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Original poster

The oldest you've known someone to get pregnant naturally?

340 replies

ineedtowomanup · 29/12/2024 10:56

My Grandmother was 44 when she had my youngest uncle, a healthy pregnancy and my uncle is now 47.

What's the oldest you've known someone to conceive and give birth?

OP posts:
KimberleyClark · 29/12/2024 22:37

Flocke · 29/12/2024 20:15

Agree with this. It’s great that some do conceive well past what is considered normal, but no one should use it as a “you’ve got plenty of time” card.
I tried to conceive from 38. Never did manage it and I’m almost 44 now. So many people tell me about their cousins best friend’s auntie who had a baby at 47 etc etc. But in the real world it’s incredibly rare for women to conceive naturally (especially first babies) past 45.

Show quote history

I tried to conceive from 29 and never managed it!

Cattenberg · 29/12/2024 22:35

MsCactus · 29/12/2024 20:06

I'm enjoying the positivity on this thread, but I agree with you! Another pp posted that research shows the average upper limit of fertility is age 41... So although there will always be outliers, you should probably plan around the averages - as averages mean there will also be people who become infertile younger than 41

While I know people who've had babies in their mid 40s, I also I know quite a few who have struggled TTC in their 30s

Show quote history

I know a woman who had her first child at 27. She tried for a second a few years later, but it was already too late and she went through the menopause at 32. She was unlucky, as premature menopause is only thought to affect around 1% of women under 40.

Sockmate123 · 29/12/2024 22:21

47 and she also had at 45 and 43. No IVF etc

LadyMacbethWasMisunderstood · 29/12/2024 22:19

I was 44 when I conceived DS naturally (my 3rd DC) and nearly 45 when I had him. He is now 13.

susiedaisy1912 · 29/12/2024 22:19

Naturally with no treatment that resulted in a healthy baby being born was 44 years.

Critsey · 29/12/2024 22:04

Unbelievably 49.
Had thought they would never have children.
Failed multiple ivf's.
Complete surprise pregnancy during Covid.
Gorgeous healthy 2 year old little boy now.

TeamPolin · 29/12/2024 21:44

My friend got pregnant at 45. Conceived naturally and no issues.

Dweetfidilove · 29/12/2024 21:11

A mom at my daughter's primary school had a lovely surprise at 50. Completely delayed her plans for early retirement.

BruFord · 29/12/2024 21:07

Yes,@MsCactus , my Mum conceived me easily at 37 but wasn’t able to have a second child (this was pre-IVF), they tried for several years and it just didn’t happen. My guess is that her fertility suddenly plummeted. Everyone’s different in this respect.

Flocke · 29/12/2024 20:15

MsCactus · 29/12/2024 20:06

I'm enjoying the positivity on this thread, but I agree with you! Another pp posted that research shows the average upper limit of fertility is age 41... So although there will always be outliers, you should probably plan around the averages - as averages mean there will also be people who become infertile younger than 41

While I know people who've had babies in their mid 40s, I also I know quite a few who have struggled TTC in their 30s

Show quote history

Agree with this. It’s great that some do conceive well past what is considered normal, but no one should use it as a “you’ve got plenty of time” card.
I tried to conceive from 38. Never did manage it and I’m almost 44 now. So many people tell me about their cousins best friend’s auntie who had a baby at 47 etc etc. But in the real world it’s incredibly rare for women to conceive naturally (especially first babies) past 45.

MsCactus · 29/12/2024 20:06

pinkroseleaf · 29/12/2024 19:45

I know one woman who got pregnant naturally at 44, she had already birthed 5 children and had no trouble getting pregnant. She suffered with back pain terribly after the pregnancy. Apart from that the oldest I know is 36 with no help.
But what I would say is that I know loads of people who have struggled ttc in their thirties and some have never been able to conceive with or without help. Often stories are trotted out of 'oh such and such had a baby at 45 so you've still got loads of time'. The reality is you probably don't have loads of time. You may do but it is a gamble.

I'm enjoying the positivity on this thread, but I agree with you! Another pp posted that research shows the average upper limit of fertility is age 41... So although there will always be outliers, you should probably plan around the averages - as averages mean there will also be people who become infertile younger than 41

While I know people who've had babies in their mid 40s, I also I know quite a few who have struggled TTC in their 30s

YouLookinSusBro · 29/12/2024 20:05

Personally 45. Through work, 56! Was a surprise natural conception too

pinkroseleaf · 29/12/2024 19:45

I know one woman who got pregnant naturally at 44, she had already birthed 5 children and had no trouble getting pregnant. She suffered with back pain terribly after the pregnancy. Apart from that the oldest I know is 36 with no help.
But what I would say is that I know loads of people who have struggled ttc in their thirties and some have never been able to conceive with or without help. Often stories are trotted out of 'oh such and such had a baby at 45 so you've still got loads of time'. The reality is you probably don't have loads of time. You may do but it is a gamble.

Maddy70 · 29/12/2024 19:25

46

Jumell · 29/12/2024 19:21

51

leolo · 29/12/2024 19:19

Me, at 43 and 47, both naturally. While in hospital, though, a nurse told me of a 53 year old with a surprise pregnancy.

Chocolatetoothache · 29/12/2024 19:19

ineedtowomanup · 29/12/2024 18:39

I guess the lesson is still to use contraception until you're in your mid 50s at least?

Yes, NHS says you can stop using contraception at age 55.

TwistedWonder · 29/12/2024 19:14

unmemorableusername · 29/12/2024 15:10

For most of these you just won't know if it was natural or not. Most people lie and say it was when it wasn't.

The one I know who was 51 was absolutely 💯 natural. She already had 3 kids (22, 19 and 14) and her baby days were long behind her so she thought.

She thought she was menopausal and went to doctors because she was worried there was something wrong. She had a huge shock!

Littleme2023 · 29/12/2024 19:11

42 - a work colleague thought she was going through the menopause and then found outs she was about 4 months pregnant.

DramaAlpaca · 29/12/2024 19:08

My friend told me that both her grandmothers had their last child at 51. This would've been in the 1930s or 40s so definitely no assisted conceptions back then.

notarunner · 29/12/2024 19:03

49 - A regular at my old job. She lost a significant amount of weight and found herself pregnant with a surprise baby. Her little boy was adorable but I couldn't imagine starting all over again at that age.

JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam · 29/12/2024 18:59

Oldest I’ve known personally is 42.

But these ages terrify me 🤣, as someone who was done having children by 27 and is now about to be 40 the idea of small babies at my age horrifies me. Obviously it’s personal and if you haven’t had them then I guess it’s all good. But it’s not for me!

UmbrellaEllaEllaElla · 29/12/2024 18:47

51, great grandmother.

BruFord · 29/12/2024 18:46

ineedtowomanup · 29/12/2024 18:39

I guess the lesson is still to use contraception until you're in your mid 50s at least?

@ineedtowomanup That’s what my friend who got pregnant at 46 realized. She’d stopped bothering and hey presto!

Hoppinggreen · 29/12/2024 18:40

43 and triplets
I was convinced it had to be IVF but nope and they were identical too

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