Hi all, I've spent some time on the conception thread... then the infertility thread... and now I'm here, hoping for some kind words! :)
Our daughter is nearly 3 years old. Conceived immediately, straightforward pregnancy, etc. We're a happy family of three.
We started trying for #2 earlier this year, but due to my age (nearly 39) had some tests. All normal EXCEPT low egg supply - which unfortunately is the one thing that makes IVF very unlikely to work. It's also unlikely we'll conceive naturally, on a statistical basis (as less eggs overall means fewer healthy ones - therefore low probability).
So... it's most likely we'll be staying a family of three. This isn't entirely unwelcome to me, as it was never a long-held, definite aim to have two children - but of course, now we probably don't have a choice, I'm worried about it. It's a massive thing to get my head around and I'm not sure what my true feelings are.
My concerns are all stereotypical ones - the 'only child' stigma, not having a sibling companion to share experiences with, loneliness, etc. I was close to my sibling as a child, so it's hard for me to imagine a different sort of childhood.
But I wonder how much of it is actually peer pressure, as we know lots of people who've automatically had 2-3 kids as a priority (and didn't wait until 36 to have their first, like us!).
We might give IVF a go next year... but at the same time, it's very appealing to accept what we have (which is great already) and get excited about moving forward with life. Going through this process has made me realise how immensely fortunate we are, to have the child that we do.
What do you think? Am I worrying too much about our child not having a sibling?