Already want another baby, surely this isn't normal?

[2ducks2ducklings]

My baby is one week old today. I had a straightforward pregnancy (medically) although I suffered with sickness all the way through, as well as horrendous heartburn and hip pain toward the end. I worked up to 38 weeks and our son was born 4 hours late at 40 + 1 weeks. The labour was amazing. I mean, don't get me wrong, it was mind bendingly painful but, what an experience! He was born less than an hour of us getting to hospital. Even the normally terrifying first visits to the toilet were absolutely fine.
We're all so in love with him, my older children are besotted with him and I honestly feel so happy.
I know it's quite common for women to get the 'baby blues' after birth, but I don't know what this is. I don't really generally enjoy the pregnancy part of this experience, but I'm missing it. I miss that excitement and I miss being part of something so amazing and special. My older children are 9 and 12 so the age gap is huge and now I'm thinking our new baby should have a sibling close to his age in the near future.
Surely the usual thinking is 'oh my god, never again' so soon after birth but I'm thinking if I was physically all healed and I could guarantee no sickness, I'd be seriously considering doing it all again very soon.
Has anyone else ever felt like this or am I some sort of glutton for punishment or something?

[goingagain]

I felt like this after having all three of my babies (2 years apart), from the second they were born for the first few days / weeks. Reality of course does set in what with the sleep deprivation etc! Also you have quite a big gap with this and the last one so perhaps the feeling is exaggerated? Dunno.


I am now pregnant with number 4, another two year age gap...

[DinoMania]

Congratulations to you OP and everyone else with new babies.

I felt exactly the same as you and still do now DS is 6 months. We started TTC again when he turned 3 months as that's when I stopped BFing too. (Don't know how great it would be for your body to be pregnant and BF too, you'd have to proper manage your diet to ensure all 3 of you were getting the right stuff!)

I know the recommended time to wait is 18 months for your body to fully recover but if so want them to be as close together as possible

[24carrot]

Oh my goodness 2ducks2ducklings, you sound like you are going through exactly the same as me... I even just started another thread about it on the 'larger families' board and one of the ladies helpfully pointed me to your thread...

My DC3 is 15 days old - I was convinced the whole time I was pregnant that this would be the last baby, but as soon as she was born I started wondering whether I can persuade DH to have another and when would be a good time to do it... I guess it's partly hormonal and partly just emotional because it's such a massive thing to have a new baby, it's hard to come to terms with the idea that this is really the last time. Also when the birth has been exhilarating then you do start feeling a bit like Superwoman - nature is so clever at tricking us into doing it again!

Anyway congratulations and hope you enjoy all the baby cuddles with your little boy. I'm sure you will know what you want to do when the time comes to decide whether to go again - you have done it three times now so will be under no illusions about the work involved! That's what I'm hoping anyway... 🤞Going to leave it a year before I really let myself think seriously about it!

[keepingbees]

I was in a similar position to you when I had my second. Wasn’t a great pregnancy but easy birth and felt good afterwards. Knew I wanted another so just saw what happened, breastfeeding seemed a pretty good contraceptive as I normally fall pregnant very quickly but I got pregnant again when she was 9 months old.
I would wait a little while just to give your body time to recover and for your hormones to settle. Also see how good your new baby is with sleeping and naps - that could change your mind

[spnfan]

I had a difficult labour with DD which resulted in and EMCS. 4 weeks later I was ready for another baby. It only took me 18 months to get DH on board with the idea!

[Sarahh2014]

I think they recommend u wait 6 months after delivery but I know people who waited less than that and all was good

[minniemouseears]

Fairly common I think so i do woner if it is hormones or just that youve had a major life event with s huge build up... my freind cried on her wedding day because the build up was over and she'd never get to do it again (rationalising that divorce is fairly common wasn't really the conversation to have so I stayed quiet haha). I felt so elated after my eldest dd arrived I felt like I was dancing on air had a horific labour with ds I'd dreaded her arrival so for it to go so smoothly and not be in agony post delivery like previously well I felt like I wanted to do it over and over again amazing. After ds differcult delivery however I had felt sore and rubbish then one day when he was about a week old I suddenly felt so sad my bump was gone and I missed all the planning the shopping packing hospital bag etc I missed the build up the will this be the day feeling. I don't think I actually felt broody though we got pregnant (woops) when he was 4 month old that was so stressful but all worked out fab they are best freinds and so close just over 13 months apart and now 8 and 9. Just enjoy the feeling and your lo and if it doesn't go away when the hormones settle then maybe talk to your partner about ttc congratulations on your newest addition x

[DeadDoorpost]

My mil was exactly the same. She loved being pregnant especially as she was told she'd never be able to have children and then went on to have 9... and my mum had us 4 very close together too.
I'd definitely wait until hormones have settled down and you've healed up. After then, we how you feel and go from there.
Congratulations and good luck

[MissConductUS]

First, congratulations on your new baby! Second, I think all sorts of feelings happen post partum as you absorb the experience and your hormones start adjusting back to normal.

So don't overthink it and just focus on taking care of yourself and the latest addition to the family.

[LazyDaisy6]

I feel like that with an 8month DS and I'm still being told it's hormones and that I should wait!!