When did you know?

[njmom47]

I had my DDs with my first husband, then had my tubes tied. I knew I did not want any more children with him!
Fast forward to a year later. I met my current dh, he had never had any children, and II asked a rhetorical question to the big wide open sky, and low and behold, 3 months later, I found out I was pregnant with DS.
We knew we were complete at that point!

It is a very personal decision though.

PS I get my "baby fix" with my dgd; she's 2. I do love when her Mommy comes to pick her up though!

 

[HelenePA]

When I accidently got pregnant with twins a month before my IUD appointment. Trust me, I felt DONE. Some people say a woman never feels done, but I do, and I'm thankful for my happy accident - no more "what ifs."

Oh I feel Done alright... I danced around the hospital room after #4 because I wasn't pregnant anymore. My nurse looked at me strange... but I am just DONE.

 

[ckay87]

I never felt the need to be indefinitely mommying someone. I felt like having babies was like.... there, had the babies, now I'm going to raise them and move on. We had the 2 boys and just never looked back. Even after dropping my first "baby" off at college this year I wasn't sad. I was happy and excited for him. I never felt like I want my "baby back" or to do all that again. I loved the experience of being pregnant and raising little ones, but for me, that's just one life experience of many. So to answer the question, once those two were born, it was just a given that we were done.

 

[Funfire240]

We always talked about 3 but after 2 made the decision (ok, I made the decision). I loved being pregnant with DD although I had somewhat of a hard time. Two years later with DS it was harder on me - I wanted the 2nd child but just couldn't wait for the pregnancy to be done. I had a hard delivery and DS went into respiratory distress. Having them call NICU was the scariest thing for me (he turned out fine thankfully). After he was born I had the urge to have another, but then I would go back to everything I went thru. Even though, I still tossed the idea around in my head but as time went on, I just knew. We had a girl and boy, both were healthy and I didn't want to risk anything more. Now today I love getting up and going and can't wait for DS to be out of diapers. I can't imagine going back to the newborn stages again. (that an I cherish my sleep too much these days! - I honestly don't think I could handle the 3 a.m. feedings!!)

 

[Tigger&Belle]

I just knew. The feeling that someone was missing was way stronger than the feeling that I was crazy for having more. After my daughter and son, I had to convince my then husband that a 3rd was a good idea. I really thought I'd feel done at that point, but didn't, so we had one more. At that point, even though I still loved babies, our family felt complete. Not to mention that child #4 was a SoS....son of satan. Seriously, though, he was a tough toddler/preschooler and there's no way I had the energy for any more. I can't imagine not having him now, though. At 12yo he is such a joy to be around.

 

[Ennazus8810]

Well, we were told it would take a miracle for us to have a baby naturally. A miracle happened. We knew we were incredibly lucky to have one child. We know that lightning doesn't strike twice, so we knew the instant we got pregnant, that we were done. We chose to be happy about what we did have rather than focusing on what we did not have. There is nothing like being denied something to reorient your perspective.

That was me (along with years of fertility treatments-but DD's were conceived with no help) but I am walking proof that lighting can strike twice, sometimes 11 months apart. You just never know. But you are so right about being told "you can't" that makes you enjoy and embrace every second of it when it does happen.

 

[HelenePA]

I just knew. The feeling that someone was missing was way stronger than the feeling that I was crazy for having more. After my daughter and son, I had to convince my then husband that a 3rd was a good idea. I really thought I'd feel done at that point, but didn't, so we had one more. At that point, even though I still loved babies, our family felt complete. Not to mention that child #4 was a SoS....son of satan. Seriously, though, he was a tough toddler/preschooler and there's no way I had the energy for any more. I can't imagine not having him now, though. At 12yo he is such a joy to be around.

OMG that is so my #4 too... he would SO be an only child if he was my first He has broken, damaged caused more chaos than the other 3 combined... NOTHING is safe, if he can see it... he WILL break it... not can, he will. Its just a matter of time... xboxes,wiis, ipods, laptops, reg computers, beds, lamps, chairs, cell phones... ughhhhhhhhh

 

[WishingOnAStar]

I've always heard that you would feel done when you were. Sadly, I've never felt done. We had 3 kids in less than 3 years and I've always wanted more. My husband didn't (he says he felt done enough for both of us! LOL)and, financially, it would not have been a great idea. So.... we stopped at three. I STILL want another one and my youngest is now 14.

I guess I will have to wait for grandchildren....

 

[BreeBree]

Thanks for the input everyone! My main reason for wanting another is because my brother is 20 years older than me and I'm closer to his children than to him! I never want the same large age gaps with my kids so I treat it as a now or never type thing, but that's definitely the wrong way to look at it