For Simone and Malcolm Collins of Pennsylvania, having children is not merely a personal choice; it is a mission. The couple believes their efforts will help save the future of human civilization amid an alarming decline in global birth rates.

Simone approaches motherhood with a scientific mindset. After the birth of their youngest child, the couple waited exactly nine months for her body to recover before proceeding with the next embryo transfer. She undergoes a series of specialized tests, from endoscopy and uterine biopsies to detailed blood work, while adhering to a strict regimen.

Malcolm (left) and his wife play with their children. Photo: Washington Post

Malcolm (left) and his wife play with their children. Photo: Washington Post

Due to complications from her first birth, Simone has required Cesarean sections for all subsequent deliveries. Medical risks increase with each surgical scar, yet she remains undeterred. "I accept that risk because what I do isn't just for myself," Simone stated.

In cold storage, the Collins family still has 32 embryos awaiting transfer.

The Collins family is a prominent face of the "pronatalism" movement in the United States. This movement warns that modern society is having too few children, threatening long-term economic and cultural stability. Unlike traditional views, pronatalists aim to change culture by making large families a symbol of "high status" and success.

This stance places them in a position where they are both praised and heavily criticized.

The Collins family's concerns are well-founded. According to the United Nations, the world's population is projected to peak within the next 60 years, then begin to decline. In the United States, the birth rate has been below the replacement level of 2,1 since 2007. Currently, nearly all developed nations, with the exception of Israel, face a similar situation.

Economists warn that a declining population leads to a host of consequences: labor shortages, an overburdened social security system, a rapidly aging society, and the risk of geopolitical instability.

Malcolm and Simone currently have four children and plan to have their fifth next year. Photo: Washington Post

Malcolm and Simone currently have four children and plan to have their fifth next year. Photo: Washington Post

Malcolm Collins, 38, a private investor, became focused on population issues while researching economic models for South Korea, the country with the world's lowest birth rate. The numbers convinced him that demographic decline would lead to economic collapse.

Returning to the United States, Malcolm and Simone decided to turn their family into a "living experiment." Despite controversy and criticism, they believe they are building a future generation of Collinses, individuals who will continue to exist as the world's population declines.

"The future must be broad enough for everyone, even those who disagree with us," Malcolm said, reflecting on the vision he and his wife are dedicating their lives to pursuing.

Nhat Minh (According to Washington Post)