How did you know you were ready for #2

[iloveyoubutilovememore]

How did you know you was ready for your second child?

I have a little boy who will be three next month. Pregnancy was a breeze, followed by a traumatic birth and a bad bout of postnatal depression. Motherhood didn’t come easily to me, the first year in particular was brutal. My husband was amazing and is a fantastic dad. I also have a lovely mum and some great friends who helped me overcome the pnd/adjust to my new life.

I find myself feeling broody at times, thinking of how nice it would be for my DS to have a little sibling. But then I get overwhelmed with anxiety at the thought of having a newborn again, or struggling to cope with another child. I also find myself questioning whether I only want another just for my son to have a little friend.

Would love to hear how you found having the second one, regardless of the age gap.

Thanks!

I was absolutely adamant that I only wanted one child. Like you, I had a traumatic birth, PND and just found motherhood so hard. I really wanted my son to have a sibling but I just couldn't face it.

However over the past couple of years I've felt so much stronger mentally and physically. A couple of months ago I decided that actually, I do want another one, so we are currently ttc our second.

There will be a 6 yr age gap minimum but that's perfect for me as I would not have coped with two very young children. This time around I feel positive, I know it's going to be hard but also everything is a phase and I'll be able to get through it.

Maybe you just need more time? Not everyone needs to have the 2-3 to age gap. For some of us bigger age gaps are definitely the right thing to do

I like the above poster only wanted 1 child, had a good pregnancy with my 1st (again traumatic birth and undiagnosed PND!) and it took me an awful long time (4 years to be precise!) to even think about another one... one day me and hubby sat down and had a discussion about it all and I found that actually I was ready to try again... I have a 5 year gap between my two girls and actually it works well (most the time!) as I found my eldest was at school during the day to give me time to bond with the youngest and my eldest was a big help! Now they play together nice... I think sometimes I wish there wasn't such a big gap but I wasn't ready mentally or physically before I had my second so it works for us.

I really wanted one when my daughter was 2 but husband wasn't ready and felt she was young and then I agreed. When she was 2.5 she still felt like my baby so I gave her some time be independent and 3 months later I saw her become more 'grown up' and felt like she didn't need me as much. That's when I thought yeah it's time to have another baby. Unfortunately tried and it ended up as a MC at 6 weeks. We're trying again. Fingers crossed. It would be nice for all 3 of us to have a baby in the family. Just to 'extend' our family.

I actually want more children now that I'm close to 30. Not sure why there's been a change in my thoughts.