How did you know you didn't want any more children?

[Sarahlou19867]

I have two beautiful girls and am thinking about baby number three. My husband and I have always said we want three children but it makes me so sad thinking that this will be my last pregnancy. So now I am thinking maybe we will have four.
What made you realise you don't want any more children and how many do you have?

Pregnant with number 2 and know for sure this will be my last. My anxiety is awful so I won't put myself through it again. I'm currently 9 weeks and have already had an early reassurance scan. Everyday I wake up and hope everything is still OK, I'm driving myself mad

I felt sure when I was pregnant with my third that I wouldn’t and didn’t want to do it again. It was almost like something had “switched off” and it never changed after that.

When we brought DC2 home our family felt complete.

When I envisage my children’s futures there are only ever two of them.

When I see a lovely baby or a pregnancy bump I am delighted for the family but have zero pangs for another of my own.

I count myself lucky to feel completely done and ready to move on to the next stage of parenting. From talking to friends and reading MN I think some women never quite feel ‘done’ all the way up to menopause, and have to make a decision to stop because of finances, or their partner’s wishes, or the effect on their older children, or on their health. I think this is much harder.

@LauEli congratulations!! Sorry that you are feeling that way. Was you like that for your first?

@Evenstar that's interesting, I wonder if that will happen for me. I know i will probably get negative comments for saying this but I feel that I am more likely to want a fourth if the third is another girl. But I guess there is no guarantee the fourth would be a boy!!

I absolutely hated pregnancy and never wanted to do it again. I refused anti d injections during my last pregnancy because I was 100% sure I wasn't doing it again. I've got 2 kids, I've had 3 pregnancies. I'm incredibly lucky. If I'd enjoyed pregnancy it might have been a more difficult decision.

Interesting thread. I’m pregnant with no 2, but I don’t think I’ll know how I feel until after this baby is here and how our family feels once they’re here. I’ve always thought about 2-4 children though so we will have to see! Not sure I want this to be my last pregnancy!

After Number 3 was born. Almost instantly.

I had pretty easy pregnancies with both of mine.

Even after a horrific birth with DC1, there was still no question in my mind that I would do it again.

When I was pregnant with DC2 I was on the fence about whether I would do it a third time, but the idea that it might be my last pregnancy didn’t bother me at all. (Although when I stopped breastfeeding DC2, I found the idea I might never do that again quite upsetting. I still miss breastfeeding!)

For a couple of years after DC2 arrived I could have been persuaded to have a third, but when DC2 was around 3 years old, any broodiness just disappeared overnight and I was totally sure I was never ever going to do the night waking, 5am Peppa Pig marathons, messy weaning and not being able to take my eyes of the 18 month old toddler, ever again.

And knowing my luck, a third pregnancy would have been twins.

I would have loved to have four but I knew that we could really only afford two and we both agreed that we wouldn’t have three. Once our second child was a toddler I started planning my future and embarked on education that would enable me to become a teacher.

When I was pregnant with number 3.

I know I will never put myself through pregnancy again, two is it for me and even that was pushing it! I think people who enjoy pregnancy are crazy

I always said I'd like 3 or 4. I have 3 and the strong desire for another has gone for me. I'v not ruled out number 4 because I could see us with 4 but I wouldn't be devastated if it didn't happen.

Age. I have 3 and had my last at 41. If I’d been younger I would have had a fourth.
Hated being pregnant but love having a big family. 3 is amazing!

I'm pregnant with baby no.3 due on May 1st. This will be it for me and OH. Two reasons. One is I've always and only wanted 3 children (he only wanted 2, but after our last child he said he couldn't wait to have another so we went for it). The other is with every pregnancy I've suffered from bad hyperemis which has got worse in every pregnancy and I just can't do it to myself again (or my OH or children as a matter, I am literally bed ridden for weeks at a time so no good for anything).

I have 2 DC. DD4 and DS2.5. I always thought I would have 2. We have been very lucky to have the 2 we have, but the first 18 months after DS was born were sooo hard, followed by a year of lockdown.
I think we still haven’t completely ruled out having another, but it seems fairly likely we won’t. I definitely don’t want another right now, and I don’t want a big gap, so, we will probably not have any more. And I will be content with that.
I don’t think you (or I) need to make any hard and fast decisions. Just see how it goes.

You just know. I felt just like you. My third is 6 years and although I didn't feel ready for another one I didn't feel ready to say no more. Pregnant with number 4, 100% I will never do this again 😂.

I knew that I was done when my son was born. I have four children. 3 girls and 1 boy

I was adamant that I only wanted one when pregnant with DD but then became really broody almost immediately afterwards.

I had my DS 15 months later and knew instantly that I didn't want more.

They're amazing but a handful and I honestly take my hat off to anyone who can manage more than 2. I haven't the time, energy or money for more.

I was like you with 2, and had a third. Unlike my first two, after my third birth (which was quick and straightforward) I felt very comfortable with the thought I would never do it again. I remember how much it hurt (in a way I didn’t for the first two). Dc3 is growing out of the baby stage now and whilst I feel pangs a little, they’re more nostalgia about when my babies were tiny rather than wanting another baby. I definitely didn’t feel like it after the second one, but thought it unlikely I’d have a third due to fertility issues, so feel immensely lucky.

It also helps that I’ve hardly had a full night’s sleep in nine years.

I have two children, a 14 year old and 6 year old. My sister recently had a baby and she is 36, that was the decider that I didn't want anymore children! I am 37. Hubby currently booked to have the snip! Can't wait lol

I have two and I actually loved being pregnant, but when I thought I might be pregnant with number 3, my overwhelming thought was please let it not be true! Fortunately I wasn't, but that's when I knew!

We always said 2 or 3. In labour with my 2nd I thought, thank goodness I don't have to do that again. I have had a few moments of sadness e.g. giving away the baby bouncer but I am at the point where I am done. Some friends have announced their third pregnancy and all I feel is panic at the thought of having another. I am lucky that it is clear cut for me. Also my eldest DC is easier than my youngest at the moment, so there is a sense of looking forward to the future and not dwelling on the past.

I wanted three. But we would have needed to wait for number two to start school because £2000/month on nursery would have been difficult. And I would have been older than I was comfortable with. Plus I couldn't keep pausing my career.. sounds mercenary put like that, but my head us stronger than my heart apparently

Exhaustion mainly!