My husband and I just had our fourth child and it was finally a girl! She was born last Thursday, March 30 and she weighed 6 pounds 6 ounces. She was four weeks early. We also have three boys ages 10, 6 and 3.
Anyway, my question is how many pregnancies are too many? I would love to have another baby in a few years. (All of our children are 3-4 years apart in age and I will only be 30 in September). We have also never had a miscarriage or a stillborn. Is there a point where someone should quit? I'm still a pre-nursing student, so I don't know the answer to that. My husband and I always wanted a large family (5 or 6 children), but I just wondered how often all of you maternity nurses saw that and if there were any type of problems associated if we continued to have children. As of now, I don't have any medical problems to indicate a potential problem and my husband and I are both young.
I think a woman should have as many babies as she wants and can love. Our hearts have endless capacity for loving! I am on my fourth baby. I have heard there are some varying issues regarding c-section births and multiple births. Some OBs say that after 4-5 section births a woman should not have any more. I am on my fourth section birth and that was the first thing the practitioner discussed with me. I think it has to do with scar tissue and the such. This is obviously not your situation, though. Make love, make children, and be merry!
If you're healthy and love having kids, go for it. I have a friend that's 43 and is pregnant with #12--no health problems for her at all, and she loves every minute of it. Having a larger family isn't for everyone, but don't ever let someone else tell you how many to have.
I have three. I would have really loved to have just one more. My oldest has JRA, so it was just too hectic to have another when I was ready and willing. Now they are all teens and very healthy. I am 41, so for me, I am done. It is a personal thing, as long as you guys have the econmic, physical, and emotional means to provide for your kids. Life is too short for regrets. Be Happy and follow your heart!
My personal, decidedly unprofessional opinion is that it is not the total number of children that has an effect on the mother's health as much as the spacing between children. I think having babies less than 24 months apart is not a good idea healthwise for the mother or the baby. Your body needs time to replenish resources lost during pregnancy and lactation, and the baby needs exclusive bonding and nursing time before another sib comes along. That's my opinion anyway.
Regarding the overpopulation issue - the problem has a lot more to do with lifestyle than with family size. I have 5 children and we live in a tiny city apartment. We also don't own a car and get by with public transportation. We live very frugally, recycle everything and all our toys/clothes/equipment gets worn down to the bone. There's very little waste in our home. So, my family probably uses less of the world's resources than a family of 2 living in a huge house in suburbia on half an acre of land with 2 cars.
As many as you feel you and your dh can happily care for! JMO.
Personnally, I have one lovely, adorable son. He is five. We TTC for 6 years with him and I had a rough pg and delivery. My dh comes from a family of four siblings (2 adopted). I definately do not want to get pg again but would love to adopt.
You have too many children when you don't want the ones that you have and are unable to care for the ones that you have. So until then (but please stop before) ..... Be fruitful and multiply! (And have lots of fun trying to conceive!)
Thanks, everyone for your replies. I was hoping 5 or 6 children didn't seem like "too many". My husband is self employed and does well at what he does and I'm a SAHM taking nursing courses via the internet for now. We both have bachelors degrees, but I just choose not to use mine. However, when my husband and I tell people we just had our fourth child, people look at us like we are crazy even though they are all 3-4 years apart in age. Oh, well, we are happy with our current four and look forward to 1 or 2 more. I guess I just need to learn not to care what others think. It's like I've always said "Kids are the best things you never knew you always wanted":)
My OB and I had this discussion when I was pregnant w/ #2. He said that everyone is different. He told me that one woman could have 10 babies w/o any problems while another one could only have 1 w/ major problems. If you didn't have any problems w/ your pregnancy then I don't see why you couldn't have more.
What I'm trying to say is that woman's body is different and you have to do what is right for you and your family.
Good luck with your family and if you want 10 more kids, do it. Don't let anyone look down on you for having a big family. As long as the kids are loved, cared for, and happy you are doing the right thing.
Erin
Proud mommy to 2 great boys! Even though I would like to try for a little girl we can't, so I'm fine with what God gave us.
I agree. If you want a big family, have one. We currently have 4 (out of 8 pregnancies), and are planning at least one more. 
HisTreasure, BSN, RN
748 Posts
I think a woman should have as many babies as she wants and can love. Our hearts have endless capacity for loving! I am on my fourth baby. I have heard there are some varying issues regarding c-section births and multiple births. Some OBs say that after 4-5 section births a woman should not have any more. I am on my fourth section birth and that was the first thing the practitioner discussed with me. I think it has to do with scar tissue and the such. This is obviously not your situation, though. Make love, make children, and be merry!