Is it sinful...

[TandJ]

A few times when talking to my lady friends I would mention that I would cry if I ever found out I was pregnant because of my age and serious mental and physical health issues. At the time I didn’t consider this sinful but now I’m wondering if having this disposition could be? Is it ok for a woman to say or feel that more children would likely push her over the edge mentally and she positively doesn’t want more of them?

For the record I’m a mother of 6 but if I were to have more I feel my mental state would be extremely dangerous (struggling with thoughts of suicide and being on antidepressants for 20 years) not to mention my husband would have to pick up 100 percent of the housework and child rearing because I typically don’t leave the bed while pregnant.

[christulsa]

I’d ask in confession, but I’d say not sinful.  Risk of serious health issues is justification for periodic abstinence to avoid another pregnancy, with mutual agreement of spouses and ideally consulting your pastor for advise. But also considering improving your health if reasonable to welcome a new life into the world.  God will provide either way.

[james03]

In all these things Job did not sin with his lips. ... After this Job opened his mouth, and cursed his day, [2] And he said: [3] Let the day perish wherein I was born, and the night in which it was said: A man child is conceived. [4] Let that day be turned into darkness, let not God regard it from above, and let not the light shine upon it. [5] Let darkness, and the shadow of death cover it, let a mist overspread it, and let it be wrapped up in bitterness.

Not sinful.  Actually discuss it with God in prayer.

[Non Nobis]

I agree with these guys. I'm a woman but too old to ever be a mother.  But if you want to talk to women who have had as many babies as you, you can do it here when they come, or join the women-only sub-forum Mary Garden here: https://www.suscipedomine.com/forum/index.php?topic=7741.0. The moral issue is the same  no matter who you talk to, of course.

[TandJ]

Thank you for your charity in replying. I will join the women’s forum

[GiftOfGod]

If you can't have more, then abstain. That is the only 100% Catholic way.

[St.Justin]

Well there is always one!

[TandJ]

If you can't have more, then abstain. That is the only 100% Catholic way.

Well if it were up to me I would, however, there is one more person in my marriage who has a say.

[dymphnaw]

One thing I really like about my African and Hispanic neighbors is I have never heard any of the women complain about their children.