Marshall Eriksen and Lily Aldrin are two of the main characters on the popular sitcom How I Met Your Mother. The show follows a group of friends living in New York City and focuses on Ted Mosby’s search for his future wife. Marshall and Lily meet in college and their relationship is a major part of the show. Fans are very invested in their journey as a couple. One topic that generates a lot of interest and discussion among fans is how many children Marshall and Lily have over the course of the show.
Marshall and Lily’s Relationship History
Marshall and Lily meet as freshmen at Wesleyan University. They quickly fall in love and start dating. Their relationship hits some bumps when Lily leaves Marshall to pursue an art fellowship in San Francisco, but they eventually reconcile and get engaged. After several delays, they finally get married in season 2 of the show. Marshall and Lily’s relationship is very committed and they are best friends as well as partners. Having children and starting a family is something they both want.
Pregnancy Scares
Even before they get married, Marshall and Lily have a few pregnancy scares on the show. Early in their relationship in college, Lily thinks she might be pregnant but it turns out to be a false alarm. This plants the idea in both their heads that they see children in their future. There is another scare when they travel to Atlantic City for a romantic weekend and Lily’s period is late. Again, it does not turn out to be a real pregnancy. These scares reveal that babies are on their minds years before they actually try to conceive.
Difficulty Conceiving
After Marshall and Lily get married, they decide they are ready to start trying for a baby. However, it does not happen easily for them. In season 4, they see a fertility doctor who diagnoses Lily with a medical condition that will make it harder for her to conceive. This is upsetting for both Lily and Marshall, who have to come to terms with the idea that getting pregnant may be a struggle for them. They consider their options, including IVF, but decide to keep trying on their own a little longer.
First Pregnancy
Marshall and Lily finally get pregnant in season 5. They are overjoyed when they get the happy news. The pregnancy is smooth sailing at first. Lily is glowing and enjoying preparing for the new baby. However, complications arise when Lily develops gestational diabetes. This means she has to be closely monitored by doctors for the remainder of her pregnancy and make adjustments to her diet. It’s a tense time but eventually she goes into labor and delivers a healthy baby boy they name Marvin W. Eriksen, after Marshall’s late father.
| Child’s Name | Gender | Birth Details |
|---|---|---|
| Marvin W. Eriksen | Male | Born May 2012 after difficult pregnancy due to Lily’s gestational diabetes. |
Second Pregnancy
About a year after Marvin is born, Marshall and Lily decide they are ready to expand their family again. They get pregnant quickly this time around. The pregnancy goes smoothly until Lily goes into labor suddenly while the whole gang is out together. They rush to the hospital where Lily gives birth to another baby boy. Marshall and Lily name him Daisy after a misunderstanding of the doctor saying “It’s a baby.” They change his name to David a few days later once they realize the mistake.
| Child’s Name | Gender | Birth Details |
|---|---|---|
| Marvin W. Eriksen | Male | Born May 2012 after difficult pregnancy due to Lily’s gestational diabetes. |
| David Eriksen | Male | Born May 2013 after quick labor begins suddenly in public. |
Do They Have More Kids?
Marshall and Lily seem very happy after David is born. A family of four fits them well. For a while, it appears their family is complete. However, in flash forwards to future scenes throughout the show, Marshall and Lily are shown with three children. Fans catch glimpses of a third child at family gatherings and Marshall refers to having a daughter at one point. This implies that Marshall and Lily do go on to have another baby, although the details are never revealed.
Theories on the Third Baby
Since the third child remains a mystery, fans have come up with theories about Marshall and Lily’s third pregnancy and baby:
- Some think they may have adopted their third child, possibly a daughter, after having two sons.
- Others speculate Lily may have become pregnant unexpectedly and they welcomed a surprise third baby.
- Many guess the third child was born via IVF or another fertility treatment after years of trying.
In the end, the show leaves it up to viewers to imagine how Marshall and Lily’s third child joined their family.
Conclusion
Although the full details are not revealed, it’s clear from scenes in the future that Marshall and Lily ultimately have three children together. After starting their family later than expected due to fertility issues, they end up with the big family they always dreamed of. The mystery surrounding their third child allows fans to speculate and come up with their own theories about how Marshall and Lily’s family grew over the years. Their three children are a testament to their strong and loving relationship.