I was in two minds about watching One Born Every Minute last night.
It is not because I don’t enjoy the series.
I have followed it since in started in Southampton which isn’t far from me and a couple of the midwives in it I knew personally. I enjoyed being able to share the joy, the pain and the beauty of childbirth plus the added bonus of laughing at the annoying husbands or partners.
This series has brought home the fact that Sebastian is definitely our last baby.
It is a decision we didn’t take lightly. We are very lucky to have 6 beautiful, happy and healthy children but that doesn’t stop me looking wistfully at a newborn if I see one.
Pregnancy with my last three children saw me dealing with Gestational Diabetes but it was manageable and I coped well. My pregnancy with Sebastian was challenging to say the least. At our 12 week scan we were told the baby had a 1:10 chance of having Downs Syndrome and we made the difficult choice to have a CVS which is a horrendous procedure. Thankfully is all came back clear, but I was on tenterhooks for the rest of the pregnancy as that procedure can cause miscarriage and early rupture of the membranes. I also suffered from Polyhydramnios which is too much water, which is also dangerous for the baby.
I was very lucky to have 5 natural births with no issues, but Sebastian was a different story and after 2 days of stop start labour and a failed induction I ended up having an emergency Caesarian, which was a huge shock. It still baffles me as to why people would choose to have a caesarean if they have no medical need as it completely knocked me off my feet.
It took me a good 6 months to feel fully recovered and I still get niggles to this day, plus I hate the way my stomach hangs over the scar which is still a bit lumpy and bumpy. However, my gorgeous little man was safe and is a constant joy (despite the teething).
Back in September,when Sebastian was three months old, hubby had a vasectomy so there is no changing our minds now.
I am happy with our decision but watching this series of One Born Every Minute will be a bittersweet one for me.
I had an emergency section too and It definitely knocked me for 6! Took me so long to recover. I’d love one more though but not sure if it’ll happen. U always forget you’ve got 6. You seem to have such a calm type of household (errrr as much as anyone can say that by reading a blog I mean :))
Hmmmm……calm? Not sure its calm – I am fairly laid back though. My house isn’t a show home – clean but not overly tidy lol
I think it is going to be difficult whenever you have to make that decision but I don’t blame you, after 6 I think I would be ready to say that’s enough too! We are in two minds at the moment – we have two and I would really like another, will have to see what happens!
Good luck. Even having six doesnt stop the emotional pull of wanting another – sense has prevailed though
Wow, 6 well done, they must keep you busy.
Yep – very busy!
My OH had the snip last year too. It is a strange feeling isnt it, my logical side is absolutely certain I am done, but there is still a part of me that feels sad about not doing it again!
That is just how I feel too
I loved watching OBEM during my first pregnancy, but I’ve not watched a single episode since my daughter was born nearly 4 years ago. A major placental abruption resulted in an emergency section under general anaesthetic, with an emergency hysterectomy also. Of course, I’m happy for all new mums, but I simply can’t bear to watch these anymore. The memories are still too painful.
I cannot imagine the stress you went through for your entire pregnancy with Sebastian. He’s a little miracle!
I feel for you having the option for another baby taken away, that must be so hard. I can understand why you don’t want to watch but so glad your daughter is here safely xx
I can’t face watching it, as reason and my head tells me to stop where we’re at – aged 38, with two happy and healthy kids – while my heart just melts at the newborns. There was a risk I might need a C section last time and I too couldn’t understand why anyone would ever opt for this.
Reading some other blogs on why they have chosen shows me there is almost always a good reason. Not one I would choose though
You have beautiful children x
Thank you lovely xx
I had an emerg c-section with my first at the age of 19 its was awful! we have just had another baby im 22 and decided that i am done!! also didnt watch OBEM to stop that feeling of wanting another x
I had a big gap between my eldest three and my youngest three. I am too old to change my mind now
Its hard making a decision and it being a no turning back type. I find it hard as I wanted a big family and had to accept that I am lucky to have twins via IVF, but not any more babies. Physically stopping the process does not stop the emotional desire! Lots of posts and tweets on this just lately.
That is so true. I know I am so lucky to have my children and everyone is shocked when I say we have 6, but it still doesn’t make the desire go away
wow, i don’t think i could cope with one child, let alone six! you must have an incredible amount of patience.
Thank you – you cope because you have to but I have my moments!
Wow 6 kids, that’s an achievement! One has knackered my body and I don’t think we will have another. It’s a difficult decision and I wonder every day if we are doing the right thing. But spending the last 3 months of pregnancy on crutches wasn’t fun. I hope you are at peace with your decision xx
I really feel for you. Hope sharing it like this helps reconcile the feelings a bit more.
Aww I feel for you, my friend had a c section and is mentally very traumatised by it. I can imagine that feeling knowing you are not having anymore is quite bittersweet xx
Such a big decision and one we deliberated over for a while. I was the one to be sterilised when my youngest was one and had to fit really hard to get it done too.
After my 3rd baby, who was my husband’s 10th,(he’s 18 years older than me; he was married for 18 years and had 8 children with his first wife before she died) I felt totally at peace with not having anymore children. I just felt that our family was complete and since she was born nearly 7 years ago, I’ve never felt that desire to have another one.
Occasionally I’ve held a new born and felt nostalgic for those years gone by but never enough to want another.
I reckon my husband was very relieved when I said I didn’t want anymore!
Oh, you are one brave woman! I have had two pregnancies and I know for sure we won’t have anymore! Enjoy your quiver of arrows and if you need to feel the thrill of a delivery, One Born is the option 🙂
I feel terribly broody every time I watch that series. I would like to think I will have another little baby, but who knows!
I think you’re brave having six! Two is more than enough for me and they’re spaced well apart
I really do know how you feel – I can’t watch it right now. I have two happy healthy children, but J and I are TTC and have been for 2 years, so I do get fits of irrational jealousy – especially as J’s sister has just had twins. Huggles to you – you have a beautiful boy and a the perfect baby to complete your family if ever I saw one 🙂
You are very blessed to have six healthy and beautiful children. For some people vaginal birth can knock them out for 6 months or even longer so caesarian is the best option for them. You are so lucky to have had five children without complications. Not everyone is so lucky. I used to love watching OBEM but not able to watch it anymore.
We have also made the decision to not have any more, which was really difficult as we only have one but pregnancy just puts too much pressure on me health wise.
Oh I know what you mean, I can’t watch OBEM because it makes me irrationally broody when I know it simply isn’t possible for the foreseeable future. One of those things I think that takes a while for your head and your heart to agree on xx
I think I’m done with 3.But if I have the chance again (I’m a single mum), I’ll have a lot to weigh up.High five for having six!
I think I’m done after having 3.If I get the chance again (I’m a single mum), I’ll have a lot to weigh up.High fives on having 6 kids!
Awww I can’t watch that programme. I have four beautiful children, two grown up step children and one step grandchild. but if I had a cast iron guarantee another would have had no reflux, EGID, ASD, ADHD and Ehlers Danlos I would def have gone for my magic number – always wanted 5! Parenting with additional needs has really made me realise I just couldn’t cope with more, but I still get broody!
Wow, I don’t know how you manage six. I just about scrape through with three. I have to say that I avoid watching One Born Every Minute as I definitely know I don’t want any more, but you can still feel broody seeing those little teeny scraps. Sounds like the show helped you work through some feelings though.
We made the decision not to have any more babies after our youngest was born almost 5 years ago. It is never an easy decision, and though it has been 5 years and I am fully at peace with it, I still feel a little wistful every time I see a baby. I guess it’s nature’s way 🙂
I gave up watching when my son was around 3 because I just felt I’d moved beyond that phase. It is a wonderful programme though and I do miss watching sometimes x
I did watch OBEM and it still gave me the feeling of I can’t do it again. It just brings back how much it hurts for me lol
I can’t watch it, I’ve wanted bubs number three for years but the Mr has said no. A broody me is not good lol. Xx
I had a section too – worst thing ever! Yet so many women I meet in pregnancy want one! We have to schedule an appointment with the obs if they want one as we can’t make the decision…. and one woman told me ‘well when I go to the appointment I’m going to tell him I have a phobia of childbirth, it worked for all my friends’ … um, ok. Good for you and good luck with the recuperation! It must be amazing to have 6 children though, you look far too young 😉
When I was younger I always wanted a big family, than I changed my mind… I always envy mums with a lot of children but I am not sure I could raise 6 myself…
Well done to you, not everyone could do it
Such big decision to make and a hard one to make. but I think when you know in your heart that is it, then you’ve made the right decision. I can totally understand your fears during your last pregnancy, I think before you have children and you get pregnant you don’t even think of what could go wrong. Only as you get older and wiser to the whole pregnancy journey do you realise how wrong it can all go. I’m super happy for you that you have your happy family x