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Original poster

i think i want 10 children, or at least a v v large brood!! am i mad ??how many do you have ?

110 replies

pregnantbabyelephant · 21/11/2007 14:44

ok maybe 5 or 6

how many children do you have?

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BroccoliSpears · 21/11/2007 20:09

I'm one of five.

I have one child, am pg with #2, and have vague ideas about a 3rd somewhere along the line.

I love my brothers, even more so as an adult than as kids. I couldn't imagine not having the support and cameraderie of lots of siblings, so it's something I want for my children.

popsycal · 21/11/2007 20:13

I have 2 boys - two and a half years apart. Have this ideal in mind of 5 boys but realistically know it is never going to happen. If DH has his way, then we are done having babies. If my head wins, then I agree with DH. But if the old hormones kick in, then I think DH could be persuaded in a few years time. If ds2 EVER sleeps through....

sweetkitty · 21/11/2007 20:23

I have 2 pregnant with another it will be my last one had to think long and hard about number 3 as get bad SPD in pregnancy no joke when you have 2 toddlers as well plus we get no help from family but have thought sod it we will never regret it.

Am definitely only having 3 though

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VirginiaWoolf · 21/11/2007 20:56

One of our reasons for stopping at 2 was that it seemed selfish to do more than 'replace' ourselves (numerically! - we're not cloned!!!) on a struggling planet.

Just our opinion.

northernrefugee39 · 22/11/2007 08:13

Had to go last night as youngest was feeling sick... so how do you spread yourself with so many kids? - rely on the older ones to help with the younger? Let them fight for attention? I feel I can't be in three places at once and give them all what they need and want from me sometimes and I've only got three- I know they need to learn to wait and share etc- but I also know a few people from large families who felt it was a constant battle for a place in the hierarchy-maybe that's good life practice, I don't know.

One thing that strikes me about some people on this post wanting more, is the often said - I feel like I hadn't finished, I wanted etc- think having loads of babies is often to do with womens fulfilment and isues and identity.

Slur- you make good points- but really population is one of the main causes of global disasters- unless you live in a yurt and grow your own food, own elec etc, you'll be using precious resources. World summits can't be toally wrong.

FioFio · 22/11/2007 08:26

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hayCHingleBells · 22/11/2007 08:26

To the OP

YOUR MAADD!!!

You only have one sor far, youve had one day of looking after a few and your own one. Its soo not the same as having them all 24/7. And guests (children) behave when they are not around their mother, so i guess you would of enjoyed your ONE day of caring for them.

Youll see.

You also have to consider cost. Youd need people carriers, and outing to the cinema would cost an arm and a leg for example. Then there is christmas, birthdays and the parties.
A family holiday would be virtually impossile too.

Best of luck to you, your going to need it.!

DrBunsentheHarpsichordCarrier · 22/11/2007 08:29

bless you pbe
I am one of five, it was great though I didn't have a packet of crisps to myself until I was about 16
I have two but tbh all else being equal I would like four.
I was talking to somein eht other day who has seven all about two years apart and she was talking about number eight they seem a very happy family. but essentially she has a lot of help from the dad who works flexibly from homw

DrBunsentheHarpsichordCarrier · 22/11/2007 08:30

fwiw I think five or six is perfectly do-able.
I loved being part of a big family growing up and tbh now we are adults it is fantastic

ggglimpopo · 22/11/2007 08:32

The more money you have, the easier it is. Cynical but true.

largeginandtonic · 22/11/2007 08:35

I have 6 and will hopefully have another 1 or 2. I had twins first and all singletons since, not opposed to having twins again though.

Everything is pretty hectic, you just have to accept that everything will not go according to plan.

My oldest 2 are 9 now and a huge help. I was one of 4 and there was quite a big gap between me and my younger 2 siblings, i remember having to do an awful lot for them. It wasnt that i didnt enjoy it, it is just not want for my children. I am lucky in that one of the twins in particular loves babies, he often asks to look after the youngest. It does help enourmously, if i want a shower in the morning, go for a wee alone >

I have always wanted lots, maybe 5. I just remarried after being with my first partner for 9 years. My husband has taken on all the children and is fantastic. My ex is predictably a twonk. Cant really fault his fathering per se though so all the others do go and stay with him. This leaves little Beau (latest baby, first for my husband) alone. Only fair he has some playmates for all year round, i cant imagine him having to do Xmas alone I take it in turns with exp and his girlfriend > she is at least 24 now, more child like really than them He is 38. (you know what happened there dontcha?)

Anyway, i love having a big family, the only thing i moan about is the washing, well that and the 2 year old who is like a destruction machine at the moment

Good luck!

boo64 · 22/11/2007 09:22

I'm just curious - if you have one child you worry you won't love the second one as much before they arrive but you do. But if we're talking about the arrival of baby no 5 or 6, do you truly love them as much - do they feel as important to you as the first or second did?

As someone who will definitely stop at a second if I'm lucky enough (although it could be twins of course) I'm really quite interested in how all this works!

No wonder your name is large gin and tonic! I bet you need one with an ex like that and loads of kids! Good on your new dh - it's heartwarming that he is so involved with your brood!

MegaLegs · 22/11/2007 09:25

I had 4 quite close together, DS4 was a a bit of a surprise! Small part of me still gets immensely broody when there are new babies about, I really miss breast feeding and the fact I won't do that agian makes me saddest.

Marne · 22/11/2007 09:34

we have 2 and i have 3 step kids, i would love another, i have 2 dd's so would like to try for a boy . Dh doesnt want anymore but i would be happy to have a few more

Hulababy · 22/11/2007 09:35

I have one 5yo DD. I'd like another child. At present I am unable to have more children. Maybe after my next op, if it is successful....who knows?

belgo · 22/11/2007 09:35

my midwife has ten children. And her own birthing centre. I think she's a bit stressed out though! She's a wonderful midwife.

belgo · 22/11/2007 09:36

Hulababy - what op is that? i hope it is successful!

gibberish · 22/11/2007 09:38

boo, yes you do. Because your baby, whether is is no. 1 or no. 4 is still your baby. dd4 is now 6 and is STILL our baby

Hulababy · 22/11/2007 09:40

belgo - I have Asherman's Syndrome as a result of my c section with DD. That is, I have adhesions all over the top of my uterus. I also have/had cervical stenosis where the cervical opening is very tight/narrow. I think the latter is what caused e to take so long to get pregnant with DD. I have had one hysteroscopy and removal of some adhesions in August this year, but there were too many - so I go in next Friday to have it done again, again followed by the hormone treatment. Hopefully this will remove all the adhesions, and may then mean I can get pregnant again. Fingers crossed

sugar34plum · 22/11/2007 09:43

6

frostythesnowmum · 22/11/2007 09:44

I'm on my second and that will be my last _ I can't go through pg again the sickness Personally from a parents point of view 10 children would be a nightmare but from a kids point of view it could be fantastic fun. But think of all that washing and ironing and meal times would be a nightmare, plus the cost of christmas!!!!!

belgo · 22/11/2007 09:47

good luck Hulababy! Sounds like you've been through a lot.

A friend of mine has just told me that she's pregnant with her fourth - she has a three and a half year od dd, twins aged 2 and a half, and lost a pregnancy in the summer at four months.

She'll have four children under the age of four!

PrettyCandles · 22/11/2007 09:58

I've got 3, and would love a 4th - but won't have 'it' because I also want to be young enough for my family to enjoy me, as well as for me to enjoy my family. If no3 hadn't been such hard work, and if we hadn't found the first couple of years such a hard slog with all of them, I think it ight have been possible to persuade dh. ATM if I suggest no4 he runs a mile!

I think the overpopulation arguement is a bit of a red herring. I agree that it's about how we bring our children up to be the guardians of the future that matters. It's not purely a sum of consumption.

laundrylover · 22/11/2007 10:02

sparklygothkat

How are you and Callum doing? Are you still bfing and is he growing????

Lost track as have been working instead of MNing - tut tut

For the record I have 2 girls but think I want another - not sure though.....

My auntie, who shared the farm with us when we grew up had 8 kids and we were 4 so it was one BIG family!!!!

fullmoonfiend · 22/11/2007 10:09

I have 2, was very happy with 2. But dh (who is older) talked me into him having the snip 3 years ago. And now I am broody as hell for No3...
We cannot afford any more children.

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