As a 60-something woman with many friends past menopause, I would say most women never "feel" done, in the sense that we never again crave another baby, or sometimes just another pregnancy (some women feel at their best when pregnant). That's kind of a dirty trick Mother Nature played on us in order to keep us producing babies in spite of the discomforts, dangers and inconveniences of pregnancy, childbirth, and mothering.
But most of us "knew" that we were best done, for practical reasons, with the one or more children we had. Reasons could range from family finances or health issues, to difficult pregnancies or dangerous deliveries, to a particularly challenging child, to….
In my case, I knew I would not have more than one child because of my growing concern over the state of the world. Population pressures were already a worry in the 60's when I came of age, and I did not want to contribute even the "replacement number" of 2.2 for myself and my husband. Because it was a clear and firm decision, I have never regretted it, and made the most of raising my one extraordinary daughter (who is now raising her one fabulous son).
But I did sometimes long for another pregnancy, because I felt so terrific when I was preggo, and every once in awhile (like every time a friend had a baby!) I would find myself wishing for another infant of my own.
For me, since I recognized those cravings were wired in, I treated them just like my frequent sweet tooth: I shrugged and sighed and put my attention elsewhere. We can't simply eat everything we want. One child was what I could handle financially and energetically. And making a new human being is a very significant decision that will have long-term effects on future generations and the world at large. Humans are already polluting the planet alarmingly, crowding out other species, and consuming natural resources at a frenetic rate. I'm genuinely glad for my choice, and the strength that gave me to resist those intermittent "baby hungries."
