Is 45 too old to have a baby

Not sure what your poll options are but yes I think it is.

I had one at 45. She doesn't seem to mind. Indeed, she is looking forward to receiving her inheritance much sooner than her peers ...

Way too old. You've left it to the last possible minute, a natural conception of a healthy baby is incredibly unlikely.

Only you can answer that question really.
Friend of mine just had her third just before her 46th birthday and is loving life. She has a supportive husband, financially stable, is in good health and has balls of energy and love for her kids and I don't see that wavering. I had my own later on in life and on many levels I've grateful that I did as I personally feel I'd have been a rubbish and anxious parent if I'd had them in my late 20s/early 30s but someone else will disagree with that entirely. It really is a personal decision but good to ask and listen to all the opinions to see where you think you fit in or feel on the matter. Good luck with your decision!

It's not ideal. I had my youngest at 40 (didn't meant to leave it that late but had secondary infertility) and it's just about OK but I'd have not wanted to be any older, not least because my husband was even older than that.

I was also quite a "young" 40 - slim, fit, well and lots of energy. I'm now 50 and starting to struggle with arthritis, hoping to retire at 60 or so though need to keep going until she's finished uni (assuming she goes). I can't imagine having a 5 year old at this age.

Also, how do you know you would conceived easily? Some women do but even if you have regular periods, your eggs may be no good or your progesterone levels may have dropped too much for implantation. It's not just a matter of deciding to stop contraception. Chances of conceiving naturally at 45 are quite slim.

Yesterday you described yourself as a single mum with quite bad anxiety OP.

The thread you started a few hours ago states that you're unwell and your mother is in hospital, and your ex is stressing you out.

Now is really not the time to be thinking about planning a pregnancy, no matter how old you are.

This exactly.
One minute you can be living your best life, endless energy, healthy etc.
Literally the next day, you may not be able to get out of bed.

Also think if they have a child at say 25

that's unlikely now, let alone in 25 yrs time

Becoming a foster parent isn’t exactly a quick or easy process, if OP is 45 time isn’t exactly on her side so don’t think this is very realistic advice. Also the experience of fostering is very different to having your own child, it’s a job which involves caring for a likely traumatised child, it will involve LAC meetings and facilitating parental contact and it would likely mean OP needing to give up her job to commit to. It’s not something somebody should go into just to practice having a child to see if they want to be a parent!

I do understand the desire to have children and experience that but can I gently say to you it is not the job of a child to fill a hole in someone’s life. A child is a person. What if that child is born and does not fill the gap or meet your expectations? You should be a whole person before you have a child. It can be tough and you need to be able to adapt and handle those challenges.

Where does the OP say she has a 14 year old?

Also think if they have a child at say 25 . They could potentially be looking after a child and you .
Do you have a husband and lots of family to help ? Or would they just have you ?
Lots of very rich people do it as I suppose atleast they can financially plan ahead for all circumstances.

You have a 14yr old, you're a few years away from having freedom to do whatever you want. Isn't that great?

Where does it say that? OP only posted once.

However, if that's the case, then why start over with a baby so late? They don't ask to be here.

I'd have felt perfectly capable of raising a toddler at 45. Two years later perimenopause hit me like a train and I could barely cope with the life I had. Unfortunately you're at an age where the body seems to sense a last chance saloon, and pushes for something that could well tip you into breaking point after just a couple more years - that's in addition to the difficulties of supporting and funding teenagers as PPs describe.

My mum became a grandmother at around that age. Can’t imagine having a newborn myself and I’m 38.

It’s far too old to have a child, I can’t believe you’re even asking the question.

Are the chances of conceiving and carrying to term not pretty low?

You have a 14yr old, you're a few years away from having freedom to do whatever you want. Isn't that great?

I’m sorry, but I absolutely would not have a baby at 45. I know people do, and everyone is different, but I just couldn’t do it to myself or the child. 💐

I used to think it would be ok but I'm 40 and have just had my second. He's an easy baby but I'm totally wrecked from it. I think another would finish me off. I've had lots of issues with blood pressure in pregnancy. I think this is more hereditary in my case but it's likely to worsen with age also. Maybe it if was my only chance to have a child I would

Think long and hard about this.

I'm 53 now and couldn't imagine having an 8 year old to parent. I'm in a horrific menopause, have two types of cancer to deal with ( one incurable) and the other likely requiring brutal treatment. That's just my experience though and this will more than likely not be your reality.

At 45, DD was 12 and DS was 8.5. I had bags of energy. Menopause hit me bang on 48, then the rest of the shit followed.

Good luck, whatever you decide.

Not in any non-dysfunctional family it's not. 35 is pretty typical for educated professionals.

As I mother of 4, I can safely safe kids are overrated these days. Would I do it again? No.

I suggest foster first, then decide if you have the energy and life long commitment to another human being who didn’t ask to be here.

I'm 62 so if I'd had a baby at your age, they'd be 18, a young adult, and that would be ok! Now, that is.

I'd have had career establishment, saving, maturing myself etc behind me.

But ...

I'd also have been trying to cope with pregnancy, possible pnd, newborn and toddler tantrums while also in the hole that was peri menopause.

And dealing with an adolescent and elder parents at the same time.

And being the same age as child's friends' grandparents, with all that social impact.

And taking the real risk that older pregnancy carries, bearing in mind your eggs are the same age as you are.

Weigh up all the pros and cons.

Exactly my thoughts!

I really really wanted a baby at 45 and up until the child's age of 10. It would've all been fine way better than fine fabulous in fact, but the thought of heading into their mid teens as I hit 60 makes me very relieved. I didn't fall pregnant.

At 45 I wouldn't have believe this either. I would have thought that being 60 when they have them wouldn't have been a big deal I would have been very wrong.

There's a lot of factors to consider, nobody can see into the future but are you in good health, good financial position, good support from partner, friends, family etc?

Would you be looking to try naturally or getting fertility treatment? Most fertility clinics only allow usage of your own eggs up until 43, are you prepared for a riskier pregnancy both for you and any child you may have?

In your position I would probably give it a go but be mindful that the odds are against you.