I have read the news with bemused interest as Chinese doctors advise prospective mothers about the risks of having a second child. I'm a skeptic.

But don't listen to me. I am not a doctor. I claim no medical knowledge whatsoever. If you're a woman contemplating having a second child, you should stop reading now. I am not qualified to render a professional opinion about anything - least of all prenatal care.

Yet I have also been accused of knowing too much about reproduction. I have eight children - yes, three sons and five daughters. Shocking but true. I will say that a big family is wonderful, especially now that the kids are grown.