I think its a bit of both and also the sheer pressures of the market – apparently it now costs £130,000 to bring up a kid from age 0-5 (I suspect this is a rather middle class upbringing) and few parents (particularly lone parents) can easily afford it…

but I also fear that a lot of couples become parents without realising the wider implications and that both children and pet animals are now becoming fashion accessories and almost “disposable” commodities, and that some humans desire to care and nurture is less than many realise.

in previous days (from researching local history) it appears that before there was child benefit/housing lists loads of children/babies got abandoned or “disappeared” (although the workhouse system was used to ensure they didn’t all starve) and single mothers were regularly hanged (or transported overseas/committed to lunatic asylums) for infanticide…