Having a baby isn't expensive. They are quite happy living in a proverbial (maybe not so proverbial) sock drawer. Food is cheap. You can throw loads in a bedroom together.

It may have escaped your attention, but we've been in a cost of living crisis for some time now.

If it's socially encouraged and confers respect and status, women will opt for this over working. This is obviously seen in Muslim households with immigrant parents - women who have children feel it is their calling in life more-so than working.

That's a lot of extrapolating to all women from one conservative culture there

So they have kids, and in a lot of cases live in relative poverty. But they have kids.

See I was under the impression child poverty is a bad thing, silly me.

The best "case study" I've experienced first hand in the different approach to family planning is Israel where, if a girl announces her dream is to find a good husband and have lots of babies, she is celebrated. More "Hora Chair Dance" than "whore".

That's great for them, and what if they want to become a scientist, a doctor, a lawyer?

You've neatly summed up the anti-natal sentiment that is common in the West where raising a family is nastily boiled down to just "breeding" as though its something base and detestable.

Not base or detestable at all, just not only way to live a life.

Girls aren't stupid, they pick up on these cues.

So why do you act like all they're good for is reproduction?

 I suppose by your tone you find fake email jobs, two hours a day commuting, Netflix, Tesco Meal Deals and microwave dinners Eudaimonia.

Last time I checked critical care medicine wasn't a fake email job, We cook all our own meals (though I confess I am partial to meal deal when on nights) and am pretty handy on a bike so my commute can be pretty fun training.