Age spacing to if I'm gonna try for loads?

[Underachieving]

My two daughters are 11 years old and 3 months old.

DD1 was born when I was young, to the wrong man. She stayed an only child for a long time. Then I met the right man and after a few years with just us and DD1 we've just had our first baby together.

OH and I want to build a family, he thinks 3 kids sounds good, I think 6 sounds better. We're gonna just keep having them 1 at a time and make our decisions about when to try or not as we go along.

We already feel ready to start trying for another, the new baby is just such an angel and I know even if I had another difficult one we'd be fine.(My eldest was a very difficult baby, I'm not coming at this with rose tinted specs, I know we might suddenly have our hands very full.)

My question is, is there a minimum amount of gap I ought to leave between babies for my bodies sake?

If you were 30 and wanted to leave the option open of having another 4 babies what kind of gap would you pick between kids?

I think, like you say about having one at time and making your decisions as you go along, it'll be the same re how your body is.
How fit/tired etc you feel. Any problems discussed with doctor/midwife as they arise.

I think it partly depends on what age you are willing to ttc until. Would you be happy with the extra risks of bding 40+? It is better for you and the children if your gaps arent too small, but you hVe to balance this with age.

I've had babies regularly every 2.5 years for the last decade, all uneventful labors, first two with episiotomies.

Problems I have:
No incontinence, but I do have to hop it for the loo- my pelvic floor is definitely not what it was. Always forget my "exercises"

Related to this, at my last exam the nurse had to go back for the extra large speculum, commenting she hadn't brought it out as I'm fairly slim, and usually "only the obese ladies need it" My husband hasn't noticed, but I certainly have. Again, exercises can help this if you remember to do them.

Advice:

If you care terribly about your weight, make sure you're five pounds under where you want to be before you get pregnant. I find your baseline weight tends to reset to where you were at conception.

Avoid two in diapers at all costs.

The jump from two children to three was hardest. That's when you start needing bigger cars, bigger holidays, bigger houses. If you're going to have a big family, start saving for these things now.

Do your pelvic floor exercises

There is good medical evidence that you should leave TTC at least 6 months after having had a baby. Babies conceived before then have a higher risk of being born prematurely.

My age gaps are 1, 4 and 2 years and the longer gap is certainly easier, but the smaller gaps allow for kids playing togethher more easily.

2 in nappies was not that difficult, 2 with tempertantrums howeever....

Thank you everyone who contributed.

I hadn't given pelvic floor much thought to be honest. I am certainly gonna make more effort now. And I hadn't heard of the prematurity thing with less than a 6 month gap so I'm also glad to know that.

It's not just my age to consider it's that OH is a lot older, which means I may have to hold the fort alone if his age does ever catch up on him (sincerely hope not). So we do really want to work out what is the minimum safe/sensible gap and start trying then.

I had thought about what it would be like ti have 2 in nappies/ pushchairs/ cots. It's hard to imagine to be honest and I appreciate you lovely people offering insight.

The house thing isn't too worrying and we've checked out the cars we might need (dull but affordable).

Anyway for now it's been decided for me. DD1 is a Septemeber baby and for years and years has been in school on her birthday. Term is starting late this year so she's got a rare birthday off and the one thing she really wants is to go to Alton Towers (5 hours drive away- requires hotel stay). I have promised to take her- just the two of us. This means I better wait until I get back as you aren't a lot of use at Alton Towers if you can't ride the rides haha!

So this time we'll be trying from September, when DD2 is 11 months. That'll make a minimum of an 18 month gap. This is, of course, unless I find out that it's dangerous or otherwise silly to.