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.

PND after the second stopped me from wanting more.
I think these days the high intensity expected in parenting would also put me off!

I am now ok with not having a 3rd but was really keen for a while but DP wasn't at all. Definitely advantages to just 2 but if finances weren't an issue and I had met DP earlier and started family sooner then maybe 4 and probably be a SAHM

I have 2 and even with more resources I don’t think I would want more - I don’t know how parents of more children have enough opportunity to have quality one-to-one time. I don’t feel I could really know more children well enough, or thry could get enough parent time

I have 2 but would probably have had 2 more, so 4 altogether, if we’d won the lottery.

Because it would have paid for nannies, a housekeeper and so on. Not to take the children off my hands but just to be around and help, be upbeat and play when I didn’t have the energy, allow for breaks to go for a walk or meet a friend.

My heart would love a third, my brain says absolutely not

I have 2 who are both adult. Neither have chosen to have children

With the current state of the world, that would be my decision too now if I was their age.

I’d have had four, but I’m too old and we don’t qualify for any help as high earners (yes, tiny violins but it’s still too expensive) so we’ll likely stop at 2. We also can’t afford a bigger house.

I have two, would have been happy to have more, but DH already had three so he felt five was enough.

Well I have 5 (3 step-children) and felt done after my second pregnancy. But I always wanted 5 and said as a kid I wanted to adopt as well as have some of my own bio kids, so I got what wanted and felt done.

Ditto and how funny that we cross posted.

I have 2, I wish I could have 4 children but I'd need to be 10years younger and 10x richer.

I have 2, would like 3 but financially that was a stretch too far. Also feel I'm too old now to have another.

Have 2. Definitely done. Would have loved 3 maybe 4.

I have three. Love having three but no way would I have had a fourth.

i have 3 and i wouldn’t have anymore no matter the circumstances

I was one of four and ideally would have liked four myself. I have two. That was partly for financial/practical reasons, partly because we started too late to fit in four, and partly because my husband didn’t want more than two.

I have two. I’d happily have had more.

For those who'd say they happily have none. May I ask why ?

I have three, I would defo have another if ££ and space wasn’t an issue! But I LOVE having 3 it’s great!

3 or 4, now I have 1 only.

I have 2. Happy with my lot, but if space and finances were no issue I’d have had 4

I’d probably have another child (so 3) if I could guarantee that both of us would be healthy.
I had very complicated pregnancies and was really unwell with both hyperemesis and gestational diabetes that required large doses of insulin (not a great combination). I then had pre-eclampsia and went into preterm labour. Both babies needed NICU stays due to breathing difficulties. Luckily everything turned out fine for all of us, but I don’t want to go through it again or risk it not being fine when we already have a lovely family.

I've got one.

If I hadn't been constrained by money, time etc maybe four.

Nearing grandma age now so no chance 😂

I think 3, if I could afford to hire a nanny or two AND work part-time.

As it is I’m planning to stop at 2!

I'm pregnant with 3rd, wanted 3, wouldn't have more than 3. I have less money, worse career prospects and a worse social life for having 3 but I value having the children more than the other things. I wouldn't have more than 3 though because I'd be stretched too thin, too much stress.