's realising that actually he would quite like to have another.

I'm just worried about the large age gap and also the logistics of a third c section.

Any advice would be welcome, it's going round and round in my head! X

It's such a personal thing.

I've just posted on a thread in larger families about something similar (about going from 3 to 4 DCs.)

Personally, if I was going to have another, I'd think about have another 2 DCs rather than just 1.

I wouldn't be keen on having two quite close together and then one with a nine year age gap, as I'd be worried about the youngest growing up and feeling a bit left out, but that's probably just me.

There must be hundreds of families though, who have conceived with similar age gaps and whose youngest DC has not felt left out, I'm sure.

Not sure about a third c-section, sorry.

I think it would be fab to have two built in babysitters! A friend of mine has a 13 year age gap between her two and the older one sometimes collects the younger one from preschool as he is 16 now. They have a good relationship and the little girl absolutes adores her older brother. She always puts on her best behaviour for him, even though she can be a bit of a handful with mum.

It's never too late....
21 year age gap between me and my younger sibling (none in the middle) and we have a great relationship.
It will be a different relationship to a smaller gap but you will probably find its great for the older two to have a younger sibling as well. Plus the younger one is separated enough age wise to feel pressurised to keep up with the older two

Meant 'not' too pressurised obv!

I really wouldn't worry about the age gap. I think it will be lovely, and you'd be far more likely to regret not having one. Every gap has its pros and cons. There's no 'perfect' formula.
I was 9 years old and the youngest of 4 (all of us very close in age) when my little brother came along. I absolutely adored him and doted on him. We all did! My mum says it was amazing to have 4 babysitters built in to the family. We genuinely helped with nappy changes, feeding etc and, for me, as a 9 year old girl, I just loved having a baby in the house to coo over and dress up etc etc.
I'm now 39 and he's 30 and we have a great relationship. As he does with all of us. AND, he's closest of all to my mum - they have a very close relationship because he was her last baby - and she knew it (she was 42 when she had him) - and so she really made the most of that time with him. Anyway, that's my own experience as someone growing up with a big age gap.

As a mum, I'm in a similar boat to you. Age gap not quite as big - my DCs are 6 and nearly 8. But we desperately want a third. I've also had 2 C-sections (both emergencies), so know I'll need a third, but the doctors do not seem concerned by that at all - especially given the length of time since the last one, so am sure it will be the same for you OP.

In short, I think you should absolutely go for it! And GOOD LUCK. xx