Pregnant with 3rd - tell me it's going to be ok!

[mammaofmany]

I am pregnant with a very much wanted third child. Older kids will be 5 and 3 when baby arrives.

Flu has just gone through the whole family and I was last. I've navigated the last of the holidays barely being able to get out of bed, and now my husband is back to work, I'm on my own with both kids while sick. It's the first time that I've thought... oh no. Have I bitten off more than I can chew here? The house is a riot, the kids are bored and cranky, I'm exhausted. What will illness and difficult times be like with THREE!

Parents of 3 - how did you find the transition? How did you juggle everyone's needs? Tell me it's going to be ok...

Hi I have three. When my third was born two years ago my children were 2 years 10 months and five and a half years. I found 2-3 an easier transition from 1-2. When I went from 1-2 I felt my oldest was getting left out while I was with the baby. But it felt different this last time as my older two had each other to play with.

Managing family illnesses is horrible however many you have, when mine get sick it tends to stagger a bit, so one child, then a couple of days later another child, then usually my husband. Then sometimes me and one child get away with it or we are then sick a few days later once the initially ill child has bounced back . So it's not usually the case of cleaning up sicky children while been sick yourself.
I think having three children is lovely, it's a nice level of noisy fun busy home, not as noisy and chaotic as a big family home but a bit more fun than a smaller family imo. Also having three kids I think makes you think a bit more child friendly as a family. If your debating getting the mud kitchen or trampoline for the garden with three of them to use it it seems a bit more worth it, so our house is possibly more geared to the children's enjoyment than it would be if we had only one or two.
Don't know if any of that helps, good luck with your pregnancy and enjoy your slightly bigger than average family, you've got this x

Also how to juggle everyone's needs. Just do whatevers most important first. It doesn't do them any harm to be told they need to wait a little bit to have their needs met. It's a good life lesson that in life we have to wait for things and people won't always jump to attention the second we want something.
Another trick is when it's the older one who is getting prioritised over the baby because their need is in that moment the more important one you say "sorry baby your going to have to wait because sibling needs a drink/ me to help her do the puzzle" etc. The baby of course won't have a clue what your saying but the big one will realise that it's not only her who hears she has to wait sometimes x

Congratulations! I absolutely loved having my 3rd (3 under 3 when he was born) and went on to have another 6. But I my 3rd - I knew what I was doing! I wasn't stressing about everything and anything! He was born quickly and easily whereas my 1st was an emcs and 2nd forceps delivery. Just loved it! You'll be fine!

Thank you so much for taking the time to reply with advice and solidarity. I really needed to hear that

Deep down I know you're right and this is just a hard phase.

It’s going to be ok. Better than ok. Mine were 4y4m and 2y4m when number 3 arrived (6 weeks before the first Covid lockdown 🙄). They’re a proper little gang now at 8, 6 and nearly 4 and, while my house is rarely tidy and never quiet, I wouldn’t have it any other way.

No3 slotted right in and was such a placid baby. He’s the polar opposite now at almost 4, but I can’t put him back now it can’t be that bad as we’re trying for no4!

Bloody ell, another 6! Gonna try for 1 more and make it a nice round 10?