Should a mother/women have 15 or more children?

Ah yes, I am familiar with the Duggars. I watch them on TLC every now and then, and I cannot imagine any woman having that many children. I would think that it would start tearing up her insides after the tenth. My limit, for anyone, I do not care who you are, myself included is four. Why is 4 the limit? Because to me after you have four children, that is when things start to get real crazy, physically, financially and emotionally. Also, imagine how the children feel seeing mommy pregnant all of the time? They are going to think that mom is only good for making babies. What kind of message is that sending them? Women are not just baby making machines, we are far more than that. We can do so many things. I guess if that is all that you think that you are good for, and you have all of the means to take care of that many children, then fine, go ahead, but most of us woman would not. I sure as heck wouldn't. By the way, the Duggars are up to 16 or 17 now from what I last heard. The mom says that she is "going to keep on having children as long as 'God' let's her". Madness!

I admire large families, especially the Duggars (did you know there are self-sufficient and debt free?!) I would love to have several more children, but as it is I am a single Mama of two, and well, I've given up on prince charming...

Well i have 2 daughters an it seems I never have enough time for both of them when I get done helplping one with the homework the other is yelling for help with her hair then just as that is done daughter number one is wanting something now no I think its too much to have 15 you can't split your time amongest them my grandfarter was also 14th out of 16 an he don't have hardly any memories of his mom or dad he said they were always busy

for me definitely NO...as a woman and a mother we must also learn to love ourselves...Having too many children is not good for our physical well being and we must also take into consideration the kind of life that we'll be able to offer our children....

I think having that amount of children is ridiculous to be honest? Who's going to support them financially? Even if both parents work full time its going to be tough to make ends meet so i'd say if you love children fair enough but isn't 2 or 3 quite enough?

I think the question is misguided just a bit. The question should not be whether a woman should have so many children, but it should be whether a woman should have children at all. There are counltess women who have accidentally gotten pregnant, and kudos to those who have not aborted their children, and these women do not have the resources to raise even one child. There are also those women who are ready for children, and they decide to have two or three, and they raise those children effectively--these women who raised two or three effectively could also raise 10-15 just as effectively. You see, its not the numbers that matter, its the philosophy of raising children that makes the difference. First, it is important for children, whether it be one, or more, to have both a mother and a father. There may be some who disagree with that, but the fact is that we live in a society of people both male and female, and each child needs the influence and example of both in the home. Second, it is important for mom and dad to be married. Again, some may disagree, but it is important for a child to learn what it means to really love someone no matter what, and it is important for the child to learn about commitment. Without these lessons in the home, children are less likely to be committed in areas of their own lives like school/work. Third, it is important for parents to be sure that they can provide for their children. I am very much in favor of family planning. Not the kind where you accidentally get pregnant and then decide it was a mistake so you terminate your baby, its not the baby's falt his/her mother was stupid, yes I said stupid. Good family planning is where you sit down with your spouse and decide that you have enough love, time, and patience to go around for that amount of children, and that you have enough resources to provide for the physical needs of those children as well. Fourth, it is so important for a couple to decide if it would be physically healthy for mom to get pregnant. It is important to speak with your physician/ob/gyn to make sure that mom's body is ready for a healthy pregnancy. Then, if you decide to get pregnent, keep your body healthy for a good labor/delivery, and so you can give your child a good start after birth. Fifth, it is important to make sure that your children, no matter how many, know beyond a shadow of a doubt that you love them, no matter what they do or say, and that they will always be your babies, no matter how old they get. If you really want to have chilren, and to raise your children correctly, but don't know how, read the Bible, even if you don't believe in God, there is amazing advice for raising children in the bood of Proverbs, and check out Parenting Magazine. Good luck to whoever wants children. As for me, after I've been married for about 2-3 years, I want to start having children, and I want about 14. But alas, I don't even have a boyfriend yet, and that's a completly different discussion.

I think if they can afford that big of a family then they should be able to have that large of a family if they want to. I agree with you that they should be there for them physically and emotionally too as well as being able to support them financially. Personally, I couldn't handle that big of a family. I only have one little boy and I'm not sure if I want to have another one or not. I do want another one but then sometimes I don't. Everything is just so expensive these days and I know I could not afford a family of 15.

Hi friends, I am sorry, but I am having a very blunt day, therefore I am going to be very blunt. Fifteen children is not children, it is a litter. Only animals have that many offspring. God has made them able to even feed that many. That should tell us something right there. I have three children of my own and yes, the third one was a wonderful surprise anniversary gift. But we knew then it was going to be very difficult. I remember with every child sitting by their crib crying my heart out because I had to hand them over to some daycare, thinking at the time, I certainly didn't want someone else raising my children (not the way I would). As it turns out, we are not fortune tellers and could not foresee my back being a problem to me. So now we are down to one income with three children. Our oldest has had to go through college on assistance. Now he is 22 grand in debt to start out a life with. That was not what I wanted for my children. I could not foresee that my mother would die 12 years ago when my baby girl was 1. Therefore (besides missing the hell out of her) the children don't have their grandparents to spend time with and give us time we all need so much. We could not foresee gas going up to costing more than a bag of milk. How are our children going to manage that as they grow up. Something else we need to worry about for them. So to have 15 children, I'd really think long and hard first. Cheers, Cheryl

I didnt know that one woman could have that many babies. The biggest family i ever knew had 8 children. I thinks its all good a blessing actually. Big blessing.

Well i have four children, but its not my fault as my last two were twins. On wife swop the other night the couple had ten children. If the parents are gonig to work to look after the children and not take from the state, and the children are well cared for and look well and tidy then I think it is up to the parents. If they are going to sponge off the state and be unsavoury.... then no.

I have seen the Duggars on a few t.v. shows and the only thing that ever bothered me was that the older children had to help care/raise the younger children. I think having a big family is fine if you can care for your children. We have 6 children and I don't ever feel that there are too many kids and I have never felt that they don't get the attention that they should. My husband and I take care of all of them and don't leave the responsibility on the older kids, EVER!!!!! I try not to be judgmental about anyone's choices when it comes to having a big family but I do think there comes a point when it seems kind of impossible to really be a parent to 17 kids. If they are happy and the children are cared for and loved then more power to them.

The more the merrier!So couples could have as many kids as they want as long as they can be able to take care of them.But i don't think its good for the woman to bear alot of children.It would affect her internal organs specially the uterus.Well, i don't know much about it but just what i thought.In my opinion as a woman even i can be able to take care of many kids i would just prefer to have two.I have one now and i am hoping to have one more.I would be happy and satisfied enough to have two children.

a woman should not have large number of children because it is very dangerous to a womans health..

wow 15 kids. I guess it is up to the people.I think if i had that many kids i would go insane. the 2 i have is enough some days to drive me nuts. oh and the way the economy is today i don't know how anyone would be able to afford 15 kids. I have a family of 4.. me, hubby and2 daughters and we are struggling. so i gusee it is all up to the indivdials

A big family means a huge responsibility especially on the financial and emotional aspect or aspects..im a parent and have 4 children and still wishes that if i had my own way way i will like to have just 2 children a boy and a girl..but my hubby really like a big family and really love children and i love him also ..

Well, I don't think anyone should be able to tell anyone how many kids that they can or cannot have. It is a personal choice in my opinion. However, if they can't afford it, have to rely on government help, or if there are health issues for the mom, they should probably not do that - hopefully families will consider all of those things before having too large a family. And of course there is the over-population problem. BUT if they are adopting as part of or all of their large families (and can handle it financially as stated above), then more power to them!!!

I really don't think couples should have that many children, no. If people want more than three or four children there are so many kids in the world who desperately need homes and families. Of course, in the case of multiple births, then a couple might have as many as 6, but after that really, I feel that adoption should be the rule after that.

Some people are just made to have large famlies and when it works out the children in those families usually do wonderfully. I couldn't have done that, but my husband could have, he was an only child but raised by a large family. He's the most grounded person I've ever met.

In my opinion a Mother should raised the children on the term that she is psychologically, mentally, and financially stable with all the responsibilities not only with the Mother but with the partner as well and in what I felt about this subject is 15 children is too much eventhough they can handle everything the family need........

having large families is nice, but one should consider the responsibilities e.g can you afford to raise all these kids and their father in the process? and also are you prepared for the emotional burden and the daily hussles of a big family, and also as a woman you should consider your health too, e.g weight gain, loosening of the cervix muscles, yes it does come with birthing and when in late age, women who have given birth to too many children have problems with holding their urine among other things