Sadness at possibly never going through the baby stage again

[Ivehadtonamechangeforthis]

I have two children aged 13 months and 2.7 years, so they're 17 months apart and I'm 44.

I can't quite believe I'm saying this as only four years ago I didn't want any children but, now I have two and although some days it is really really hard work, I'm suddenly feeling really sad at the thought that I may not experience the newborn baby stage again. Realistically I don't think I could cope with having another baby in the next year, that would give us 3 under 4! But at 44 I can't wait until they're both in nursery to have another, it may not happen anyway.

I've had so many people tell me I'm lucky because I've got the baby stage 'over with' in one go but bizarrely I feel having two so close together means instead of enjoying it twice, the baby stage has been reduced to only experiencing it once because I've almost had two babies at the same time.

Does anyone else feel similar?

I'm in a sort of similar situation. But mine are all older and I'm younger but I share your feelings.
Have no advice to wanted to know someone gets it.

I did feel like you after I had my second at 40 (3.5yr age gap) but over time it’s become our little family and we’re really happy with the kids (now 5&9). I now feel I’d rather never go through the baby stage again as it would change our family dynamics so much. So to answer tour question yes ... then over time no

Yes, I 100% know how you feel, I have always wanted lots of dc, but DH wasn't keen, so we stuck with two. Ours are 20 months apart, so similar to you in that the baby stages just seemed to run into each other. DC2 was an absolute nightmare baby, and DC1 was a typical energetic and defiant toddler, so I didn't enjoy 1 second of that first year of DC2's life. Mine are 7 and 6 now, and while they are so much easier, I do have a hankering for more baby cuddles, lots of friends have had 4-5 year age gaps, so got to enjoy their second newborns while the older one was at school.

I feel a bit like this. I had twins so although we wanted two children, we got them together.
I know that when my friends become pregnant with their number two I'll feel a bit sad that I won't get to experience another pregnancy.
And yes to the comments of you've got the baby stuff 'over with' in one go. It's a strange feeling because if I could have my exact children, but spaced out, I'd say no, I love having them together. But part of me misses getting to go through it twice