I agree with Kathy (as usual), and would be very interested in the data. My decision to become pregnant with #3 (due in July) was very much about enjoying the "breastfeeding" stage of life and not wanting to move out of it too quickly. Not the breastfeeding per se, but all that goes with nurturing little ones and growing myself in the process. It is, on some level, a vain attempt to hold back the clock and not rush into the (very scary) "raising teenagers" stage. I had also noted that the women I admired most (of those in their late 40s to 60s) either had several children or told me they wish they had had more. And I always wished for lots of cousins (I only have two) and figure I can compensate by hoping for lots of grandchildren. Population/ecological issues do have some influence on my thinking, but so do religious views of children/fertility as a gift from God. I am saddened that people worldwide seem so ready to be "done with" child-rearing and get back to their "real" lives. I've met with the same surprise as Karen has - "was this *planned*??" has become an awfully rude question, IMO. Elaine Ziska Jackson, MS In a message dated 2/13/00 1:10:33 PM Central Standard Time, Kathy Dettwyler writes: << My inclination is to say they have more -- but that may just be my own experience within my own family (I have 3) and with my local circle of friends and neighbors. And if I was pressed to explain why that might be the case, I guess I would say it is because families where the mothers breastfeed are more likely to *enjoy* children and to see them as valuable in their own right, and a joy to have around. Nothing like vast sweeping generalizations and stereotypes! >> *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html