Any third babies on the way??

[MrsAmelia]

Hi Ladies,
Just wondering if there are any mums who are pregnant with their third child?

I’m 41 and have two other DCs (5 & 3). I am now 22 weeks with my third (& last) baby.

Any others out there? Want to share some concerns/worries and advice about juggling three cherubs?

I hope you’re all getting sleep too. I am definitely already experiencing a sleep deficit of sorts (pregnancy insomnia, child nightmares & 3 year old’s night terrors, etc). I’m slightly nervous about lacking sleep going into this with a third one, but maybe things will improve ??

💐💐

Me I’m 34, have a just turned 5 year old and a 2 year old. I’m 13 weeks and feeling absolutely shattered! Both my 2 still sleep in bed with me and I’m desperately trying to usher them out before the baby.

Yes, I have a 4.5 year old, an almost 2 year old and I’m 15 weeks with my 3rd. My first 2 DC are both full on so it will be hard work I’m sure.

@Crabbo my youngest is still in bed with me too.

Hello. I have a nearly 12yr old and a 7yr old. Number 3 was a surprise and I'm having him a week on Thursday by section.

Hello, I'm 28 I also have a 5 year old and a 3 year old and I'm 38 weeks with my 3rd baby. My 3 year old needs my 1 to 1 attention to get to sleep every night and my DP isn't usually home at bedtime, so I'm worried about how thay is going to work once DP is back at work

Hi ladies,

I'm 29 and 10+weeks pregnant with baby number 3.
My son is 12 and daughter 8 so I've got quite a big gap.
I can honestly say this has been the hardest pregnancy of them all and I've really suffered with sickness to the point that I'm now on medication.
This pregnancy has just been so different to my others xx

Me! I have 5, 3 and am pregnant after miscarriage now although very early days (5 weeks).

Oh Ladies ... we are definitely all heading down an interesting path 😂

I’m worried about keeping my 5 year old updated on her learning all the while entertaining my 3 year old - I’m losing on both fronts equally 🤦‍♀️🤦‍♀️

All I want to do around 2:30/3pm is take a very very long and peaceful nap but it remains a mirage in the distance 😭😭

I keep worrying about how I will ever manage school run and nursery run plus keep to a feeding schedule of a newborn. Neither my husband nor myself have family in the UK so no village for help or support. It’s always been tricky but I am praying this little new addition isnt going to be the straw which broke the camels back.

What other worries might you all have? Advice from friends or relatives of threes? 💗💗

@mrsamelia I'm 37 and 20 weeks pregnant. I have a 4 year old and a 6 year old. Like you, I have no family in England. My husband is irish and I'm french. I'm worried about having to give birth alone as I dont know who will look after the kids. At first I was going to ask the neighbours or a friend, but now I'm wondering what the situation will be like in September (when I'm due) and if they will be another second wave, if we'll be in a lockdown again etc. Also, my second baby was breech and I had a c section. I'm very worried about having another breech baby because I dont want a c section as I'll have no one to help apart from my husband and it will be tricky when he goes back to work.
I'm also very tired right after lunch. Sometimes I have a short nap of 20 minutes. I just tell the kids to play in their rooms while I'm resting. They're very good and leave me for a while.

@lilice - sounds like we have similar scenarios 😊
Where are you based, if you don’t mind me asking? We are London-based.

I’ll be having a section on Sept 1st or 2nd (I’ve got history of pre-eclampsia) so could be earlier even but doctors are worried if we have a boy the school start date would potentially be an issue for us. Anyway...

We’ve been discussing similar issues - what do we do on day and week of birth with our other two children? It’s only one of two options for us(both options heavily dependent on where the UK is with regards to a Covid-19 & potential second wave etc) - hire a nanny? Accept friends help, but that’s not necessarily a solid option because they also have school aged children & Sept 1/2 they’ll (in theory) be back at school those days.
Dilemma Dilemma Dilemma

If you had a c-section and have no assistance, is your husband able to work from home? We’ve been entertaining this idea too for us. My DH is considering requesting a WFH continuance from now til Oct given Im pregnant and our children are young (again potentially not returning to school til Sept) and we are without help. My DH is Italian and we’d love to have his sisters come help but so far it appears EU Commission Pres keeps stating she isn’t keen on opening continental Europe to the UK due to high infections & continued death rate at high levels and limiting cross border European travel between Schengen & non-Schengen states til Nov/Dec (due to worry of second wave impact). So... that means literally no family help at all & potential grounds to be permitted to continue WFH to help me out managing. If your DH already is WFH it might be an option for you too as a plan if you end up having a section...??

I’m more scared to have my section without my DH because we have no one to watch our children! That thought actually terrifies me. I’ve had both children via emergency and elective sections and each time the relief at seeing his face after recovery was immense. I can not imagine being on my own and that scares the life out of me 😳😢

Just thinking out loud ....

I'm going to be having my section alone. It upset me at first but I'm fine with it now.

@delbelleber - what?!? Really? Is this by choice? Surely it’s not an imposed policy?!?

It is my choice yes. I would be allowed a birth partner with me up until 1 hour in the recovery room but I'm not getting on with the babies dad and I'm going to do it alone.

I'm 32 weeks pregnant with my third (and last). My children are a lot older 13 and 11, baby wasn't planned but very much wanted. Been an awful pregnancy though.
At the moment I've been told my husband can stay with me to have my c section but won't be allowed on the ward. I'm hoping I'll only have to stay in for one night especially as I can't have visitors.
Feeling anxious about coping afterwards without my.usual support network and worried about getting PND. Had it with my first and remember it being a really dark time.
Also sleep, what's that?😀

Another London mama here :) I have a nearly 14 year old DD, a 6 year old DD and nearly 25 weeks with our third DD :)

I’m 34.

After the birth of their third child , my son summed it up perfectly “ two children wasn’t enough, but three is too many’. That said, none of us would be without number three who is a perfect delight.

Hello!

I am 38, and just over 20 weeks pregnant with an unexpected third. My other DC are 6 and 5. Very worried about the sleep deprivation and giving the eldest two (who fight non-stop 😭) enough attention and fun when back to cluster feeding/nap times etc...

Fortunately my mother is nearby, which will help a lot, but nonetheless I am nervous!

Great to chat to others in the same boat.

London mum too!

3rd boy due in a month or so depending on when they book my induction.

I have a 13 year old and an almost 4 year old.

I have a question for 3rd time mumma's!

I'm 34 weeks and my boobs still feel empty, no swelling, tenderness, leaking- is anyone else the same?

@pollysproggle my breasts never felt different during pregnancy, no leaking or anything. However this time I decided to harvest colostrum which I started last week. Its quite a long and mildly frustrating process. I've managed about 5ml over the week. I've been watching videos on YouTube and apparently whether you have no milk or loads of milk before the birth really doesn't make any difference to your supply after the birth. So if you plan on breastfeeding don't worry about breast changes in pregnancy. With my other babies my milk didn't come in till day 5, so I was hoping to give myself a head start with the colostrum harvesting.

@Delbelleber
I've been reading about this too, first time I'd ever heard of it and only came across it as I have gestational diabetes with this pregnancy. I've had a little squeeze but nothing there yet.
I did breastfeed my first two for a year- 18 months and can remember needing to use breast pads before they were born because of leaking but not sure what stage that was.

Are you using a pump for colostrum harvesting? I do want to try it!

i'm on my 3rd - well 7th really. I have two DC from my previous marriage who are 11 and 14 years old.
I've had 4 MC with my DP, three of those were MMC. I'm now 10+4 weeks and terrified of it going wrong. I'm also 40 so we are planning on booking a Harmony test as soon as the local clinic starts doing them.
I've also had a SCH so had several massive bleeds with clots and the 1st time that happened we assumed we'd lost the baby.

It's such an anxious time!

If we get that far, then I will also be having a c-section as my first two were c-sections. Due at the end of November!! (fingers crossed)

@MrsAmelia when I had my c section the last time, my parents in law came to help me for a week after my husband went back to work. This time we wouldn't be able to do that, but yes you're right it would make sense to ask my husband's work to extend his wfh arrangements.

For the mamas who are given birth quite soon, what are you doing with your other kids?

Here 👋🏻 36 weeks with number 3, have an almost 5 yo and an almost 2 yo. Being induced.
Swinging between panic that I’ll probably be giving birth alone and a weird excitement/relief that I’ll get some time to myself out of the house for the first time in months.

It’s really lovely to read and know there are a few of us in similar boats (ie third babies on the way).

@mdh2020 - I love that! Made me laugh out loud. I can imagine my first child saying something similar after a week of a newborn at home and having to share our attention. 😂

I am worried about the jealousy and insecurities another sibling may add to the scene at their young ages (5 & 3). My oldest is very very attached to me when we are in the house, while
my 3 year old seems happy to get her cuddle “fixes” from anyone, so long as she gets them 😁😍

@Frazzlerock - I’ll keep my fingers & toes crossed for you. The first trimester is such a period of nerves, anxiety and heightened emotions on all fronts. I did the Harmony as well and felt relieved once I’d gotten the scan that day done & dusted (heartbeat & movements). Keep us all updated on how things go 💐

@pollysproggle - THREE BOYS!???!! You are a proper full on “boy mama” 😂😂✝️✝️😎😎 I have so much respect for boy mamas! The endless quantities of energy 😅😅
And you’re due soon! Are you north of the river or south? I’m sure everything will go well.
My boobs are definitely sore and larger but I’ve had nothing yet (was wondering something similar too). I can’t remember when precisely I began leaking. I think I had leaking a wee bit before the births but not by much. @delbelleber - Interesting idea re: harvesting colostrum in advance, particularly for c-section births. Have you used a pump at all?

@CanAnyMother - Re: timing feeds and the others needs - I concur! I’m quite worried about that as well. I’m hoping my girls will be in school & nursery in Sept so at least days will give me time to pump and store for moments when b/f-ing is impossible to juggle with the other two. My two girls are mega noisy too (literally deafeningly loud 😳😅)

Im 36 and pregnant with my 3rd child i have 2 boys age 7 and 5 and due my 3rd and final baby in sept another bouncing baby boy, ive felt a bit down about peopke reactions to having another boy, almost as if they are upset for me, so many people have said oh well you can try again, i dont need to try again this baby completes our family, its quite upsetting that people feel that u need to have a biy and a girl!! Other than that things are going well just seems strange buying bits and bobs during the pandemic not properly being able to go out and buy things, definitely seems a very different pregnancy to before.