In an earlier report, we made reference to the numerous thoughts which flash through a woman's mind when she learns she is expecting another baby - something which one mother decided to address in a truly moving letter to her first-born son.
In the blog post which was featured in The Huffington Post, the mum-of-three pays tribute to her oldest child while apologising for the various sacrifices he has had to make since the arrival of his two younger brothers.
Acknowledging that she didn't expect her first-born to become the eldest sibling quite so swiftly, she wrote: "It's fair to say that none of us expected to be welcoming two babies so close together, and it's kind of knocked us all for six a little bit... but you're taking it all in your stride."
In the letter which is bound to resonate with millions of mums, she tells her son that she's sorry he is often relegated to last place as his mum and dad struggle to tend to the younger childrens' needs.
Helping her son to recall a time when it was just him, Mummy and Daddy, the writer continued: "We had two years before they arrived where it was just Daddy, Mummy and you...we were a trio, we did everything together and we fit a lot of fun stuff in to that two years!"
"But I know you won't truly remember...you won't a remember a time before the two babies were here...when you had us all to yourself...when the three of us was just the three of us," she sadly acknowledged.
"A time when you weren't the last one to be taken out of the car, because you're the oldest and you can wait the longest," she wrote. "A time when you didn't have to be told that you can't have a carry around the shops because Mummy's got one baby in the wrap, and Daddy's got the other in his arms."
With admirable candour, the mum-of-three continues: "A time when you didn't have to wait until after the baby's bedtimes before you could get out your Lego toys with the little pieces that they might put in their mouths. A time when you weren't told "We can't go to that place today, because the babies are too little for it."
While telling her son that she's so proud of how he handles his big brother duties, she accepts that it's not always easy for him - something which causes her untold guilt at times.
"Today you asked me for a cuddle...I was feeding the babies...I tried to cuddle you as much as possible but you said "Please put the babies down mummy". I had to tell you that I couldn't right now. Your little face looked so sad and dejected."
Desperate to remind her first-born son that he will always have a special place in her heart and an important role in her family, she concluded the touching letter with the words: "I hope you don't remember ever feeling anything less than the center of my world because you always are, even when I have to ask you to wait."
We'll be honest, this really struck a chord in the MummyPages HQ this afternoon.
