I get the impression the Bontrager marriages are semi-arranged. Marlin and the other patriarch decide two of their kids would be a good match, tell the kids to pray about each other as potential mates, and start planning the wedding. I don’t think Marlin would force his kids to marry anyone they didn’t get along with, but he sees parental approval as more important than romantic love. 

10 minutes ago, 4boysmum said:

Vba3c births (vaginal birth after 3 c-sections) are not common in the USA, but my doctor and I are pretty confident that it was a good choice for my situation.

Michelle Duggar is very pro-VBAC (having had C-sections with the two sets of twins) and it worked well for her.

I (not a medical professional, but have had 6 children and spent a fair amount of time chatting with OBs) was told that 3 c-sections is a tipping point where, after that, future pregnancies will have higher risk of placental complications.  I understood it as more scar tissue = less favorable places for a placenta to implant in subsequent pregnancies and if it attaches to scar tissue it can cause serious problems.  I know some other posters here work in the field so maybe you can explain it better.

With that said, I have had 3 c-sections and nobody told me to avoid pregnancy after the last one.  When I did get pregnant again I was all set to have a 4th c-section and no one seemed terribly concerned other than they did look at placenta placement carefully on ultrasound and said it was fine.  If it had not been fine they said I would have been transferred to Boston (which is fortunately just 45 minutes away) as a higher risk patient.  If a woman gets pregnant the baby has to come out one way or another.  It's not like they can force it to stay in forever because you already used up your allowed 3 surgeries, and the doctor said she had operated on women having at least 5 c-sections.

I did not have the 4th c-section.  I changed doctors and pushed hard for a chance to vbac.  I have gone the vba3c route twice now, in an excellent hospital in Boston with an amazing doctor.  Vba3c births (vaginal birth after 3 c-sections) are not common in the USA, but my doctor and I are pretty confident that it was a good choice for my situation.

14 hours ago, JermajestyDuggar said:

 

No Abby, your children are not constantly running everywhere.. You on the other hand.. *cough* New York, Canada, Europe *cough*

12 hours ago, CaptainFunderpants said:

So now we have track Brad Pitt in Nick Symmonds and fundie Brad Pitt in Christian Bowers.

All three succeed in both being attractive AND really off-putting.

Liz had a thing with Carver a few years ago (to the point that Carver was pictured sitting next to Marlin at several meals, Liz and Carver always had to have a sibling between them in photos, and Carver openly posted creeper pics of Liz on instagram), and IIRC it lasted months. No idea how that would add to the dynamic of her and Christian. It probably wouldn't matter.

The other factor is it appears Marlin and Becky want their daughters to get married on the later side, which is why Carver and Liz likely didn't go anywhere... Liz is still only 21, while Chelsy and Allison were both on the later side of 26, which is another factor.

I think they would be fine with her marrying earlier. But girls have to wait until some fundie guy is interested. Marlin pushed his boys to get married to the Bowers girls. But it was hard for him to push the girls because they have to sit and wait patiently for a Prince Charming to come along.