Baby Number 3 - All stories please!

[uhohtrouble]

Found out on Wednesday that baby number 3 will be arriving.

I am in shock and almost disbelief (I thought you had to have sex to get pg?!) and not sure of the whole situation, but i know I could never face the alternative.

Can I have some stories of going from 2-3 kids please, my DD's are at the moment 2.8 and 1.5yrs

ARGHHHHHHH

I wanted a third (DC's are now 3.5, 4.5) and ended up preg with twins. First 2 pregs were a doddle, but this one much harder as the demands of the children have to be met (bending down, playing, entertaining, getting up during the night, etc) so have really not enjoyed being preg and just hope everything works out okay. Am still getting my head around 2 more at the same time and hope I fall in love with them when they are born. I think a third to tuck under your arm will be manageable for you and wish you all the luck and health.

Hi uhohtrouble, having 3, and especially having 3 under 5 yrs is certainly really hard work, but I wouldn't change my family plan (now 8 and a half, 7, and 4 and a half). I deliberately chose to have my children close together, and might have had the 3rd sooner if my 2nd hadn't been scheduled to have major heart surgery before 2yrs old. I was one of 3 myself, but lost a brother at 21yrs in a car crash - both factors influencing my choice I think. I felt a real physical need to have a 2nd child, but having my 3rd was entirely a head-decision by contrast. My kids play together pretty well, and we are increasingly able to do things as a family which would be more difficult with a spaced family. I was fortunate that my 3rd was easygoing and healthy, but in the early days I bought in a bit of extra support - a nanny-help to do tea and bathtime 3 days a week - all I could afford. You said finances are tight, so why not see if you could get help from a nanny college - they apparently need lots of opportunities to look after several small children at once, and though you would be "training" them and not able to use them as free childcare, it could be a godsend. Another thing that I found really helpful was one of those Graco automatic swing chairs. I could park No.3 happily in there while I gave the other 2 tea, and maybe even baths etc. When No.3 was a bit bigger a "Bumbo" was useful too, (a seat which allows a baby to "sit" up). I hope that you enjoy your new baby as much as I did.

Also, mad4girls, I haven't got real experience of space issues, but when on holiday we have squeezed our 3 into quite small rooms, in order to keep our privacy. Have you considered a "truckle-bed" arrangement - ie having a third bed on wheels that fits under the bottom bunk during the day. Alternatively, a bed that swings upright against the wall, (my mum had one like that for my brother when we were kids). Good luck!

Now you already know my feelings, 3 under 3.3yrs when DD2 was born. It is fine. Some days when all ill etc do feel stressed but generally get yourself into a little routine and all will be ok.

Going to the shops is ok as long as you go prepared with something to entertain. 2 youngest in the trolley with a drink / snack and oldest has task of looking for certain bits.