pregnant with dc3 and panicking!

[buffythebarbieslayer]

31 weeks with dc3

Planned and wanted. We have the space, finances etc and older two are school age. All seems well.

But in the last few days I've been feeling a bit blue and anxious about whether we've done the right thing.

It's hit me that I've got to give birth again (bad tear last time). That I've got to juggle three kids for the next 18 years. Will I ever have time to pursue my passion (writing)? Will dh and I have any time for each other?

Please reassure me!

You will be fine. Take each day one day at a time. I have 3: 4, 3 and 9 months. It gets easier when the baby is on solids and I spend my days feeling guilty that I always have to wake ds3 up to take ds1 and ds2 somewhere but it is great!

I have three and find it oddly easier than two.

Mine were 7 and 5 when DD was born.

I find that two can play whilst I have time with the third.

I have loved having more time with DD because the older ones were at school.

They are all very different there's no denying it, but I do think its less stressful the more you parent. Little things like first injections that maybe are stressful with you first, less so with your second and then I found with no.3 it was grab a bottle of calpol, enjoy the catch up with the other mums waiting for my appointment, snuggle DD up post injection and on with my day.

Anxiety is a perfectly normal and even rational response at this stage isn't it? Its the way of running through that you are ready and prepared for this.

Yes probably hormones and normal anxiety as the birth draws nearer.

I'm less anxious about many aspects. I've matured and more confident about how I want to parent. I'll get through the sleepless nights etc.

But I'm more worried about how much time I will have for dh and myself. Sounds selfish I know.

I wasn't looking forward to the sleepless nights. DD (DC3) slept pretty much through from day1. DS2 doesn't! DH and I still had 7pm onwards every night.

I can't promise thats what will happen for you, its just that it can happen.

I could have written your post about 2 years ago buffy. My DC 3 is now 17 months and all the things l was anxious about have just faded away. l have found the older 2 DCs keep DC3 hugely entertained (not necessarily intentionally, just by going about their normal business) and DC3 seems to just toddle about happily in their wake. l think after 1 or 2 DCs your life has become so child centred anyway, DC3 just enriches it more. Of course, you do have less time to yourself, certainly at first, but l have found this time round that this phase just races by and life seems to return to normal very quickly.

You will be fine, its scary in the final stages no matter how many kids your on. And once you have given birth once no matter how smoothly it goes you know whats to come.

Your actual home life will probilly just fall into place once you get a new routine going it ill take a bit of time but sure you will get there in the end :)

My 2nd pregnancy was twins it hit me like a bolt out the blue i thought my labour and birth of ds1 was bad althought it went smoothly i felt ill for days after. DC4 was my easiest birth and easiest to get into routine

I have 6 DC and still managed to persue my passion which is also writing :) I went from 2 to 4 DC and managed to have a career as a Dog handler up until my maternity leave. Worked from home since then added 2 more souls to the family and DH still find plenty of time together and catch the odd spare moment in fact it's brought us even closer and I love him more than I though possible.

You'll manage, you'll find routines and way to cope and handle things that fit you and your family. I think everyone panics nearing the birth and knowing this will change but I'm sure you have everything covered.

Congrats on your new little bundle and hope you have a smooth labor and birth xx