13 Kids and Wanting More
About the families
The Salim family
This family from Rochdale is weeks away from having their 11th child. For dad, Mohammed, this is another gift from God and he is not in a hurry to give up having more. As a practicing Muslim he strongly believes that God's command to "Go Forth and Mulitply" must be obeyed. "I don't think I should stop having children", he explains. "It's Gods gift. I want many more."
However, his wife Noreen fails to share the same need to procreate further. Fifteen years his junior, and aged just 35, Noreen is exhausted. This current pregnancy is really taking its toll on her health and body. If it was up to her, she would stop at number 11. Even the health visitor is keen for them to make this pregnancy their last as she can see the strain it is putting on Noreen.
Through the process of giving birth, their story encapsulates a modern British dichotomy where culture, tradition and gender issues clash.
This family from Rochdale is weeks away from having their 11th child. For dad, Mohammed, this is another gift from God and he is not in a hurry to give up having more. As a practicing Muslim he strongly believes that God's command to "Go Forth and Mulitply" must be obeyed. "I don't think I should stop having children", he explains. "It's Gods gift. I want many more."
However, his wife Noreen fails to share the same need to procreate further. Fifteen years his junior, and aged just 35, Noreen is exhausted. This current pregnancy is really taking its toll on her health and body. If it was up to her, she would stop at number 11. Even the health visitor is keen for them to make this pregnancy their last as she can see the strain it is putting on Noreen.
Through the process of giving birth, their story encapsulates a modern British dichotomy where culture, tradition and gender issues clash.
The Simpson family
Deborah and Derek live just outside Glasgow. They have been married for 23 years and are still very much on a quest to conceive their next child. They are, in fact, trying the hardest they have ever tried to get pregnant, and as Deborah is now 43, it is not proving such an easy task.
Having already had 13 children relatively easily – now aged between 21 years and 20 months – the Simpsons are leading as holistic a life as possible to give themselves the best chance to procreate. Deborah's routine, beyond everyday childcare duties, now involves taking a mixture of herbal medicine and pursuing other alternative practices – such as reflexology when time allows – all against a ticking body clock which for Deborah is getting louder day by day. "I just want in nine months time to be holding a little baby," explains Deborah.
Deborah and Derek live just outside Glasgow. They have been married for 23 years and are still very much on a quest to conceive their next child. They are, in fact, trying the hardest they have ever tried to get pregnant, and as Deborah is now 43, it is not proving such an easy task.
Having already had 13 children relatively easily – now aged between 21 years and 20 months – the Simpsons are leading as holistic a life as possible to give themselves the best chance to procreate. Deborah's routine, beyond everyday childcare duties, now involves taking a mixture of herbal medicine and pursuing other alternative practices – such as reflexology when time allows – all against a ticking body clock which for Deborah is getting louder day by day. "I just want in nine months time to be holding a little baby," explains Deborah.
The Johnstone family
In Lancashire, the Johnstone clan are six months into their 12th pregnancy and mum, Karan, is as focused as ever on making everything perfect for the new arrival. She is baby mad. The stresses and strains of life as a parent to so many children is nothing to Karan. She has never felt she could not cope with having another and another.
As she says, "They are all really good, so I must be doing something right." And having lost her own dad when she was just 12 years old, Karan harbours a deeper need to make sure her own family do not miss out on the childhood she felt she did after her dad passed away.
In Lancashire, the Johnstone clan are six months into their 12th pregnancy and mum, Karan, is as focused as ever on making everything perfect for the new arrival. She is baby mad. The stresses and strains of life as a parent to so many children is nothing to Karan. She has never felt she could not cope with having another and another.
As she says, "They are all really good, so I must be doing something right." And having lost her own dad when she was just 12 years old, Karan harbours a deeper need to make sure her own family do not miss out on the childhood she felt she did after her dad passed away.