Why Did She Really Want That Third Baby? The Surprising Truth About Career Moms and Motherhood

They asked her if she really wanted that third child. Imagine being Jessica Padula, vice president at Nespresso, pregnant with her third baby, and facing the blunt question: Is this what you truly wanted?

This was the striking headline from a recent Business Insider article that’s sparking vital conversations about motherhood, career, and fertility choices in 2025. It’s a perfect reminder that behind every family planning decision lies a fascinating mix of emotion, ambition, and often, societal pressure.

So why does this question even arise? What fuels the skepticism around career women deciding to expand their families beyond two kids, especially when they are high achievers like Jessica? Let’s unpack that — and maybe challenge some stereotypes along the way.

Career vs. Motherhood: The Balancing Act (or the Myth of It)

For decades, the world has painted the career mom as a superhuman juggling act — a balancing act that’s as glamorous as it is grueling. The truth, however, is messier and far more nuanced. Having a third child while climbing the corporate ladder? Some see it as reckless or “too much.” But for many women, it’s a deeply wanted choice, not a reluctant compromise or “extra burden.”

Jessica’s story is a powerful example. She doesn’t shy away from her ambition or her love for motherhood. Instead, she reveals the complexity of emotions and calculations that every prospective parent faces — questions about timing, finances, physical and emotional readiness, and yes, the desire to grow a family.

Fertility Choices in a Modern Age

Here’s where things get really interesting: technology is changing the game. Whether you’re juggling work or exploring non-traditional family building routes, options like at-home insemination kits are empowering more people than ever before.

Companies such as MakeAMom, specialize in providing discreet, user-friendly kits designed to make conception possible outside a clinical setting. Their products, like the CryoBaby, Impregnator, and BabyMaker kits, cater to different fertility challenges — from low sperm motility to sensitivities such as vaginismus.

What’s more? These kits are reusable and cost-effective, allowing people to take control of their fertility journey with less stress and more privacy. This means career moms don’t have to pause their lives or careers while navigating fertility — they get to decide how, when, and where conception happens.

Challenging the Stigma: Why the Third Child Question Matters

The skepticism Jessica experienced isn’t just about family size — it reveals underlying assumptions about women’s roles and priorities. Why do we question a third pregnancy but not a third promotion? Why is motherhood still such a private decision that invites public commentary?

Understanding these biases is the first step toward dismantling them. Recognizing that the decision to add a child is deeply personal and multifaceted helps create a kinder, more supportive culture around fertility and family planning.

What Can We Learn From This?

• Every family’s path is unique. No one-size-fits-all answers exist for how many kids to have or when to have them.
• Career and motherhood can coexist — and thriving in one doesn’t diminish the other.
• Modern fertility solutions offer new ways to shape your family on your own terms, breaking down old barriers and stigmas.
• Empathy over judgment creates stronger communities for parents, professionals, and everyone in between.

Final Thoughts: Your Journey, Your Rules

If you’ve read Jessica’s story and felt a spark of recognition or even a bit of rebellion, you’re not alone. The conversations we’re having around career moms and fertility choices reveal a societal shift — a move toward honoring diverse paths to parenthood.

Are you considering expanding your family but worried about the “how” or “when”? Maybe exploring discreet and reliable at-home insemination options could be the game-changer you didn’t know you needed.

Curious? Dive deeper into the world of accessible fertility solutions and support systems that meet you where you are, on your own timeline. After all, your family, your rules.

What do YOU think about the questions career moms face when choosing to have more children? Have you experienced this firsthand or witnessed it in your circles? Drop your thoughts below — let’s get the conversation flowing!

Originally inspired by Jessica Padula’s story reported by Business Insider here.