How old were you and your partner when you had your third child?

[Zarah786]

Was the decision easy?
We're you scared of rocking the boat?

My husband and I are on the fence, we've discussed casually trying but because I am 36 and he is 41 I worry of all sorts...

Was the pregnancy different?
How did the dynamics change?

36 and DH was 38. I honestly didn’t give a moments consideration to my age. 36 was totally the normal age for my crowd to be having babies and my friends having their 3rd were mainly older than me and trying to get them in by 40.

Eldest was 7.5, middle was 4 when 3rd was born. The first few years were hard in terms of having a small baby and having a nearly 8 year old and needing to meet their needs. No 3 really did have to tag along and make the best of things.

now they are 22, 19 and 15 they get on brilliantly and the gap seems to much less significant

Hello, we’re getting on great. DC3 is 16 months now and he’s got a lovely bond with DC1&2. There’s definitely some more challenging impacts, like the other two had got to a more grown up point where we could do things like go to shows, theme parks, and taking them to the pub or a wedding/family party was much more chilled too, and we’ve gone backwards a bit. And I think balancing the needs of all 3 DC will be tricky over the next few years with the gap. But we knew that’s what we were getting into. In terms of my birth, was the easiest one, quite quick (5hrs first twinge to delivery) and I felt really in control, knowing what would happen, what I wanted etc. and we were able to come home same day. My other births were also low risk/straightforward for context. Recovery was fine, just a bit longer for my abs to come back together. Good luck with your decision.

I was 32 dh 29 a surprise 3rd he’s 6 months old others are 3 and 4 it’s been the toughest jump by far it’s a struggle but we have no family help and my husband works away so that doesn’t help oh and I have awful pregnancies x

Easy decision , husband was 40 me 35.

My third baby is a few weeks old. Others are almost 4 and almost 2. I’ve just turned 37, husband is 38.

Pregnancy was similar to the others, delivery was fine. Baby has slotted in very easily, and so far it’s amazing. I’m sure there will be difficult moments - and I know I’ll be totally outnumbered when baby is mobile and they all go in different directions!

Would love a fourth, but probably won’t for practical reasons.

I was 32, DH was 31, DD2 was 2 minutes old and DD1 was 21 months. I didn’t set out to have 3 under 2 but I am glad I have them. I am probably of no help to you and your situation.

Every family is different but 3 is a stretch, do you have capacity for it? It means needing more space in the house, bigger cars, more running around to extra curriculars, more doctors appointments more expensive holidays and exponentially more washing.

I was 37, DH was 39. I had DC 4 at 39. I’m now 41 and debating whether or not to go for number 5. No regrets. Life is busy but DH and I work well as a team and the children entertain each other a lot of the time so it’s not unmanageable.

25 and 29

I had my 3rd when I was 31. Im 37 now and pregnant with no.5.

I was 40 when I had our surprise third. Dh is a few years younger than me. I had around 24 hours of worrying how it might affect the dynamic of our family, but then I just had to get on with it. It was the easiest pregnancy and the easiest, quickest birth. Loved the early years and the three of them are very close. He's a gorgeous, galumphing teenager now. Best decision I never made.

I was 33, with 3 kids under 4. Pregnancy and birth was no different really but I had been constantly either pregnant or breastfeeding (or both) since I was 29 so was shattered! Little one slotted in easily, likely due to the close age gaps and we were in the baby toddler pre school chaos anyway. The dynamics have changed but only now they're older, some good, some bad - no regrets. They're a great little team now, just a very loud team! Good luck.