How old is too old to have a baby?

Not at all. Just putting my observations into context. I think among those undergoing long training for medical careers especially the trend is to have children later.

I had my first and only child 3 weeks before my 37th Birthday. My pregnancy was terrible and I spent the final 4 months in hospital in Abu Dhabi where we were living as I had complete placenta previa and placenta accreta. Do not think that had anything to do with age though but wish I had got pregnant earlier in my life.

It just sounded odd to specify that they are well educated professionals. It implies that people who have children before that age are uneducated.

Why do you think it was an odd thing to say? My sisters are both well educated proffesionals who had their firsts at 30 and 35. I had mine at 21, 24 & 25 😅

I dont think the pp was saying that's the age it should be, just that's her experience of her adult children and their friends. My sisters friends have all had their DC later in life too where as most of my friends had babies around the same times as me

That's an odd thing to say. I'm a well educated professional, and the age I had children was something I deeply considered, which was why I wanted to be done by 25. I'm extremely glad that I decided what I did, because if I'd waited until I was 35, I wouldn't have been able to have children. Oh, and I'd be disabled too. I think it's much more sensible to have a baby at 25 than 35, if you're in the position to do so.

Thanks @SillyOldBucket . I have never met anyone who had a baby as old as I did (49 but was a natural surprise pregnancy as I said earlier in the thread). A part of me still feels embarrassed to be such an old mum especially as we moved a few years ago and all the mums at school seem to be in their 20s/30s. My daughter is now 7 so take heart that you are still energetic at 64 (?).

There's no one size fits all answer to that question. Everyone is different. Some people slow down and are knackered in their 40s and 50s while others are still fit with boundless energy. Some people are mentally and financially ready in their 20s and 30s while for others it's not until their 40s. I had twins at 48 (IVF) and have loved every minute. I loved my 20s and 30s socialising and travelling and now I love being a mum. They are16 now , I work full time, drive them here there and everywhere but love it and don't feel I have any less energy than anyone 20 years younger so I think it just depends on the individual and their circumstances

I made this thread to see if 42 is old and to get reassurance what is wrong with that?

Why make apparently multiple threads and why make it so general it seems to attract criticism of older mothers?

The only place I see this idea of less time with kids being used as a reason not to have kids at all as an older mum is on your threads.

In the end everyone will have an opinion and none will really care as it won't really affect them. Every pg I had someone close to us kicked off about it being a bad idea - even though it had no effect on them.

Honestly when we become parents, age gap how many where we brought them up everyone had vocal opinions on - ultimately it was fuck all to do with them and zero impact on their lives.

If you are actually struggling maybe see if you can access some counselling in RL and talk it though with the other half of this equation your DP/DH the main other person affected.

Otherwise constantly stating these threads to get offended people have differing view on parental age in the abstract so you can get upset and offended is bloody odd and hard to see how it's helpful to anyone.

A 9 year old and a 3 year old is not back to back pregnancies.

Surely it totally depends on individual circumstances though. If I’d had my children before I was 30 they wouldn’t have had a stable home to live in and myself and my partner would have been unmarried and not earning enough to give them a comfortable upbringing. By the time we were 32 and expecting our first child we were married, owned our house and were both in stable employment. We spent our 20s travelling and experiencing life.

There isn’t a particular number that is too old to have a baby. A pensioner could provide a more stable and loving home for a baby than a 20 year old in some circumstances.

I was 32 with my last and I think that was just a bit old. I wish I had them before 30. I would definitely have one now at 39/40 if I didn’t have any though.

Personally 30 for me.

But 38ish if no medical concerns.

Had mine at 26 and 28.

Exactly, it’s individual to the mother involved surely and nobody else’s business.

I had my first at 37 and last at 40. I’m 54 now and it’s all been fine

My friend is preg at 45

( shes had 5 failed private ivf and now preg with donor egg )

Im 37 - nearly 38..

Had a heart breaking miscarriage at 36.5

About to do ivf

She was 60. (This was some time ago!)

I'm not messaging you.

Are you confused as to how a public online forum works?

It's just stupid pretending you're actually pondering if you're too old to have a baby, when you had one two months ago (although the number of kids you allegedly have changes thread by thread).

Omg omg is it too old to have have a baby two months older than I clearly think it's fine to have a baby? 41 is brilliant, but the very idea of being 41 and two months? Your 6th. When "all my 3 children are under 4"

Okkkk.....

Could not agree more. Saying when you would like to have children is like saying when would like to ideally win the lottery. Every journey is different and it’s not always straightforward or easy. It happens for each person differently and giving a time is potentially wishful or naive and not always realistic.

The right time is the right time for you.