Planning Only One Child

I agree!! You do what's best for your own family.
I personally am having more than 1 because my partner is an only child and he hates the fact. Not helped at all that he was in daycare at 6 weeks, his mother is about as maternal as a potplant, and they didn't make the effort with him socially to help him out in that aspect. He's really struggled with building relationships and trust and if things don't go his way or to plan it's the end of the world. These could well be a personality thing but more often than not even he agrees it comes back to him not having siblings growing up.
But in saying that one of my best friends is an only child and has had the best life ever, very secure, grounded, down to earth, amazing mum, selfless, so it really does depend on the family. Plus NO-ONE can understand how difficult pregnancies and births can be... as much as they think they can it really takes a toll both physically and mentally, and this too has a big impact on the whole family.

Im sorta getting this now as well, people are asking oh when are you going to have number 2? And when I say oh god not for a long time, if ever, they seem really shocked. I feel uneasy because people I know who had babies round when I did are starting to get pregnant again and I really don't want to, I feel like there must be something a bit wrong with me.

I had a difficult pregnancy and birth followed by reflux and dairy intolerant baby who screamed all the time for the first 6 months, bad post natal depression and anxiety and it was really hard on our relationship dealing with all those things. We have just now gotten into a place where things are good again, I feel a lot better, enjoying my DS SOO much that we both feel that it's good as it is. For a long while this year I said never again, no more babies I can't go through this again. Maybe one day I'll change my mind, I'm not really sure. But I think at the end of the day the most important thing is what is best for you and your family. For us, what is important is staying on top of things, being happy, and enjoying our boy who we love so much- I find it hard to imagine loving another the same.

When people ask me I just say oh I don't know, I'm really happy with how things are at the moment, Im young, I want to go back to work again before I think about it, so yeah we'll see. Just some throwaway answer.

If people persist, just a firm comment about how it's your life and your choice should set them straight. Don't let it get you down, as said above there are so many things like this in motherhood and people wanting to criticise your choices at every turn- you just need to be sure they are right for you and your family and stay true to that :)

I'm sorry to hear that other people's comments on your choices are getting you down. I have just become a mother and with a now 2 month old (and he's perfect in every way) people are commenting about "the next one". I've given up trying to explain to people that hubby and I only want the one perfect child we now have (he was unplanned (not unwanted) as it is). I have heard it all "you've done it once, you know what to do for next time", "you can't only have one, he'll have no one to play with", yadda, yadda, yadda. I just tune the comments out now or laugh them off.

What a crock MrsMJD...my daughter and her brother are 7 years apart and are the best of friends,those people are idiots,pfft love knows no age or limits!

Like everyone else says, people always have something to say.
WhenI had my second little girl even strangers commented, oh nevermind maybe you will hav a boy next time!!It really is no body elses business what your decision is, just tell them to mind their business

Kelzie: like others have said, just don't mention it.

You will get HEAPS of comments from all sorts of people about when you are having another baby, particularly as your first baby gets older. I'd get a comment at least 2-3 times a week and guaranteed every time I went somewhere new with DD.

The best ways I found were:

1) Smiling and nodding, saying something like "we'll see", or 'Mm-hmm'. But if I were feeling particularly grumpy, or the person was insistent, or I just wanted to see them squirm I would go with option two:

2) Over-sharing with the truth. "My vagina broke when giving birth and it didn't heal right so we can't have enough sex to make another baby yet". That shut EVERYONE up. And in the case of annoying relatives, they never asked again