Speaking from my own experience only: DH and I only had a vague notion that would have three children. There were many months after having my second that I thought that that was it... no more! However eventually the urge to have another hit... and when that happened i couldn't stop thinking about it. My 2nd child was nearly 2yo at that point. Anyhow it was also the notion of having to get rid of all the baby-related paraphrenalia/clothes etc out of my life that sealed the deal. I just couldn't do it! There were a few things that kinda worked against having another: money was already very tight, no family support etc. But DH was very keen... and like I said, I was becoming obsessed!

And so it happened... we had our third. It was different being pregnant and knowing that it was very likley going to be the last time... but only a little bit... the discomforts, labour pains were not that much easier to bear. One thing though, after going through 3 kids, all our baby clothes, cloth nappies, equipment etc is worn out to the point of helping me deal with the closure of either throwing it out or giving it away. I do feel a bit more ok about moving on now. AJP is right... the feeling of wanting more doesn't totally leave you... but I am at a point now that i don't "obsess" about it anymore. Having a third child has well and truly tipped life into chaos!!! And what with my subsequent illness, and age; having anymore is just not feasible... i mean, really not feasible... and the balance has well and truly tipped over into favour of stopping at three. I am ready to move on now. But that's just me... it's really hard to tell at which point this will happen for other women.