Is your August babe your last?

[artgirl]

Mine was.
I have mixed emotions about it. If I were younger... if I'd met my dh when I was younger... I might have wanted to have more. But at 36... and ds being our 3rd... well... we are done.
I've had three fantastic pregnancies. No complications, not much discomfort beyond heartburn. Pretty easy time losing the weight... I really enjoyed them. I've also had three wonderful labors/deliveries. Not to mention, of course the three wonderful children that have resulted from all of this.
So part of me will miss all the excitement and wonderment of creation. The miracle of it all. I'm no longer a player in the game. I'm leaving this stage of my life behind. (okay, so I'm being a little dramatic since I've only been out of the *game* for one week now ) but in essence, it's true. So, my uterus, which has served it's purpose supremely will lie dormant now for the rest of my life. This is the last baby I'll breastfeed... etc.
I think I kinda have to mourn what is gone now and then move wholeheartedly into my future with these little beings who've joined our family.
How are the rest of you *done* mamas feeling?
(I have to admit... there's still a tiny part of me holding out for adoption at some point if our life leads us to a place where that would be feasible but don't tell my dh yet... his head will explode)

[BoringTales]

We aren't done, but we would like to wait a few years between this one and the next. We are in the middle of a birth control battle right now.

Hormonal bc is not acceptable to us due to the chances of it working post-conception, he doesn't want to wear condoms, and the diaphragm and sponge aren't effective enough alone for me to feel comfortable.

I imagine that regardless of how many kids we end up having I'll feel the same way when we decide we are 'done'. I have easy pregnancies, I like being pregnant, I love having babies and watching them grow. I do hope I get to a place after the next one (or two!) where I just *know* though...

[crunchymommy26]

We're done. I've had difficult pregnancies, and mentally I just can't handle another pregnancy.

[chlobo]

We're done. I'm 41 & just don't have the energy. Plus, I'm quite neurotic & worry too much. Makes things less enjoyable.

[twilight girl]

I'm done. DH and I always agreed on that point, that we only wanted two children. As it is he's in a panic about the state of the planet and what kind of world our children will inherit when they come of age ... I was lucky to get the second one out of him.

I'm good with it. I would have had forever lingering "I want to be pregnant again" feelings had we stopped with DD. I really enjoyed this second pregnancy, and I totally got the birth experience I wanted with Teo. I am feeling very complete with my family of four

Now to work out our rest of our life birth control plan :

[quetinha]

I am 36 too. I still hope to have one more after this one. But I know I will feel the same. I feel it even thinking I can only do it one more time. I loved being pregnant. I loved giving birth to him. It makes me sad that these wonderful things can only happen so few times in our life. Who knows, maybe we'll wind up with more than 1 more but realistically it will just be the one.
I asked my dh once if he were jealous that I got to carry the baby and he seemed to think that was a crazy idea but he doesn't know how much he misses. He knows with the bf'ing. I think he secrets wishes I would formula feed so he could be more involved. I assure him that I will start pumping soon (lc suggested at 4 weeks) so he can be more involved.

[EkkaGrrl]

This is my last. This baby is my suprise baby, dd was supposed to be my last. I think 3 is a great number for my family and I'm really enjoying watching my kids grow up. My pregnancy days are done but there is still so much to look forward to with my kids!

[lyttlewon]

I am not sure. I really want to adopt but I don't know if we ever will.

[josybear]

dh will get his vasectomy asap. but i hope to adopt a girl in a few years. we never wanted kids, then ds1 came along so we had one more to give him a brother... i really want a girl but there's no way in h i'm willing to be pregnant again. but hopefully if we adopt i'll still be nursing so i can bfeed the adoptee.

[Jster]

Part of me says never say never...but then, this baby was such a pleasant surprise! I was mosy-ing along in life, single mama to two girls, planning on one day foster/adopting more kids, when along came this wonderful man, and not too much later a surprise baby on the way. What a treat!

I think in some ways I'm actually at peace with this possibly being my last biokid. I do think we'll do foster care in the future, perhaps after we've done some adventuring and the kids are getting older.

And like many of you, we don't have a real birth control "plan." I don't want anything hormonal, condoms don't work well for us, and this baby came during NFP (still not quite sure what happened). So part of me also admits that, unless we plan well otherwise, nature might have something else in store for us. :

[ShabbyChic]

I am 35, and this was a very complicated pregnancy for us. It was my first c-section. DH would like more children, but I say, with some sadness that we are done. I cannot believe my child bearing years are now behind me. I can't believe that 4, 5 or 6 years from now, this baby will wean and I will not breastfeed again. I can't believe that I will not give birth again. This is a biggie for me. The world is spinning too fast these days. I am going to concentrate on embracing the here and the future, and not mourn what is gone. But, it's hard. I am sure that as time advances it will become easier. I hope.

[mommysusie]

I'm 31 and even though this was a complicated pregnancy and really tested our relationship, I'm not sure this was our last. I have 3 other children from my previous marriage and this was suppose to be the only one from my DH, but now I'm not so sure. I don't plan on using any BC except for natural family planning which has worked for me for years, so I guess if we decide to try to have another one, we could.

[supermuma]

I go back and forth. This was my third baby and it was a lot harder than the first two..I had no complications and a beautiful homebirth..but, it has just been harder recovering for some reason..age maybe?..there were 6 years between.

If we do go for number four, it will be a few years (at least..I hope! )..but not too many because I don't want to be too much older.

After number 4 though..(if there is one)...someone is getting fixed..and it is going to be dh.

[Alohamelly]

With as many issues as I'm having right now with this baby, I can't believe I'm considering another. But I do want another one. I just don't know when.

[artgirl]

It makes me sad that these wonderful things can only happen so few times in our life.

I agree.

[MamaRabbit]

My mom had her first (me) at 28. I'm 28 and now have 4 in 4 years. We said we wanted 4. But I just don't feel done. If we do have more (and I dread 15 or so years of birth control), it would be when the twins are potty trained and almost ready for school.

[mommysusie]

Originally Posted by MamaRabbit

My mom had her first (me) at 28. I'm 28 and now have 4 in 4 years. We said we wanted 4. But I just don't feel done. If we do have more (and I dread 15 or so years of birth control), it would be when the twins are potty trained and almost ready for school.

I know how you feel. After I had my twins, my exdh said we were done but I just didn't "feel" done. Then I got divorced and met my now dh. I have never felt an urge to have someone's baby like I did with that man. I thought this baby would make me feel done, but I am seriously still open to the idea of having another one, just not for a little while. But, the fact that I'm 31 now, will make me have to decide in the next few years whether or not I will.

[babz]

People who don't like birth control - have you ever thought of using Natural Family Planning (fertility awareness)?

Look into sympto-thermal methods. Northwest Family Services offers an on-line course http://www.nwfs.org/couples.htm. (86.00) There's a "registration forms" link at the top of the page. Also, CCL offers a homestudy kit - http://ccli.org/store/onlineshopping...rder_by=name#C. It's only 70.95.

When used correctly, NFP - STM is very effective, at similar levels to the Pill, without the side affects.

[MamaRabbit]

I use NFP but prefer a no-brainer

[mom22girls]

Actually dd2 was our last . I'm an NFP'er who said "okay" when she should have said, "no way!" I'm 40, had an uncomfortable pregnancy - 3rd c/s and lots of scar tissue. While I do believe I was given a gift with dd3, I. am. done.