WWYD - trying for number 3?

[Spanneroo]

I am at a bit of a crossroads and would appreciate an opinion or two if you have the time.

I have two DDs, aged almost 4 and almost 1. DD1 was a surprise baby who I had just as I finished university.

I started a fairly prestigious graduate scheme at a UK top employer when she was 3 months old, completed that just shy of a year later, and spent the next year and a half doing three different roles, progressing quickly and working on some pretty cool stuff! Then I went on mat leave with DD2.

3 months into mat leave I was made redundant, due to the whole department being removed from the new structures.

As a family, we are hoping to relocate between now and DD1 starting school in September so that we're closer to family. I'd planned to return to work once we have done so.

Here's the dilemma:

I don't really want a large age gap between DCs. I really don't enjoy the baby stage so like the idea of getting it done within a shorter time frame. OH and I always said we wanted at least 3 DCs, maybe 4. I've recently been thinking that perhaps it makes sense to just go for it now and be a stay at home mum for a couple of years until I've had all the babies I'm going to, and THEN look for work.
But I'm conscious that I've only had a "proper" job for under 3 years and would be taking at least 2 years (but probably 3) out before finding work again, which may put me at a disadvantage.

I'm also aware that finding new work now would mean holding off for at least a year before TTC so that I'm eligible for full maternity pay, which could easily result in a large age gap between DD2 and a younger sibling - particularly as we are prone to miscarriages so it is likely to take a while to stay pregnant.

In my position, would you crack on with TTC or get back into work?

Sorry for the text wall. I'm on mobile and the formatting doesn't seem to have translated across!

It depends if you think being a SAHM for a while would work for you both financially and emotionally.
If it were me I would probably hold off looking for a job until after I'd finished having children. If you can afford it. You don't mention your age but if you finished uni 4-5 years ago I'm presuming you're still in your 20s? I think having a "career break" to have/bring up children is an increasingly common thing these days and I don't think it would look bad on your CV if you were able to explain the gap in employment this way.

I'm 25 so still plenty of career ahead of me.

Financially we would manage. Wouldn't be flush but wouldn't struggle. My salary would likely cover childcare but wouldn't stretch much further than that, so much of a muchness really.

I've found being at home with DD2 quite hard work, but mainly because she is an atrocious sleeper, rather than being at home per se. It's still miles better than working ft whilst doing night feeds for an EBF dd1! That said, of we move and I don't have ready made local friends, o may find things harder if it takes me a while to find my people.

Bumping to see if there are any other thoughts.