Everything happened naturally. I became a hopeful mom for a third child because I still had so much love in my heart to give. Even though I already had two great loves in my life, I needed to close this cycle in a way that made me feel complete and fulfilled, and I really wanted motherhood to be worth it and for it to be the complete experience my heart was longing for.

At first, I thought it was pure madness in my head, I wondered if I could handle three kids, if everything would just become utter chaos… After all these questions, I decided to leave it to God. If it was my destiny to be the mother of three children, He would send my little angel—simple as that. Although it didn’t happen exactly like that, things happened at the time they were meant to and, as with the other times, the positive result caught me by surprise. As someone trying for a third child, not everyone knew about it, but I still suffered from the comments of those who found out or at least suspected my intentions. And when the pregnancy did happen? The comments poured in:

– Are you crazy?!

– Three kids will drive you nuts!

– Wow, you’re so brave, huh?

– Trying to populate the whole world by yourself?

– Don’t you have a TV at home?

What I heard during this pregnancy far outnumbered all the comments I got during my second pregnancy, when people basically told one of us (me or my husband) to get some kind of permanent contraception like a vasectomy1 or tubal ligation2. The question I got the most was: are you going to have surgery? Is your husband going to have surgery? Enough already, right? Two is plenty! Meanwhile, for my husband, the comments were gentler and only served to boost his ego as the big, macho ‘breeder’ he was—in the end, at 37, he had gotten his wife pregnant for the fourth time! Trying for a third child may seem like complete madness, trust me! Keeping your plans a secret can be the best option to avoid unwanted opinions.

But What is it Really Like to Have a Third Child?

The third child is like the second, with the difference that we are more prepared psychologically, mentally, and physically to deal not only with unwanted comments but also with the marathon that comes with having more than one child at home. The maturity of a mom on her third go-round is exceptional! We already know what to expect from pregnancy, from our bodies, and also how to handle the difficulties, problems, and pains that motherhood brings, like when they get sick.

The 3 most important people in my life!

With my third child, I learned that a mother’s heart is bigger than people say! If a mother’s heart is big, it becomes even bigger with all the love you get from three children. My home became a real mess and my days are always full of company, I was never alone again. I also learned that I am stronger than I thought and far more capable than I believed. Being a mom of three made me see life differently, and I noticed the challenges but also the joys that a big family brings. Everything is lived more intensely, and now that they are all a little older than they were two years ago, I finally have time to realize that I can’t remember what life was like before this wonderful organized chaos. With three children, the house became even livelier, and I don’t regret my decision for a moment—I thank God for answering my heart’s desire.

If your third child is on the way even though you weren’t trying, know that he or she will come with so much love and affection that it will become your greatest joy. They will come to complete a cycle and will make your life busier, crazier, and even happier! Welcome this new life with love and your little one will give back as soon as you feel the first kicks, and much more after birth.

Being a mom of three is going crazy three times over, sleeping three times less, washing and ironing three times more, but also getting love, affection, and unconditional devotion multiplied by three.

See also: The Third Cesarean – Birth Story

Photo: Chris