How old is too old to have a baby?

I had to have IVF in the end to have my baby. My husband and I are both 37 and love our baby dearly. When people ask us how we’re finding being parents we answer truthfully that we absolutely love it. But we know we love it more because we’ve decided never to do this again 😂 We would have gone till whatever age but I think if you had a choice early 30s would be better. I used to be so fit and was doing Zumba till fairly late in my pregnancy but late pregnancy and a c section means after an 8 minute run I’m exhausted. I think it’s possibly easier to bounce back if you’re younger.

After my first round of IVF at 37.5 my GP commented that I was still young and not to worry, there was still plenty of time for it to work. I went on to do a second round and none of the doctors or nurses, in the hours of appointments, testing, consents and education videos etc, ever said anything about age being a credible risk factor to mum or baby. It must be small enough that they don't feel a need to warn people. I did choose to do PGT-A for chromosomally normal embryos and had euploid blasts on both rounds.

I think under 40 is fine, after that I think the teenage years would be a lot to put up with

You’re not too old! Age is just a number. It’s attitude and fitness that matter. I’m 58 and have never felt younger frankly! I’ve got to the age where I DGAF anymore which has made me feel really free, and I’ve been following a fitness regime that has made me feel great about myself. I hate the attitude that you’re too old to do that, too old to wear that, too old to have a baby. It’s all bollocks! Embrace your inner young person and go for it!

You won't be too tired, 36 is young- I had mine at 28 and 33 but out of friends we are very much the odd ones out as they were early 40s with under 5s.

Oh noo!!! Sorry everyone honest mistake, first time here

@EniHilo you need to start your own thread not comment on someone else’s, you’ll get more replies that way.

Hi @EniHilo

Just to let you know that you posted your question on a thread about maternal age so you won’t get any replies to your question.

If you ask MN to move your post to a new thread you’ll hopefully get replies to your question.

Good Luck

Had mine at 36 and 40. Have never felt particularly tired or that I was too old. I’m really fit and healthy though and at 58 am fitter than I’ve ever been. No regrets at all.

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For me the cutoff was 30 as I have health issues and knew I would struggle.
I have friends who had their first in their late thirties and early forties and are absolutely thriving.

I think you're too old to have kids when you feel too old to have kids.

I went through the menopause at 32. My own mother at 36. So I'm very glad my cut off for having babies was 25. If I hadn't had DS when I did and had waited, I wouldn't have been able to have any children.

My cut off is 35 - but most new mums are in their 40s.

I personally want grown up children when I’m 50+ - not primary school aged kids and teens. Although I know anything in life can happen.

I had my daughter in my very early 20s - I was so young! had my second in my early 30/ and enjoying it more.

37 and glad i stopped then as hard enough dealing with teenagers now.
Wouldn't be able for younger children.

About 55 with the right medication

I thought i was done at 30 but then had a whoops baby at 36..
Obviously not too old technically as I was on contraception and still managed to conceive this baby!! But I tell you I am exhausted.. I certainly feel 'old' now.
My body has not handled it as well as previous pregnancies.
However psychologically I think I'm a much better mum actually. I think I dealt with the newborn stage a lot more easily. I was alot more chilled. I'm also at a much more secure place in my life financially and emotionally.
I don't think I would have planned to have a baby this late tho.. but my DH is much older than me so that's a factor. I worry we won't be around for her as an adult.
But life pans out how it pans out.
Fertility isn't as in your control as you'd like sometimes.
I'm very happy she's here. My other children and my DH are all over the moon with her too.

@pumpkinpillow
I agree, ignore the negativity, 36 is not too old at all. I wish you all the best in your ivf journey, stay positive x

Everyone is different and everyone ages differently too. I had my children at 21, 23 and final one at 40. She's almost 2 now, don't regret any of it. Loving being a mum to a little one again, haven't found it harder being older, I have been lucky, she's a little Angel and extremely doting daddy, who does more than his fair share, willingly (his first biological child). I am also extremely lucky that my older children dote ok their baby sister and happily help out caring for her.
I actually feel like I've been a better mum as an older mum than I was when I had my other children young.
I am now 42 but I still feel young, physically and mentally. It's worth also considering the future, I will be bringing up a teenager early 50s to 60, I don't see any problem with that myself but worth having a good think about. I also put thought to the fact that I will probably be dead before my daughter is 50 but I feel that's ok as she has her older sisters and they are all very close so she won't be alone.
It really depends on the individual person and circumstances in my opinion. There will always be people who are negative about everything in life, do what's right for you.
Good luck to all trying for little ones, I hope you all your hopes and dreams come true x

A lot of people who think it's all over by mid-30s had their kids early though. If you've been a parent in your 20s or early 30s, the idea of starting again might seem appalling. It's different if it's your first time. 36 isn't old these days. Best of luck and I hope it works!

Oh God. Bless her heart. I hope it goes well, but no adult life without parenting responsibilities would be hard! I had one at 41 and one at 48, and though it isn't easy, at least I got all the travelling, partying, clubbing etc done in my 20s and 30s. I'm happy to spend every Friday evening and Sunday morning on the side of a football pitch now. Not so sure I would have wanted to do it for 20 or 30 years without a break though.

Ignore them. I hope so much that IVF works for you 💚

I hate these threads because I’m 36 and we’re hoping IVF works for us… so depressing to read all these comments like it’s already too late and we’ll be too tired to enjoy it even if it does work 😢

The risks do increase with age (e.g. miscarriage, chromosomal conditions, labour complications), but they are still very small and most pregnancies and baby are perfectly healthy.

What is the long list of risks to mother and child after 36?