DiscoverThe Rare Life196: One & Done | Deciding Not to Have More Children After Disability
196: One & Done | Deciding Not to Have More Children After Disability

196: One & Done | Deciding Not to Have More Children After Disability

Update: 2025-09-11
Share

Description

When your child has complex medical needs, the question of more children isn’t always simple.

And for some parents of disabled children, the decision to stop at one might not even feel like a decision at all.

In this episode, Alyssa shares responses from hundreds of parents who live in this reality: the sadness of not giving their child a sibling, the guilt of choices that never felt like choices, the relief of knowing their family is complete, and the complicated emotions that sit in between.

If you’ve felt sadness, certainty—or both at the same time—about stopping at one, we hope this episode will feel deeplyfamiliar.

Links:

Join The Rare Life newsletter andnever miss an update!

Fill out our contact form to joinupcoming discussion groups!

Listen to Ep 99: Family Planning.

Listen to 194: Season 12 Kickoff forMadeline’s big announcement!

Follow us on Instagram @the_rare_life!

Donateto the podcast or Contactme about sponsoring an episode.

Follow the Facebook page.

Join the Facebook group Parents of Children with Rare Conditions.

Access the transcript on the website here.

And if you love this podcast, please leave usa rating or review in your favorite podcast app!

Comments 
loading
In Channel
loading
00:00
00:00
x

0.5x

0.8x

1.0x

1.25x

1.5x

2.0x

3.0x

Sleep Timer

Off

End of Episode

5 Minutes

10 Minutes

15 Minutes

30 Minutes

45 Minutes

60 Minutes

120 Minutes

196: One & Done | Deciding Not to Have More Children After Disability

196: One & Done | Deciding Not to Have More Children After Disability

Madeline Cheney