How Many is Too Many

Specialties Ob/Gyn

Published

Ok, I heard about this on "The View" this morning and it got me thinking. A family in Arkansas is expecting their 16th child. Picture of Mum and children getting some sort of award. Then I remembered seeing the family on one of those Baby Story type shows. They were following the pregnancy and talking about the fun family times (like going to a restaurant on kids eat free night -- the restaurant has since limited the number of kids per adult).

I remember looking after a woman who had just delivered her 10th child. Anybody else see this as a trend or does it just depend on the area?

I saw a program about the family with 14 kids and one on the way. They are very religious, and evidently very organized. She even home schools. They are debt free; the kids all play two musical instruments, the father and older sons are building a new house.

I think they are clearly pod people, but more power to them.

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

I see an A and P repair in her future, along with a bladder suspension.

Only problem i have with "too many" children is the people that use pregnancy as birth control.

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Was this the same family that was on TLC's 14 kids and pregnant again? When they showed them last, it was Christmas time and the 15th was about 6 or 7 months. I imagine they've had time since then to create another.

I saw the episode of The View - They didn't say, but I believe it was the same family (I saw TLC's special.) Looked the same.

I think family size is a personal decision, as long as the family is able to care for all of the kids. There are pros and cons to large and small families.

I grew up in a family of 8 kids - thot that was large until I attended Catholic university... LOL. While we did not have tons of extras as kids, we learned to be responsible at an early age, work for what extras we wanted. All have at least a 4 yr college degree w/ no financial aid. (On the other hand, feel free to refer to post under dysfunctional families :chuckle )

I grew up not wanting kids at all - have 2 now and would have had more, probably though adoption if dh would have agreed. But we are holding w/ 2 human and 5 fur kids at this point.

Let's not forget it is that woman's body - her uterus - her choice.

Sj

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.
Let's not forget it is that woman's body - her uterus - her choice.

As long as it's in the best interest of the children, i'm all for it.

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As long as it's in the best interest of the children, i'm all for it.

There are pros and cons to both small and large families... :rolleyes: .

These parents truely believe they are doing what is best for all. A child's reality is whatever they are raised with -- if having tons of siblings around in a nurturing environment is the "norm" (vs 1 or 2 kids having mom/dad all to themselves - and how many have just one parent?). Anyway... it wasn't that long ago that this many kids was not that unusual.

SJ

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Specializes in CV Surgery Step-down.
I see an A and P repair in her future, along with a bladder suspension.

Only problem i have with "too many" children is the people that use pregnancy as birth control.

My uterus would have fallen out at about 5!:chuckle

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Specializes in NICU.

The family on TLC was the Duggar's. She's expecting number 16 now???

:uhoh21:

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Yeah, I believe it was the family. Was the family on "The View" from Arkansas? If so, that's the Duggar's. Wonder if she'll have a vag birth this time. She had a c-section last time because he/she was breech. There are only a handful (if that) of doctors doing VBAC's in OK. As I remember, she did use a midwife.

I can't believe that she's pregnant again. Wow, that's something that I could never do. Hubby and I are discussing not having any kids, and that's probably fine with me. Maybe one, we'll see.

But 16? Nope, not me. :stone

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I often wonder why they don't adopt. There are many unwanted children all over the world. We always thought if we felt the urge to enlarge our family we would adopt.

Or is it the need to replicate themselves??

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Specializes in 5 yrs OR, ASU Pre-Op 2 yr. ER.

Adoption is not as easy as it sounds, really.

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Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.

More power to them. I'm sure they've considered the issues brought up more intensely than most of us here. It directly affects them and their children. I applaud them for living debt free and doing what they feel is right for their family in the face of probably some really harsh criticism. Heck, when I had my 3rd I was getting looks and by the time I had my 4th, people were very rudely asking if I knew how babies were conceived! :uhoh3: There are always positives and negatives to each family style and size. As parents we need to decide which things we can live with. I think I might jump off a cliff long before I had 16 children but I am awed by the awesome women who do it, and do it well.

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Specializes in LTC/Behavioral/ Hospice.
Adoption is not as easy as it sounds, really.

Agreed. We looked into adoption for a year before deciding that it was easier to get a tubal reversal and have another baby...which we did.

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