Well, not every couple can legally get married, so using it as an indication of when it's okay to have a baby doesn't make sense.

I would say it depends... If you are in a long term committed relationship then yea if you just met the person no

Yes! Marriage isn't for everyone. I have been with the same man for nearly 7 years and we have a 5 year old and one on the way. We don't plan on getting married ever.

As long as you're stable (financially, healthwise, etc) it doesn't even matter if you have a partner. If you can support the kid, that's good enough.

I'd say no kids till you and your partner have an established healthy relationship and are on the same page about breeding.

Not everyone can get married in the US. So...have kids when you want them.

I think ideally you're in a committed relationship with the plan to stay together for life before having a child. Whether or not you've actually signed the papers doesn't mean anything. Obviously you can have a child as a single woman but that's not the ideal situation. I don't think I personally would like being a single mother.

I come from a really screwed up family an my parents weren't married when they had me so I always swore I'd be married an happy before having a baby an I did just that. But that's what I felt was right

My 24 year old brother actually knocked up his girlfriend intentionally with the thought that if they could work together as parents proficiently, then that would determine if they could sustain a good marriage together. That was the most idiotic thing I have ever heard. She's a basket case and they're having another one, still not married. He can't stand her, but he rather have kids with one mother instead of knocking up multiple women. I say if you have the option, marriage seems like a good idea to get into first.

I am neutral. I would prefer to have children after marraige but that is just not always the case and I can't say those who haven't or don't are wrong or bad. Life happens, just love and take care of your kids, that matters most whatever way they came into the world.