Ladies - what is the oldest you would feel comfortable getting pregnant?

[PlainJane]

My mother was 36 when I was born, and my father was 44. They had adopted my brother two years prior to my being born. I was the first child that my mother ever conceived. I wasn't exactly planned. My parents had been told they had no chance of getting pregnant, so they went the adoption route with my brother, and were considering adoption the second time before they found out they were pregnant. My parents have always been grateful that they went from a barren couple to the parents of a boy and a girl.

I have older parents, but I've never felt the negative effects of it. It even had some benefits, such as them being more financially stable when they had us than a younger couple. My parents have both been very active in both my brother's life and mine. I've never had a problem relating to my parents. My mother and I enjoy a lot of the same activities and vacationing together, and my father and I enjoy talking to each other about cars and social issues.

Now I'll get around to actually answering your question. Depending on circumstances I would be comfortable with having a child up until the age of 40. I would even prefer not having a child until I was 30. Children born to older couples are not always afterthoughts, and are often very wanted.

 

[2binak]

My cut off is 36. I always wanted to wait to have kids because I knew I didn't have the patience when I was younger and I wanted to travel, play sports and spend some time being selfish before having to put kids' needs first. DH and I are both very active, so we have no worries about being able to keep up with our kids. If anything, we hope kids will keep us active and healthy for many years to come.

My parents were 37 when they had me. There is 12 yrs between me and my next sibling. There are 5 of us total and the other 4 were born when my parents were in their early to mid 20's. My parents weren't really active by the time I came along which did make things tough sometimes, but I had my siblings to keep up with me so it worked out just fine.

 

[sbell111]

I am one of those people who "did that" to their kids. I'm 41 now, and although I am not the youngest mom in the class, I'm not the only one my age or even the oldest. I don't think that anyone is going to mistake me for a "Grandma" any time soon.

It's a different world than it was 40 years ago when The Princess was born. Back then, the norm was to have children in the late teens or early twenties. Now, it is very common for people to wait until their late thirties or early forties. Since it is much more common for parents to be older, other kids don't pay much attention to it.

 

[Mickeyluver37]

It's a different world than it was 40 years ago when The Princess was born. Back then, the norm was to have children in the late teens or early twenties. Now, it is very common for people to wait until their late thirties. Since it is much more common for parents to be older, other kids don't pay much attention to it.

I think it's MORE common in my area to wait until about 30 to have your first child. I had my dd at 19 and my mom also had me young- a lot of dd's friends are my mom's age! We are definitely not the norm here.

Now, with the baby, almost all of the friends I've made through him are right around 30 with their first baby. I don't know if it's because I've got the other two, that I'm trying to drag around to 50 different activities with a toddler in tow, or what, but at 31, I'm already starting to feel "too old" for this! It seems like a lot more work this time around. I think if I don't have another one by 35, I would definitely consider myself DONE. Of course, at 35, I will have 16, 14, and 5 year kids, so having another baby after that would be tough.

If we're talking I just met my DH today and had no kids, I'd probably be comfortable with TTC through early 40's. I have a friend due on her 43rd birthday this year, and while that sounds old, she doesn't seem too old to me.

 

[JessicaR]

When I turned 43 I knew there would be no more trying. Not sure why that age but it was a definite feeling I had. I had my boys when I was 30 and 34.

My sister recently had her first at 40. I watch him sometimes and no way do I want to do this again. I'm done.

 

[AshleyW]

I think my cut-off is probably early 30's.. 32 or 33. It doesn't even really have anything to do with how old I'll be with MY child, but if my children have children.. I'd like to have plenty of time to watch my grandchildren grow up. My grandparents had my parents young, and my parents had me fairly young (23), and so now all my grandparents are still pretty young and we're very close, whereas most of my friends' grandparents have passed away.

 

[sbell111]

... If we're talking I just met my DH today and had no kids, I'd probably be comfortable with TTC through early 40's. ...

Whenever I read TTC, my brain goes here:

 

[Tauwillow]

I was 26 when I finished having my own kids.

I'm 37 now, and currently pregnant for a couple who are in their mid 40s. I've also had 4 other babies for couples in their mid 40s. I'm obviously comfortable with that.

So, mid to late 40s would probably be my cut-off. I might work with a couple in their early 50s, if they had the right spirit/health/lifestyle.

 

[disdanny]

Ladies - what is the oldest you would feel comfortable getting pregnant?

I think that if you give careful consideration to atmosphere, venue and position, you can be comfortable while getting pregnant at any age.

 

[Sparx]

late 20s to be honest. i have a very young mom, and i like it that way, and i think i would like to be a younger mom too.

 

[Tauwillow]

I think that if you give careful consideration to atmosphere, venue and position, you can be comfortable while getting pregnant at any age.

Rimshot!

 

[zachnsamsmommy]

I am 36 now, and we are contemplating trying for a 3rd (I was 27 and 34 when my first two were born). We went through infertility issues trying to have #2, so if we do try for a 3rd...I think we would only try for a year.

I think my personal cut off would be 37-ish...but that is just me. I don't think twice about women having babies up til about age 40.

 

[Arielle22]

I had my two at 28 and 30 (I am 43 now). When I was 35 we decided no more and Dh went to visit the dr.

One of my sisters had my nephew at 40 and her dh was 57. He stays with us about once a month and can wear me out.

My other sister had my 2nd nephew in January. He was 12 wks premie and didn't come home until April (with a feeding tube and lots of dr appts). She was 35 when she got pregnant via invitro after trying for several years. She was surprised when she was told her age made her "maternally advanced".

My younger sister is considering a 2nd child eventually but my older sister is done. Her son is quite a handful.

 

[freckles and boo]

When my younger daughter was three I was 38. One of my daughter's classmates at that time had a 19 yo mother. I was twice as old as this other mom and while she loved her little boy, I would not have traded places with her for the world. I am 42 now and if we were to have a surprise baby I would welcome another child with open arms, but we don't plan to have more. It isn't really about age for me. It is about a stage of life. I am happy to have moved on from parenting babies and toddlers to parenting kids. Soon enough they will be teens, then adults. It is fun to move through these things with them.

 

[CapeMayMommy]

My grandmother had my uncle at the age of 45--naturally. I always thought that was way cool.

I had my first at 38 and my second at 39 1/2. Also, way cool. Hubby/Daddy is currently 57 and thinks he's one of the kids.

Nobody better call us old!!!

 

[lil mermaid]

It's a different world than it was 40 years ago when The Princess was born. Back then, the norm was to have children in the late teens or early twenties. Now, it is very common for people to wait until their late thirties or early forties. Since it is much more common for parents to be older, other kids don't pay much attention to it.

I agree. Of my friends, only a few had children in their early to mid twenties. Everyone else was in their late twenties, or into their thirties.

And....I'll admit that her post rubbed me the wrong way.

 

[LisaNJ25]

I was 31 when I had my 4th. That was old enough for me. I will be 35 soon and wouldnt want one.

 

[mickeylove2]

This is funny because I was just talking to my BFF about this topic! I had my oldest DD at 19 and my youngest at 21 and have since said I'm done having kids, I'm too old at this point, I really don't want anymore, love that they are basically self sufficient, etc. Now I'm 27 and my DBF has started talking to me about having a baby together! So, before, I definitely would have said 25 was my cut off, but now I'm going to say 29.

 

[Handbag Lady]

I'm going to say 42 so keep me from falling apart.


I am 40. We are childless. Husband thinks we still have time. It's an on-going thing. First, yes we want them, then no we don't, then we don't have money, we don't own a home, etc.

If certainly didn't help that our dear friends are first time parents at the age of 45 (husband) and 46 (wife). She conceived naturally.

So, of course now husband thinks we have oodles of time.

 

[Aisling]

I said I'd never have kids past 30 and I didn't. I got pregnant with my last when I was 29 and he was born when I was 30.

That's how I felt, and had my two when I was 23 and 29. I loved being pregnant, but I was thinking ahead, and I wanted a young family.