A YOUNG woman who takes pregnancy tests and uses ovulation sticks “every day” is due to welcome her fifth child very soon, despite being warned of the dangers.
Mum Caty, 23, says she is “against birth control” and likes to practise “natural family planning” with her partner Larry, 27 – but she won’t give up sex nor take contraception despite insisting her fifth pregnancy will be her last.
Speaking to Truly TV recently, the American couple describe their family life as “crazy”.
Their four daughters – Luna (3), Soleste and Solaris (twins, 2) and Riley (1) – were all born within quick succession and keep their parents on their toes.
“Honestly, you’re just trying to survive”, wedding DJ and drain cleaner, Larry, admitted.
Larry claims Caty “stalked” him on Instagram when she was 18 and he was 22. They knew each briefly from high school, but reconnected online.
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“We hung out once and that was it,” Caty said.
They couldn’t wait for their future together, and starting a family. But sadly their family planning journey has not been smooth sailing, despite their large clan.
Caty has endured pregnancy losses and traumatic pregnancies resulting in three C-sections within three years, plus a 16 hour labour with her daughter Luna.
The couple were advised by their doctor to “wait a longer period of time” before getting pregnant again after Riley.
Caty was told that her uterine window was diagnosed as being high risk and even potentially “fatal” if she were to become pregnant again too soon.
The mum decided to try different forms of hormonal birth control for the first time but she discovered it was “not good for her body”.
She sacked off trying to use contraception and now takes pregnancy tests and ovulation tests “every day” between pregnancies.
However, after welcoming their fourth child, the couple found themselves pregnant again “immediately” after Riley was born.
“I was terrified, I was petrified,” Caty admits. Now, coming into the final weeks of her pregnancy, the mum says she is “scared”, noting it is the hardest pregnancy she has experienced.
Larry and Caty admit that they were “undisciplined” in their approach to tracking Caty’s fertility and will be “more structured” in future. The couple remain adamant that Caty’s current pregnancy will be their last.
But after sharing their story on social media, Caty has received a lot of backlash.
One comment suggests that she “fell for the anti-birth control propaganda”. Another asked: “How are you sure this is your last if you’re doing nothing to prevent it?”.
The world’s biggest families
The Vassilyev family
This family currently holds the record for the most children a couple has parented, after the matriarch gave birth to 69 children, including 16 pairs of twins and seven sets of triplets.
Mrs. Vassilyev has given birth to a total of 69 children, including 16 pairs of twins and 7 sets of triplets. 67 of the 69 children survived infancy.
The Radfords
Sue and Noel are parents to 22 children, and their hectic family life is documented in reality show 22 Kids and Counting.
The pair have remained adamant that they won’t be having any more kids, but the amount of grandchildren they have is ever expanding, with daughters Sophie and Millie both mums of three.
The Duggars
Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar have 19 children – 10 sons and nine daughters.
All of their children’s names begin with the letter J.
They also had their own reality show in the United States, and became household names because of it.
The Bates family
Kelly also has 19 children, with her husband Gil Bates.
Of 19 deliveries, 14 of them were natural.
The couple also have 28 grandchildren, with four more on the way.
The Dougherty Dozen
Mum Alicia frequently shares videos and pictures of her family.
She and husband Josh have four biological children together, as well as adopting or fostering the rest of their brood.
The Rosario family
Yalancia and husband Michael are parents of 11.
They had their first daughter together earlier this year, and are also parents to Jamel, 15, Michael Jr, 11, Angelo, 10, Gimani, seven, Armani, six, Sincere, three and Khaza, two.
Their fourth son, also named Armani, was stillborn.
