How many children do you have ........and why?

2 DDs with 21 months between. Got on waiting list for sterilisation 14 years on and lo and behold was pregnant with DS a month later. He was obviously meant to be and I got to the top of the list!!

downtoearth and Anniebach.

I was determined not to repeat the 13 year gap between my sister and me, so we'd three under 4, and would have had four if I hadn't miscarried DS's twin. We decided not to go for a fourth purely for reasons of finance and space, but I would have loved another. No problems with the three though, and no sign of DD2 ever suffering as a middle child.

AnnieB and Downtoearth

I wanted a honeymoon baby but she arrived 16 months after the honeymoon followed 3 years later by DD2 and then 4 years later by DD3. I thought they were all boys but wouldn't have changed them for the world. Both DH and I were only children so sadly, ours didn't have aunts, uncles or cousins. However they have all made up for that by marrying into big families and producing 8 beautiful children between them.

2 sons, DS1 born exactly a year after our wedding; DS2 born 21 months later exactly as planned. Each one was born on his predicted date. Might have had another but DS2 had health probems which made him very demanding and another baby would have made life much more difficult. Both grew up healthy and are great dads.

2 sons, DS1 born exactly a year after our wedding; DS2 born 21 months later exactly as planned. Each one was born on his predicted date. Might have had another but DS2 had health probems which made him very demanding and another baby would have made life much more difficult. Both grew up healthy and are great dads.

11

But only 3 home grown (in under 4 years) Have adopted 8 but sadly 3 have died. The ages now range from 45-10 yikes loos bad on paper

When we got together my husband already had two children from previous marriage, both late teens. I was early 30s and didn't have any children, he knew I wanted them and agreed to having two more. If we hadn't got together he probably wouldn't have had anymore. I left it nearly 4 years between our boys, my choice, my husband urged me to get on with it as he was well into his 40s whilst I was thinking about number 2. 10 years ago, his son from his first marriage died. Whilst no child can ever be replaced, he has told me, although he had misgivings about starting a second family, he is glad he did, as it has been all of us, me, daughter, daughter in law, our two sons and three granddaughters, his son's girls who got him through those dark days. Since that time we now have two grandchildren of our own.

After a 28 week miscarriage (a boy), I rebelliously got pregnant again within 10 weeks. - DD1. Second planned DD2 two yeas later. She was such an easy baby I thought I must have got the hang of this baby lark and was so impossibly broody we decided to have number 3. Allowed a bit of time to get pregnant which I didn't need. DS was born 7 weeks prem 18 months later.

I would have loved four but we couldn't afford it so I childminded instead. I don't think DD2 feels hard done by being the middle one. They're all too different.

When my DGD1 was born, also 7 weeks prem, daughter having severe pre-eclampsia, I was surprised by my reaction when she pointed to a baby in a nearby incubator. He'd been born at 27 weeks. I'd thought I was reasonably unsentimental about loosing that first baby but found I couldn't look at this child. 'What if's' came to the surface I didn't know where there. (After all I wouldn't have the wonderful children I do have if my first born had lived)

an unexpected multiple into the mix
soontobe I do like that expression!

Because DD2 was a 'Lammas Lamb' (another great term) I have often thought it would have been nice if she had had a twin to keep her company, although they do all get on well despite the gap between her and the other two.

Anniebach and * Nfd* hugs for you bothxxx

they do all get on well - most of the time, fingers and toes crossed, don't tempt fate .....

anniebach and Nfd

I know that life is never quite as straightforward as you think it is going to be when you're young and optimistic.

And Downtoearth

DD1 and DD2 planned with 2 years and 9 months between them. DD3 a very happy surprise. I sometimes think I subconsciously wished that pregnancy as I would have loved more children. Financial and space reasons plus Dh not so keen to have any more.

So sorry for those of you who have lost children at any stage, I can't start to imagine what it would be like.

to those of you who have lost children.

I had DD1 5 years after we were married, discovered I was pregnant the day before my appointment at the sub-fertility clinic. DD2, unplanned but greatly loved, arrived 2yrs 6 weeks after her sister. I had had a coil in place but she did not let that stop her!

I am oldest of 3, DH is youngest of 4 so in-laws range from my SiL who is 82 and my younger brother who is 52! My DDs have no cousins of a similar age to them

One - when I was 17 in 1968..... I was lucky enough to keep him and to be a grandma now. Never had any more, as it didn't seem fair to my son. My wonderful husband (of over 30 years - he has no children) was fine either way. I never regretted my choices. Feel we are so lucky to have the life and family we have, including grandchildren.

Anniebach and Downtoearth

We started with twins too Grumpa which was a huge shock to the system! They were girls. I wondered what it was like to have a singleton birth and DS came along almost 3 years later. After 4 years, I got broody again as the older 3 had started school. DD3 came along. She was supposed to be a boy to keep DS company, but the best laid plans....... It has all led to 'interesting' family dynamics.

After that, DH had the snip..... Twice!

We have three children, two daughters and a son.Also three grandchildren, two boys and a girl.Would have liked four children really, but with no parents or anybody to help out , as they had all died by then, life was tiring enough with three!

Oh, I'd not tohugh about the rest of the family Penstemmon! DH is 3rd of 4 boys and his brother is 77. I'm the eldest and my youngest sibling is 56. Our children have 6 cousins around the same age as our eldest 3 but the younger ones have no cousins close to them in age. We have 6 DGC who range from 8 down to 2.5. Aren't families fascinating?

I'm so glad there are a lot of three's! I always felt A bit guilty having three. That it was a bit irresponsible in our overcrowded world! I feel better now that our DC have only four between them - it sort of evens things out!

Sorry Kitty! Didn't mean you were irresponsible or anything! (envious really) it's just the way I was often made to feel when mine were little. Especially as DS was so close (18 month gap). The assumption was always that he was an accident.

We have four children 2 girls and 2 boys. and one Grandchild.

Anniebach and Downtoearth, and any of you who have lost children
Since I was a teenager I always wanted to have 2 boys and 2 girls. With husband no.1 we had 2 boys and one girl, within 5 years. Birth control wasn't very reliable in those days! But all very welcome.
Then when I married my present husband he had custody of his little girl, just a year younger than my daughter, so that was my dream come true . So we didn't try for any more, sometimes I wish we had but too late now.
It wasn't always easy as they were growing up, but they're a lovely family TG.

We were blessed with two healthy daughters and I and thankful that if my husband had to die young it wasn't after the two little orphans had come to call him Daddy , they had enough grief in their short lives

Most of you know my story, DS1 now 37, DS2, would be 26 but died at 19.

Terminated a pregnancy on Drs advice (had been on various drugs for pain management, didn't realise I was pregnant,) that baby would have been born when DS2 was about 16 months, then miscarried one twin and had to have the other induced at around 16 weeks gestation.