Ideal Family Size Often Changes. Just Ask the Vances.

TL;DR

Many couples do not have predetermined plans for having children, and their desires for family size can change over time.
J.D. and Usha Vance's differing accounts of deciding on their fourth child illustrate how perceptions of family planning can vary.
Research suggests that many individuals experience ambiguous feelings about pregnancy, which are not adequately captured by traditional survey questions.
A broader range of options in surveys reveals that a significant percentage of women have ambivalent feelings about pregnancy, beyond simple 'yes' or 'no' intentions.
Pregnancy ambivalence is linked to inconsistent contraceptive use, particularly when men are expected to take preventive measures.
Natural Family Planning methods acknowledge and work with the day-by-day, month-by-month nature of fertility decisions and desires.
Decisions about family size are often made incrementally, with readiness for a future child being dependent on the presence of current children.

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