I am torn between the decision to have a second child. I am full time working and in my late thirties and have a daughter. Physically I am not of a strong built and lack stamina. Even though I was never of the kind who would feel that 'women are incomplete without having children', I had the first one for the sheer sake of my husband - and to an extent not knowing what 'real' pregnancy and raising a baby takes. Also, back then, I did not really had the idea that its ok not to have a child at all - it was like a norm that u get married and have child/children. I struggled in my pregnancy from the very first trimester. I could hardly digest even lightest of meals during the last weeks - used to have severe heartburns/vomiting bouts. To sum up, except for feeling the baby kick inside, I hated almost every part of being pregnant. Even to this day, it gives me a shiver if I think of those 8-9 months. Not to even mention breast feeding the child over sleepless nights.
My husband had always wanted 2 kids - something we had discussed before marriage as well. I kept on rejecting the idea of second child for past 2 years and it has not gone very well with my husband - he has lost his sleep over this idea and in turn it has badly affected his physical/mental health.
My daughter has not yet asked for a sibling but the kind of energy I have in my home for a while now - 'there is something lacking in our lives' - it has somehow started impacting me and I feel it will soon start impacting my daughter as well.
I have read so many posts about sibling love and the importance of having more than one child. On one end, I still cannot convince myself to go through all this again and on the other there are guilt trips that I am depriving my husband and child of something they deserve. I have talked to my husband about the option of adoption but that is clearly not acceptable to him. Ironically, my sibling dont have children of their own (which means no cousins for daughter) so at this crucial point I have no one to discuss about my dilemmas.
Please can someone share some words of wisdom!