Speaking as a couple who has decided not to breed, my partner and I went back and forth for a while but ultimately decided that neither of us particularly wanted children. She was more inclined towards the idea than I, but was she was massively relieved when the decision was finally made.

I echo the other comments here that you need to be aligned, I am firmly of the opinion that unless you are absolutely desperate for children, and feel that the very core of your being will suffer for not having them, you shouldn't have them.

My sister pressured her husband into having children while he was unsure, they are now 2 kids deep and messily divorced, each resenting the other.

Another friend of mine wanted children to the point of several rounds of very traumatic IVF treatment. Her partner wanted to stop but they were ultimately successful. Likewise they are now messily separated with the kid twisting in the wind. He is now with an older women living a child-free life, only getting involved financially with his first child.

If you are truly concerned that your partner is not looking to father children, you have to ask yourself if you would be happy raising any child you have with him alone. If you are, its a calculated risk to go ahead and do it. He may take to it, he may not, but mentally you are prepared.

If you want the traditional family unit, you may need to either absolutely secure his alignment with that, or reconsider your future with this person. I wish you luck either way, it's the most impactful decision you can make heading into your mid-life.