Seven months. That was the time between the birth of her child number 13 and the news that she was expecting number 14.
Joanne Watson was 37 and was already known in the United Kingdom for her enormous family. What drew the most attention was not just the number of children, but what she said about her body: according to her, she didn’t follow any special diets after giving birth, had a weakness for chocolate, and barely gained weight during her pregnancies because she had little appetite.
Her explanation was far more ordinary than any magic formula. Preparing meals, taking the children to school, doing the shopping, tidying the house, and being on the go all day meant, she said, that she had practically no time to sit still.
Over the years, the family continued to grow until it had 14 children, although her story was also marked by a loss: one of her babies, Augustina, was born prematurely and died before she was a day old.
Could the pace of a home with so many children be the most intense workout there is?
