Baby number 3 jitters - is it normal?!

[WhatHaveIDoneNo3]

So I’m currently pregnant with a half planned third baby 🙈

I’ve been debating for the best part of a year whether to have a third or not, it’s literally been an obsession. I get intensely broody and it got to the point I was thinking about it countless times a day and couldn’t get it out of my head. Literally read all MN threads about pros and cons of three kids.

Its taken some time to persuade my husband but he’s now fully on board with a new baby. We also have two daughters already aged 2 and 4, with our eldest starting school in September. We were due to start trying next year.

So two weeks ago my best friend messaged me in a panic and announced she was pregnant unexpectedly (around 8 weeks). So happy for her and she’s pretty excited now the panics worn off. I joked we would also start trying so we could sync and be off at the same time. Cue 6 days later finding out I was also 4-5 weeks pregnant before even starting trying 😅

I’ve not told her yet as I don’t want to get her hopes up in case of a miscarriage but I know she’ll be ecstatic if it all pans out.

I’ve literally got everything I’ve been day dreaming about so WHY do I feel so so anxious like I’ve made a massive mistake?! Just spent all day panicking I’m not going to cope and just getting life back together after my first two?

Is this a normal feeling for mums of larger families?? Has anyone got positive stories of having three with similar gaps to put my mind at ease?

I had similar age gaps. DD was 4y4m and DS1 was 2y4m when DS2 was born. He was born in the February and then DD started school in the September. Lockdown starting 6 weeks after he was born made it extra ‘interesting’.

At first, I barely noticed the change from 2 l to 3. DS2 was a pretty easy baby and he fitted in. It got more difficult when he started moving!

He’s now 3 and, while life is mad (I can hear him right now, downstairs screaming at DH), I wouldn’t change it. The older two love him so much (as do we!) and I can’t imagine life without him, even if he is a pain who takes hours to go to sleep.

Logistically, things can be tricky. Getting three kids to three different schools/nurseries and then getting back in time to start work, or when they have parties at the same time or you need to be at two different childcare settings for things at the same time. But you’ll find a way, just as you adjusted to life with one and then two. And it can’t be that bad as we’re TTC no4 at the moment!

I’m always happy to chat if you have questions!

And congratulations! 🎉

I have 3 (4, 2 and 8 months) and number 3 was conceived in a very similar way (I.e discussed but not actually planned at that point). I had the jitters for a few weeks but then it totally wore off and although I often wondered about how I would cope I was overall really excited.
The first 6 months with number 3 were tough but the last 2 have been amazing. She slots right in and has totally completed our family. You will be fine OP, congratulations!!