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

Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6

Original poster

How many pregnancies are too much for your body?

129 replies

caterpiller · 03/07/2007 23:18

I would like to ask any doctors out there, do you think a womans body will only tolerate a certain number of babies succesfully? For example those women who have, say, 10 children, do their bodies suffer a bit more each time or are we designed to regenerate completely after each pregnancy with no lasting damage? Obviously no two women are the same, but I am asking this as a general question.

Hope this makes sense! I amm finding it difficult to put this into words. It is something I have always wondered.

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

speedymama · 04/07/2007 11:53

My grandmother had 1 and lived until she was in her 90s. Suffered a stroke in her late 80s though.

lazyemma · 04/07/2007 12:02

The Duggars seem happy enough. They're not feeding crack to babies or anything. Good luck to them, I say - there are worse environments to grow up in.

I'm not a godder myself, but I can see how the idea of god and all that jazz is comforting to some people - like a bedtime story they tell themselves. These Duggars are just uber-godders, it seems, and I'm sure they've got some objectionable beliefs, but then so do most people, I find.

bundle · 04/07/2007 12:02

I remember a consultant telling me your iron levels aren't back to "normal" for 2 years after giving birth

stripeybumpsmum · 04/07/2007 12:03

Speaking as one with hyper emesis (one DS 17 months, now 23 weeks pg), I would say pregnancy itself is a very good future contraceptive. Effect of pg on me will definitely curtail my/DH original plans for a large brood...

Regardless of views on their reasons for a large family (Duggars etc), I have some jealousy/confusion at women who 'do' pregnancy well - seemingly not a club I will ever belong to.

Pixiefish · 04/07/2007 12:48

I had hyperemesis first time and this time so that is making darn sure that there won't be any more here either. Plus i was a late starter so age is not on my side to have any more.

I have heard in the past that your body takes 2 years to recover from a pregnancy and birth and that is definetly true for me in that i couldn't have contemplated another one any sooner than the two years.

People had large families in the past for numerous reasons- children died, no contraception and also there was no social care as there is today so people needed their children to look after them in their old age.

Personally I want to be able to spend quality time with my children and be able to do things with them and if they both need to go to university then I would like to be in a position to help them out- something I couldn't do if I had 10 children say.

I think that the question of having children is about so much more than the physical pregnancy and labour

RoseQuartz · 04/07/2007 12:49

expatinscotland..........yeah yeah yeah, that's what I do! Hey, with my writing,
is it any wonder I can afford sooooo many kids!!!
Stand-up comedian eh, eeerrrrrmmmmm, I'll just have to 'pass' on that one!
Actually, that might suit you better
You are one hell of a woman, even if you do f-ing swear, if you must know, I am amongst the best though! ha ha ha ha ha !!
Bloody hell my brain is shrinking sooo much with this pregnancy.
Might be best if I do away with dh after all!! I doubt if I can afford my brain to get any smaller!

CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 04/07/2007 13:40

I am 18.5 with third pregnancy in three years.Middle on ended at 25 weeks. I had hyperemesis with every one and now I have SPD.I am 40 this month and feel that some sail through it and others like me, well it seems are bodies are not made for it!

No stretch marks though so some blessings

Pixiefish · 04/07/2007 13:43

I didn't have any stretch marks last time either chocpnut. Remains to be seen this time

CHOCOLATEPEANUT · 04/07/2007 14:07

fingers crossed

expatinscotland · 04/07/2007 14:09

'I doubt if I can afford my brain to get any smaller!'

Well, yes, that's certainly apparent from your posts .................................................................................

Ha ha ha ha ha ha!

ElenorRigby · 04/07/2007 14:19

My gran on my dads side had 12 babies- 1 every 2 years for 24 years!

She lived to the age of 75 and was for the most part very healthy until she developed a heart condition that ran in her side the family from which eventually died.

squatchette · 04/07/2007 14:44

My DP was no 15 of 17 children.They were very poor and his childhood was far from what it should have been(although this was partly due to his father leaving when no 17 came along).He never had a christmas or birthday present in his whole childhood.

On his first day at school his elder sister took him.His Mum had also sent him a year early when he applied for a copy of his birth certificate he found out he is a year younger than he thought.

On the whole i don't see anything wrong with large families as long as the children are well looked after and the parents can afford it.

bossykate · 04/07/2007 14:47

i think a woman's body can have too many pregnancies. my grandmother had 12 children, resulting in a complete prolapse. she died as the result of complications from the hysterectomy, leaving my mother, the youngest, motherless at 8yo.

Ripeberry · 04/07/2007 14:51

I would love to have a 3rd baby but my body has other ideas.
My DD1 was delivered by ventouse and DD2 caused me to have a 3rd degree tear and now i have slight incontinence (both).
The surgeon who stitched me up said that next time i MUST have caesarian or i would damage myself badly.
I pushed hard both times just to AVOID a caesarian.
Ah well,...
AB

ThomasTankEngine · 04/07/2007 14:54

I think each child can bring a few more grey hairs and wrinkles, but thats minor compares to the upsides of parenting (I think!)

MrsMar · 04/07/2007 14:55

I haven't read the whole thread yet, but just wanted to say my uncle (by marriage) was one of 22!!!! They are Argentine though, and obviously very good catholics!! It also helps they were very rich, they had 11 nannies !!

potoroo · 04/07/2007 15:11

My Mum had 4 babies and 6 pregnancies I think. She was bedridden for most of her last pregnancy. When my sister was born, Mum's doc took my Dad aside and said "She's done her bit now you have to do yours" Snip snip.

I think my mother was relieved. My father would have liked a dozen or so

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 04/07/2007 15:13

My grandmother had 11 all breech. Oh the horror.

Rhubob · 04/07/2007 15:13

hesta · 04/07/2007 15:32

the original q was what did preg do to a womans body. Ihave 6 children, have had 7 pregnancies, 4 of which were in 5 years. my body recovered with a few variations, but I don't think you can tell by looking at me.....

love having a large family but it does bring its problems and also its rewards. mostly I get heartily sick sick sick of people asking me 'all by the same man?' up til no 5 the answer was yes, no 6 is newish dp. what the fuck business is it of other people.

sorry RQ but I find you're judgment on the use of language v offensive. it does not make one ill mannered or ill educated ( I have a phD) just a matter of choice

RoseQuartz · 04/07/2007 16:03

expatinscotland....

It's that obvious then, is it?

You cheeky woman!!! ha ha ha

Pixiefish · 04/07/2007 16:04

Also in olden times families were closer geographically and so helped each other out more.

expatinscotland · 04/07/2007 16:04

yes . . .

Pixiefish · 04/07/2007 16:10

sorry expat- I was ading to my previous post

Just thinking of why peeps used to have loads of babies but don't now.

Pixiefish · 04/07/2007 16:10

adding - I mean

Flip

1 2 3 4 5 6