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To not take any conception now I’m 40

263 replies

68days · 29/05/2026 19:23

I’m 40 in late July and have been talking about with dh not using condoms or any other form of conception anymore

OP posts:
Beenwhereyouareagain · 30/05/2026 03:56

"NO! BIG NO!*

At your age your body is releasing all the eggs it can. Sometimes women get pregnant really easily during this time. Releasing more than one egg a month mean multiples occur.more frequently. The risks of chromosomal abnormalities is greater as well.

If you feel you've completed your family please STAY on effective birth control until you finish menopause. Or get your tubes tied. There are a lot of years left that you could still be fertile.

Bowies · 30/05/2026 03:54

Because you want to conceive? From your follow up post I’m guessing that’s what you mean.

More likely multiples (twins) in your 40s.

I personally think 40s is too late, not for a baby, but for dealing with teenagers mid 50s onwards.

If not, average age menopause 51, contraception is advised until menopause confirmed (2 years after last period until 50 or 1 year over).

Otherwise until age 55.

Corgi2023 · 30/05/2026 03:51

At aged over 40 I've been spending the last week stressing in case I am pregnant because the condom broke. I'm still none the wiser if PMS or pregnancy and will need to give it a few more days.

CheeryOP · 30/05/2026 03:38

Stressmummy12 · 29/05/2026 23:06

I think we need to think of the potential children here. You are potentially going to pass away at what 75/80+ so the child would go through their own what late 20s onwards lives loosing their parents early. You’d potentially never meet grandchildren etc.

The maths in this post doesn't add up? A mum who has a baby age 40 will be 69 when the child is 29, not 75 or 80

EdithBond · 30/05/2026 03:37

Perfectly possible to get pregnant OP.

I did at 40 first try (DC3), now late teens.

cranberryhaddock · 30/05/2026 03:35

This reply has been deleted

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Constructive.

ApolloandDaphne · 30/05/2026 03:20

Are you planning to have children or not? That is the central question here.

gokartdillydilly · 30/05/2026 02:32

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SevenYellowHammers · 30/05/2026 02:12

I love my DS dearly and wouldn’t change a thing but funding him through university when both me and his dad are pensioners wasn’t quite the plan! I’ve just had to use some of my teacher pension lump sum as deposit on second year accommodation. And of course, he wants to do year abroad and postgraduate qualifications too. Yeah, I didn’t bother with contraception because I was in my 40s and his dad nearly 60😂

Anonymousemouses · 30/05/2026 01:57

Stressmummy12 · 29/05/2026 23:06

I think we need to think of the potential children here. You are potentially going to pass away at what 75/80+ so the child would go through their own what late 20s onwards lives loosing their parents early. You’d potentially never meet grandchildren etc.

Ridiculous and narrow minded comment. Lots of children lose their mothers at far younger ages, due to cancer, or other illnesses.

Maybe girls should have their DNA tested and be sterilised so they can never put future children through that trauma? Of course it's a ludicrous sugges, but so is your view, based on limited life experience.

sunshinestar1986 · 30/05/2026 01:56

Stressmummy12 · 29/05/2026 22:49

40 is old in terms of pregnancy and parenting who wants to be parenting a teenager touching 60. It’s entirely up to you but personally for me absolutely not I’m 31 I’ve got a 4 year old and pregnant to give birth later this year and I’m 2 and done. Purely because I don’t want to have children late for their benefit and mine infact I was having quite high levels of anxiety about never having a second but I knew I’d never want one late.

Gosh
I had my first at 22
2nd at 36 and now will be having my 3rd at nearly 40.
I'm enjoying motherhood so much more this time
I think it's a mindset
I'll be nearly 60 when this little one is 20
Seems great

sunshinestar1986 · 30/05/2026 01:52

Nearly 40 here and sat in induction ward about to deliver my 3rd 🤣
Got pregnant very easily too

Sunlitsoul · 30/05/2026 01:48

Did you post too soon or something does the rest of the sentence say "because we want another baby"? In which case go for it!

We weren't careful ONCE and I mean once at the ripe old age of 42, I'll be giving birth aged 43 in a few months time. Fertility doesn't drop off a cliff at 35 as they lead you to believe, which if you are wanting a baby is a good thing, if you aren't well I await your announcement anyway ☺️.

Badlifeday · 30/05/2026 01:45

I got pregnant 4 times in my early 40s.

TheCheekyCyanHelper · 30/05/2026 01:41

68days · 29/05/2026 22:32

40 isn’t old

It absolutely is.

Fiftyandme · 30/05/2026 01:32

MyArtfulGreySloth · 29/05/2026 22:30

Because who wants to be a geriatric mum? It’s not fair on the kids having parents so old.

My youngest is perfectly happy. I’m 50 and she’s 12.

SleepingStandingUp · 30/05/2026 01:26

Op are you trying for your first or a final baby?

Nationalaverage · 30/05/2026 01:20

Stressmummy12 · 29/05/2026 23:06

I think we need to think of the potential children here. You are potentially going to pass away at what 75/80+ so the child would go through their own what late 20s onwards lives loosing their parents early. You’d potentially never meet grandchildren etc.

But you definitely won’t meet your grandchildren at all if your children don’t exist. I absolutely hate that logic.

B1anche · 30/05/2026 01:10

MyArtfulGreySloth · 29/05/2026 22:30

Because who wants to be a geriatric mum? It’s not fair on the kids having parents so old.

Clearly quite a lot of us based on the responses on this thread.

40 is not "so old". There are many scenarios that would "not be fair" on kids. Being over 40 is not one of them.

PeoniesAreMyFavouriteFlowers · 30/05/2026 00:04

Don’t be silly.

Did you study biology at school?

Unless you want another baby of course.

randomchap · 29/05/2026 23:53

Do you want to get pregnant? Does your partner want more kids?

If you do then crack on. If not then take precautions

Essentially is your question, is it ok try for children at 40?

BestZebbie · 29/05/2026 23:48

At 40 you might well have another baby, but you also might just have loads of miscarriages - would that really be less stressful than contraception?

EvieBB · 29/05/2026 23:23

Imthefunfriend · 29/05/2026 19:24

PS I think you mean contraception 🫣

Ha....isn't it funny what the eyes see....I thought it said contraception but now I look again (after your post) I see she wrote conception!

Bumcake · 29/05/2026 23:22

Londonrach1 · 29/05/2026 22:51

I had dd at 41. A miracle as didn't think ever have children. I'm not the oldest mum by any way in the playground...got several friends who gave birth aged 45. So take it you want more children

Exactly, it’s common enough to have kids at that age so crack on OP, if that’s your intention.

Ponderingwindow · 29/05/2026 23:15

So will this be your first child or are you and your husband adding to the family?

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