How Many Children Would You Have...

[OtherS]

If you had no worries about space, money, negative impact on career, social life etc? A lot of people seem to suggest that the collapsing birth rate is down to financial worries etc, but I'm wondering whether it's at least as much to do with women not actually wanting huge numbers of children. We used to have 6, 7 or more very regularly of course, but we didn't have much choice back then. Now we have contraception and less societal / marital pressure to have kids, is the reason for low birth rates more to do with woman's choice than concern about the impact of a large family?

AIBU - It's all about money; if I could afford to have 14 kids, keep my job, figure and lifestyle, I'd be all in
YANBU - Even with all the wealth - and nannies - in the world, 1 or 2 would definitely be more than enough for me, thanks.

I’m hoping to adopt in the next few years. I’d love 2, but will probably just do 1. I’ll have to see, also, I may be too old to want another. I’m one of 4. Quality over quantity.

I have 5 (mostly adults now) already but I definitely would have had more if circumstances had allowed.
I think maybe that is because I had 5 boys, I would really have loved a girl.

I have 3 as it is, but would have loved 1 more. I (too quickly) decided to get my tubes tied after no 3 at 35, but wish I hadn't. Im 45 now so too old but yeah I would have loved 1 more.

Four I think, if I didn’t have to go through pregnancy!

We hoped to have 3. Plan was to have the 1st when I was 30, the second when I was 32 and the 3rd at 34. Had 2, followed by a delay in getting pregnant, then 2 miscarriages. We then decided that the gap between no.s 2 and 3 would be too big, so we ought to have 4 children, 2 sets of 2. Had a further 2 miscarriages and gave up.

But actually, the 2 we had were perfect for us. If the final pregnancy hadn't miscarried, DH wouldn't have been able to retire when he did, as we'd still have had a child to see through Sixth Form and university.

Yup, me too.

Still zero.

I planned for 2 but had 3 (second was twins!) I love having 3 and I’m very grateful for my “extra” child (!), but I couldn’t juggle any more than 3! Even with all the money in the world, most of all they need my time and attention, and there’s only so much of that to go round!

I have 3 , I’d maybe have had 4 if I’d had any help eg a cleaner and maybe grandparents helping a little bit

None. Never had any, never wanted any and think no different now .

4

ZERO

I’m the same but have 5 girls. I would liked to have one more.

I have no kids. If money were no object I would still have no kids.

Zero unless I'd had them in my early 20s then I'd say two, three possibly.

I got a bit and a girl and they were perfect so no need to go again!

I have four children and I find that is the perfect number for me, so I wouldn't have any more

Same.