To ask why you have just one child?

Mid 20s, probably just having one (expecting in a couple of months).

• Expenses - childcare is extortionate, a second maternity leave would be very expensive
• Resources - we can give more in money, time, availability & care to one child and if I was spread more thinly than that I imagine I would feel very stressed
• House size
• I’ve had an anxious pregnancy as she’s our rainbow baby, and don’t want to go through it again if I will be equally anxious as it wouldn’t be fair on DD, DH or me.

Good point and noted, just in case another pops up in the 'end of summer' sale.which I believe is imminent.

We were lucky last year to get a retractable hose at less than half price as the nozzle was missng.

We would have loved many but our wonderful som was a gift from God after many years of struggling and eventually IVF. Now at 40, I can’t imagine going through it again - I’m blessed 🥹. Original plan was 3.

Multiple miscarriages, maternal age.

We didn’t meet until later in life. Then it took us so long to have our first that I was pretty old by the time they arrived. So we decided not to take from their babyhood by putting ourselves through the wringer again in what would likely be a futile exercise and to enjoy our one and only.

Bad pregnancy, bad birth, bad baby/toddler years. By the time I got over it all and started feeling pangs , it was quite a big age gap(8/9 years) and couldn't afford anyway. So just spent a couple of years feeling broody and cranky (EVERYONE had babies around that time) and now I'm ok with just having DD.

Both me and my husband are from relatively large families, and hated it. We are not close with any of our numerous siblings now. So we were in agreement that one was the right number for us, and we love having a little family.

Prefer dogs.

Honestly though, I have a stepdaughter who lives with us full time so we do have two. We can afford two, can manage childcare properly, give them both individual time, save for their future without strain.
Also I'm from a larger family so I didn't want my kids to be emotionally neglected.
Honestly I would have loved one more, but it would have stretched us. I'm so grateful for DS and DSD (most days-she is a teen!)

Rescued another dog instead!

I can't say never I suppose, because our boy is only 11 weeks old, but he didn't arrive until I was already 40 and while we can just afford one child (in terms of childcare and a big enough place to live) where we live now, we'd have to move to somewhere much cheaper and away from family and friends support to afford two, and that's if we can find decent jobs when we get there. We don't have the time luxury of waiting until DS is at school and childcare costs have eased.

It makes me quite sad already that he'll be an only (because I am and I'd rather have siblings) but I remind myself daily that we're lucky to have him, and it's our job to give him a good life and equip him with the skills to make good friends and hopefully one day be a good partner to someone.

Not fully sure we won’t try for anymore yet, but at 38 we’re pushing our luck. DS is 5, so it would already be a big age gap.

I had a rare pregnancy related illness, so was already tired when DS was born. Dreadful forceps birth, blood loss, long hospital stay, breastfeeding failure, PND, a breakdown, nearly broke our marriage, DS was a bad sleeper, DH wasn’t much help, not much family support, £45k on nursery fees, can’t really afford a bigger house, need to put money in to house and pensions as bought and started saving late, neither of us are especially patient or good with sleep deprivation.

We really shouldn’t push our luck and do it again. It took me 3.5 years for my mental health to just about return to normal. My friends would say I’ve never been the same. They’re right.

Never wanted a big family. My husband had two older children so that was a big thing but he would have definitely had more if I had wanted another.

I was an only child so maybe that factors in? I wanted to be able to do everything I wanted with my son and not have the worries of a big family

Me too - went into early menopause so was unable to have any more but am so grateful to have my dd.

Complications during and after the birth of my daughter have left me infertile. Still heartbroken.

Money. I’d have had 2 or 3 by choice but couldn’t afford a bigger house or any more maternity leave.

I would have loved more but know that I'm privileged to have one. I didn't think it would be possible at all.

I lost my second (ectopic) and never got pregnant again despite desperately trying. It broke my heart tbh and I still feel sad about it. But my son is my world.

I've only ever wanted one for lots of reasons:

I remember bickering constantly with my siblings when I was younger and my mum being permanently stressed out.

My DC is absolutely perfect, I love him so much and I want him to have all my love and attention.

I can't imagine how stressful it must be to deal with a small child and pregnancy / a baby at the same time.

I have loved every stage since my DC was born but as soon as he moves into a new one, I love that stage more. I can't imagine going back and starting again.

We have more financial freedom.

As soon as he arrived I felt that my family was complete.

I'm sure there are more but those are the ones that I can immediately think of.

Hyperemesis in pregnancy. I was hospitalised a lot and we've decided that wouldn't be fair on the child we do have

A couple of missed miscarriages before baby came added to the decision

Nearly died after emergency section. Took a while to get over it mentally and physically so was late thirties by this point. Happy with 1, he is everything to me.

Never had the urge to have another

Love my DC more than I ever thought possible, but struggled with parenting (and still do) and no desire to repeat any of the stages

Have had some mental health struggles and worry another DC would send me over the edge. Feel like I can be a good mum to one child. Don’t want to take the gamble of having another & potentially becoming a worse mum

Not sure marriage would survive another DC

Don't want to roll the dice again - count my blessings I have one healthy child

Thankfully DH feels the same

We used £20k of savings to fund my mat leave. Childcare was hugely expensive. I am
the main earner by a huge margin and although financially it would’ve made sense for me to go back early I needed the full
year (actually 13.5 months with leave). Even then I hated going back. Turns out I’m the full on extended breastfeeding earth mother type despite not being sure I wanted any in the first place.

Obviously now there’s funded hours far sooner but that’s too late for 46 year old me (and 51 year old DH). We just didn’t have another £20k for the mat leave and £12k annually for nursery. End of.

Ah, well at least you are satisfied it was unavoidable.

The situation with hrt and a baby must have been v tough.

Traumatic birth followed by crippling PND.

Horrible pregnancy, horrible labour, PND, no family help, felt totally overwhelmed for a long time and child was very testing as a pre schooler.

Just knew in my bones I couldnt do it all again!