Is feeling broody a sign to start TTC

Well, no... have a baby if you and your partner really want one, understand how limiting it is, and you're financially and emotionally secure.

I was massively broody at 31/32, but didn't have my child until 36 because we waited until we owned a house. (In fact bring broody was what gave me the impetus to save hard rather than booking holidays and buying nice clothes.)

Realistically, if none of your friends have children you will probably lose touch with some of them. You'll make other friends with children.

Only if you're 100% sure you're ready for the lifestyle change. I was 100% sure and wanted a baby and the lifestyle with my whole heart, and yet I have a 5 week old currently and the lifestyle change is beyond what you could ever imagine, no matter how much people try to describe it to you beforehand

Feeling broody is not a good reason to bring a tiny human into the world. I felt broodiest when I was 15. Guess what, I would have been a terrible parent.

Good reasons to bring a tiny human into the world are:
You really want to nurture another human throughout their whole childhood.
You can offer this human everything it needs to thrive.
You and your partner are prepared to sacrifice some of the things in your life. A hobby you currently do three times a week might become once a week etc.
You (and your partner) are emotionally competent, with the mental resources to deal with very tough times.
You are financially able to stretch to providing food and clothing for another person.
You are fully aware of the challenges parenthood can bring, including if your child has a disability.

In my experience it fell off a cliff - I had one child age 32 and was infertile by age 36 and had multiple miscarriages and ectopics - had to spend best part of £40k to have another baby

The difference is, if you have fertility issues at 25, you have over a decade to try, fund however many rounds of IVF, have second children ect. If I was worried I would be resentful of my lifestyle change, I wouldn't also want to increase my likelihood of having a disabled child. I think people should wait until they are ready but I don't think we should lull people into a false sense of security, some people that wait do miss out on their chance at being a parent.

Are you a mother?

@gonnabeteoubleemma it doesn't fall off a cliff and the research the '35 year mark' was based on is now proven to be outdated and flawed. Many women on ivf in late 30s assume it's their age but there's no way to prove it wouldn't also have happened to them at 25. Fertility is complex and all the scaremongering is normally done because in a patriarchal society women are still seen as mothers before anything else. Happy mothers, resilient mothers, mothers who aren't resentful at the lifestyle change are much better mothers than mothers who makes decisions in fear and aren't ready. Having a child isn't just a biological imperative - it's about giving your child the best chance at a happy life that goes far beyond age.

No. Feeling broody can hit at any age, and in itself is no signal you ‘should’ have a baby. If you are sure want one, and are in a position to do so, that’s another matter, but feeling broody is no signal of anything other than having hormones. Or possibly boredom.

Bad advice.

Fertility declines rapidly.

Hello! I had this feeling at 31, really intense but chose to be practical as like you wasn't ready for the lifestyle change then. The feeling passed and I'm glad I didn't give in as I did so many things (changed career when an opportunity presented itself, learnt a new hobby, had great hols and experiences and just enjoyed life). My friends then starting having babies 36 onwards (even the ones who previously said they wouldn't) and the broody feeling is now back at 38. This time I am listening to it because my mind and body are ready, and I don't have any regrets. In London where I am its really common to have kids mid-late 30s so there's no biological imperative unless you already know you've got fertility or other concerns. It's ok to enjoy life and achieve the things you want as a baby is life changing but not the soothing balm or distractor from problems some women see it as. You'll feel broody at other times too!

At 30, I would if I wanted to and my DH was on board. I wouldn't choose not to have DC because my friends didn't, that would likely end in major life regrets.