Please or to access all these features

Add post

Watch this thread

Save thread

Start a new thread

Flip thread

Hide thread

My feed

Active Unanswered threads

Getting started FAQ's

Unanswered threads Acronyms Talk guidelines

Hide shortcut buttons

Talk

Other subjects

Flip

Original poster

Why are some women so much broodier than others?

13 replies

MNersanonymous · 28/03/2008 22:58

I've been thinking about this recently. The women in my family (myself, mum, gran and aunt) all say we don't/didn't have a massive urge to have children (although we all utterly adore our kids). Yet some of my friends are really broody and have a massive urge to have more babies.

Why is this?
Does anyone know of any research on what causes this?

I've had a quick google but not come up with much.

OP posts:

southeastastra · 28/03/2008 23:00

maybe lack of anything to talk about/do

angelbabies · 28/03/2008 23:06

I have been broody my whole life! When asked what I wanted to be when I grew up at the age of 7 I told my teacher 'I want to be a Mummy' and that has never changed. I now am Mummy to 2 LO and would love more - just need to convince DP.

Have asked my mother, aunt, g mother etc if they ever felt like this and all said no so maybe i'm just a bit odd?

Original poster

MNersanonymous · 28/03/2008 23:06

Not in the case of the friend I was just talking to - she has three kids, one really quite disabled, and is way busier than I ever am.
I truly believe she has an urge to procreate and have babies that I don't have. She just adores babies - it seems to be some pre-programmed urge.

OP posts:

DontCallMeBaby · 28/03/2008 23:13

I'm quite intrigued by this. It varies so much - from absolutely zero broodiness all the way to women who get broody when their baby's two months old because it's not such a tiny newborn any more. I got insanely broody for long enough to conceive DD (which was 18 months, so a longish period) and haven't had an inkling of it since. My feelings about other people's babies are confined to 'aw, cute, glad I don't have to change its nappy/feed it in the middle of the night/persuade it to take naps/wean it/etc'.

FloriaTosca · 28/03/2008 23:16

I think if the urge is preprogrammed then it takes a good nudge to actually activate for some of us.Personally I had no desire for children, (I was told at 28 that I couldnt concieve anyway) I didnt marry until nearly 40 but got miraculously got pg and though I lost that baby (& 5 others) suddenly the procreation switch was flipped on...I'm now 44 with a 6 month old ds and dearly wish I could do it again and again

Flum · 28/03/2008 23:19

I get very broody. Usually when my kids being gorgeous. Its crazy though as I find most of motherhood hard (cooking, washing, tidying, discipline) but I love the cuddles, tickles and giggles and thats what makes me broody

Original poster

MNersanonymous · 29/03/2008 09:03

What I don't understand is that I adore my son just as much as anyone else - I love those giggles etc too but I still don't feel broody.

So I don't think it's caused by that personally.

OP posts:

DontCallMeBaby · 29/03/2008 09:32

Likewise, MNersanon. I can look at pictures of DD aged 18 months plus and think 'aw, I'd quite like one of those tottering around the house again', but baby photo just make me relieved we all survived the experience. I hope I never have to explain to her how, when I love her to bits, I've never felt the least urge to recreate that with another baby, cos I've never been able to explain to to myself.

Disenchanted · 29/03/2008 09:35

Im constantly broody. So was my mum she had 7 pregnancies (3 misscarried though )

Im TTC baby number 3 and I cant see myself ever feeling 'done' which is quite worrying.

I too have never wanted a career or to go to uni ect, i just wanted to be a mum.

Nemoandthefishes · 29/03/2008 09:37

I always wanted my own children form as young as I can remember and I helped my mum a lot with both my sisters as I was 7 when the first was born. I love children and being around them but dh and I held off until we had our own house to start ttc..now I have had 3 within 3yrs and we are planning our 4th! I hate pregnancy but love the chaos and buisiness of a houseful of children.

Nemoandthefishes · 29/03/2008 09:38

meant to add I have also had 3mcs

Nemoandthefishes · 29/03/2008 09:41

oh I also did the uni thing and have a masters, I worked while in uni then full time for 4yrs whild doing msc and none of it has made me feel the way I do now when even on 2hrs sleep thanks to little tinkers I would gladly have another and another and another..it is strange as my mum had 3 of us but is not a maternal person in the slightest.

flossish · 29/03/2008 09:46

I'd love another. But then three would be an odd number and so then perhaps another and then, well I have to do something to ruin DP's much bragged about early retirement plans don't I?

I actually really enjoy the first year of baby, not that I don't enjoy toddlers too (can't tell you beyond that yet!) and am one of those who starts feeling broody when baby is young, and if anything I'd say the feeling wanes as the tantrums come!

Flip