For over a year, Zak Rosen and his wife, Shira Heisler, discussed whether or not they wanted to have children. They conferred with friends, family, writers, and scientists along the way. Pregnant Pause is their intimate account of making the most important decision of their lives (so far).
Zak and Shira try to pick up the pieces after an unfortunate series of events.
Something completely unexpected takes hold and everything changes.
Shira is at the end of her rope. She wants a baby. And the aha moment that Zak keeps waiting for, it’s likely never gonna come. So now what?
Zak loves the life he and Shira lead now, without kids. So he asks a chorus of people who've decided not to have kids what went into their decisions and how their childfree lives have turned out.
Zak and Shira inch toward a decision while Meghan Daum, essayist and editor of “Selfish, Shallow, and Self-Absorbed: Sixteen Writers on The Decision Not To Have Kids,” stops by to tell her story.
Zak and Shira's philosopher friend introduces them to the concept of anti-natalism, and gets them thinking, is it morally wrong to bring a human into this world? Then Zak compares his climate anxiety to the meteorologist and writer, Eric Holthaus, who has pondered a vasectomy in the face of climate catastrophe.
Zak and Shira talk to parents who admit, sometimes, parenting really sucks. Is it even worth it?
Having kids seems very unappealing to Zak. He visits his therapist and some friends to begin to untangle his indecision. Meanwhile, Shira, Zak's wife, explains why she wants to be a mom.
Meet Zak and Shira. They’ve been together for 10 years. Shira wants a baby. Zak’s not so sure.
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