Hellobee Boards

We waited an extra year after we were emotionally on board for ttc for lo until I was past a specific phase of my doctoral program. For me it logistically made sense, but it was also a short-term goal. I could have waited longer--I didn't have time to conduct some of the research I need to conduct, and it's much more difficult to travel and do it now--but there's never going to be a perfectly good time, you know? I waited an extra month after a chemical pregnancy too to try for #2 because of the academic calendar as well, but that was only a single month to wait (and emotionally I think I needed that time to heal)

We definitely had major goals the first time. When we got married, we were still grad students, didn't have full time jobs lined up, and were renting. Before TTC, we finished our PhD programs, got jobs (and I specifically wanted to be in mine for a full year before getting pregnant), and bought a house. We also took one last awesome vacation as a couple. It took about 3 years after getting married before we checked everything off and started TTC.

Before TTC #2, we really just wanted to wait for a minimum age gap. We waited until LO was almost 2 and a bit more independent before TTC again.

Not much really. I really would love to lose 15ish lbs before getting pregnant again. But if that doesn't happen, I'm fine with that too. Of course I would love to save more money and all that, but I want a family more. So I'm kind of going with go with the flow!

I did have some career goals before TTC for my first, mostly because of a career change. I have to say, there are some advantages, career-wise, to having children earlier in your career, when you have less responsibility. My second maternity leave was much harder than my first. I wish I had started earlier, because I would prefer larger age gaps than seem reasonable given my age. Also, I enjoy parenting much more than I expected.

We started TTC about 4 months after I finished my PhD program and after we took a celebratory post-graduation trip to Europe. Gearing up to TTC #2 and just looking for a 2.5-3 year age gap.

Yes, we wanted to move out of our rental and to buy a home. We got pregnant a few months after moving in.

The way I looked at it was that you could always save more money, achieve more in your career, etc. but I really didn't know how different our life was going to be so we really just focused on doing stuff together and enjoying the time. In retrospect it took us 2 years of ttc to get pregnant so I am really glad we did not wait. I had DS at 28 and am really glad I did not wait any longer. Not that it can't be done, etc. but it means a lot to me to not be in my late 30s starting a family just so I could save more. It is completely a personal choice and you will never fully be ready.

Interestingly, no (and I am a project manager by trade). Everything in my life is typically done on a spreadsheet so I can track tasks, lol.

I felt like there was still going to be life after having a child, and some things would be more interesting to experience with a future child, but if there was no child, it would be fine too.

@periwinklebee: I'm with you - if we waited until all of my "ideal" goals were met before TTC our second child, we'd be 50 before we got there.

At this point, I'd like for us to be able to put a sufficient amount of $ in savings each month that would cover daycare for a second child and any additional insurance expenses. This way, I'd know we were at a good point budget-wise to move forward.

We are definitely NOT there yet!