If you have never used contraceptive, or any family planning, how many children do you have?

[Userwhatevernumber]

I was talking to someone recently, the topic of TTC/contraception came up, and she told me that she or her DH never used any contraceptive, neither have they ever ‘tried’ or ‘planned’ for a baby, they have always just gone with the flow and see what happens. She told me she doesn’t know when she ovulates etc.
They have been married for 7.5 years and have 3dc. I didn’t ask her if she had had any mc as I thought that would be too personal and sensitive.
I supposed I was just quite surprised as I thought maybe she would have had more children if she wasn’t trying to avoid pregnancy by any means.

So I was just curious as to others experiences?

That’s interesting, like you I would have expected her to have more! However she might have breastfed and that could have hindered her fertility for a while after each child I suppose. I breastfed mine until they were 2 and my periods took around a year to return each time. I know it doesn’t work like that for everyone but just a thought. Natures way of spacing babies out without contraception!

I haven’t used contraception for 22 years now, since we were settled and ‘permanent’ in the relationship. I’ve had two children and two miscarriages in that time. We also didn’t ‘plan’ or ‘try’ for any of those pregnancies, just adopted a see what will happen approach.

I have PCOS, so 10 years but only one DC.

I use the pull out method (I know, not contraception and can still get pregnant doing that), had one DD and one miscarriage. Incidentally had to have a termination when I was younger after using condoms.

Doesn’t sound too unlikely to me. Out of 7 years she was pregnant for the best part of 3 of those years.
If she breastfed for a reasonable amount of time with each child that likely had an impact. Not a fail safe of course, women do fall pregnant breastfeeding, but it’s one way nature helps to space births.
Also, with up to 12 months being fine for healthy people to be trying to get pregnant, makes sense that each child might take that long to be conceived, a year or so between each child, especially if they’re not trying to hit the 3-4 days up to ovulation when you need to be having sex to conceive. They could easily miss this window many months, unless they’re having sex every single day.

A year or so between one child being born and the next conceived*

No contraception for 11 years (though we are now, after 3dc)

3 DC
4 miscarriages

Also have PCOS - up to 9 months between periods!

Did extended breastfeeding too - took 2.5 years for cycle to return after DC1 (came back 14 months after DC2 & 15 months after DC3 though)

At one point I worked out that even with the PCOS & fertility issues (we were offered IVF initially but turned it down), I conceived 1 in every 3 cycles (ovulation was just so infrequent due to pregnancy/breastfeeding/PCOS)

I’ve twins, but they’re ivf babies.

I have low ovarian reserve, and have never fallen pregnant naturally so don’t really need to worry about contraception!

I use the pull out method (I know, not contraception and can still get pregnant doing)

Same. When actively TTC we just go every other day. I now don't ovulate so odds are stacked against us. 1 DC, 3.5, together 7 years.

No artificial contraception for 22 years. Used natural family planning religiously (ha!) for about 7 of those and withdrawal the rest. Three pregnancies (two natural, one via IUI), two DC.

When I think of my mums generation (in her 60s, from rural Italy so no pill available and not sure about condoms) they (eg, mums family, dads family, family friends and parents cousins) all seem to be families of between 2-4 DC so it sounds reasonable to me.

Breastfeeding may stop your periods for a year or more, and then just through luck it might take you 12m to get pg again, then 9m pregnancy....3+ year gap between DC.

I have 4 DC if I never used contraception I would Probably have 10-15 as my periods always returned immediately despite breastfeeding and we seem to be very fertile...

The first 2 happened with contraception!

Stoped using artificial contraception in my early twenties as they gave me horrific migraines. Been with DH 20 years, have 2 children but have had 4 pregnancies. DH had a vesectomy after DD2 was born.

I’ve never been on hormonal contraception as every time I tried it made me very ill and then I realised I had fertility issues so never bothered! I used barrier protection early on in relationships but once the relationship was serious used nothing

1st relationship-together 6 years no pregnancies.
2nd relationship -together 6 years, pregnant after 4 years after taking fertility medication (clomid)
3rd relationship -together 4 years no pregnancies.
4th relationship- 2 miscarriages and one healthy pregnancy all within 2 years. No medication this time. DP has now had a vasectomy!

We didn’t use contraception for about three, three and a half years. Had two children in that time no miscarriages (went on long term contraception after the second child as we really couldn’t afford any more and didn’t particularly want more for that matter). I did breastfeed the first child up until after second conception though so that may have had an effect on fertility.

I know a couple, together 8 years, no contraception, 2 DC a year apart in age. Youngest is now four, no more yet though they're not opposed to the idea.

Sorry, should read eldest is now four.

A friend of mine is a practicing catholic. They've had 7 children in 20 odd years.

Haven’t used contraception for nearly four years and have no children. I have never used hormonal contraception as it reacted strangely with me. I have had one mc. I should probably add that I have PCOS so my whole system is an absolute shambles.

I’m Irish and in my mid 50’s and growing up many of my friends came from large families often of 6 and 7.Two of my friends came from families of 10... I have heard of families of 20 children.Many Catholics then practised “ natural “ family planning or the Billings method.( Not very effective!)
In the 1920’s and 30’s my grandmother probobly would not have been aware of these methods and had 12 children and that would have been very common when my mother was young. Many children died in childhood due to common childhood illnesses as there were no vaccinations and due to TB. So mothers often had given birth more times than the final amount of children.