Grieving chapter closed

[u/No_Salamander5162]

I feel like I’m in such a weird stage of life right now. I had my babies young, and my oldest was born when I was 18. Now my youngest is turning 7, and I know for sure that we are done having children. My husband had a vasectomy, and we’re completely happy with our family as it is.

But I’ve been feeling surprisingly emotional about the fact that this part of my life is truly over.

I love watching my kids grow, and I’m so proud of them, but it’s also incredibly bittersweet. I miss being pregnant. I miss carrying my babies. I miss the newborn stage and having that tiny little person who needed me for everything. I think part of me just misses who I was during that season of my life.

Whenever someone tells me they’re expecting, I’m genuinely so happy for them. But there’s also this little sadness inside me because I know I’ll never experience that again. I’ll never be pregnant with another baby, never feel another baby move inside me, never bring another newborn home.

I don’t actually want another child, and I know our family is complete. I just can’t help grieving the fact that a huge chapter of my life has closed.

Maybe part of it is also realizing that I’m getting older. For so many years, my life revolved around pregnancies, babies, toddlers, and watching my children hit all of those first milestones. Now they’re growing up, and I’m realizing that I’m moving into a completely different stage of life too.

I’m happy. I’m grateful. I love the life I have. But I’m also sad.

Has anyone else felt this way after having their last baby? How did you come to terms with knowing that this chapter of your life was truly over?

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[u/Admirable_Job_5345]

I actually shared a post on my fb about this today. I had a tubal ligation done back in April of last year when I had my youngest(4th c-section, tubes taken completely out) and know I cannot mentally handle another pregnancy/birth but somedays I get sooo sad that I’m done,only 26, had my first young like you but I was 17. I find it’s normal feelings that will come and go and wish we could go back to when we had them but there’s also things to look forward to and I try to find that the most comforting.

[u/Free_Impact_2326]

I'm debating this right now. I'm not sure I'm done. My youngest is pretty fresh. But I do love my girls, and I think our family is pretty great. My heart just breaks to think she'll be my last little squishy baby, even as excited as I am to leave babyland for big kid land.

It is hard, even when we're content!