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MNHQ

Average age of first-time mothers is now 30 - how old were you?

540 replies

KateMumsnet · 17/07/2014 10:57

Hello all

Research published yesterday shows that the average British woman is now having her first child at the age of 30 - and we wondered whether this matches MNers' own experiences. So do share your thoughts - are you bang on average, or under, or over? Does it matter - and would you make the same decision again, given the chance?

OP posts:
OneLittleToddleTerror · 17/07/2014 13:49

Goldmandra if you google, the label geriatric mother is for those over 35. This is because women's fertility is supposed to fall off a cliff once over 35. So you are technically very young!

ClockWatchingLady · 17/07/2014 13:49

Pedantic question - I can't find, in any of the main newspaper reports of this - anything specific about 30 being the average age of first baby?
As opposed to the age of a woman giving birth (to any of her children)?
It's implied, but not stated.

And to answer the question, I was 27. I'd probably have been better at it if I'd have waited longer.

WildEyedAndCrafty · 17/07/2014 13:48

I was 40. Didn't meet DH until I was 36, first pregnancy was ectopic and then took nearly 3 years to get pregnant again with only one tube.

Two previous long term relationships broke up because I wanted children and they didn't. So not a choice for me but I do wish that I'd met DH at least a decade earlier.

TheJourney22 · 17/07/2014 13:46

36 - tired but happy

Maternally old was on my notes!! ;)

TheJourney22 · 17/07/2014 13:46

36 - tired but happy

Maternally old was on my notes!! ;)

OrangeyTulips · 17/07/2014 13:45

two week before I turned 38. Tried to conceive earlier but was diagnosed with Graves Disease and that had to be treated first.

Bakersbum · 17/07/2014 13:43

Just turned 31

CrumblyMumbly · 17/07/2014 13:40

Another 46 year old geriatric here. A golden egg when all hope was gone.

HorseyGirl1 · 17/07/2014 13:28

40 and would like another now I'm 42. Wish me luck!

Goldmandra · 17/07/2014 13:28

I was 30 and horrified by the "Elderly Primagravida" emblazoned across my notes too.

It's interesting to know that this is now the average age. Are they still labelled as elderly?

I think I would start a little younger if I had my time again but it isn't a big regret.

RueDeWakening · 17/07/2014 13:27

32, then 35 and 38 for the other two.

It's worked well for us.

Vagndidit · 17/07/2014 13:26

A few days shy of 31, so a delightfully average 30.

Barabajagal · 17/07/2014 13:25

33 and the first of our group to have a baby.

MissMilbanke · 17/07/2014 13:24

28 but that was in the late 90s

Portlypenguin · 17/07/2014 13:24
  1. ? Representativeness of mumsnet population. Who knows!!!
Yika · 17/07/2014 13:22

43 - not by choice though; was ready for children at around 26-27. Circumstances weren't right.

domoarigato · 17/07/2014 13:20
  1. I do think of younger moms...gosh you're missing out on your 20s, you're crazy. But I guess they didn't know what they were missing!
AbattoirOfHope · 17/07/2014 13:20

33 for first, 36 for second. DH is 5 years younger than me so we waited until he felt ready(-ish). I would have liked to start a few years earlier.

idontlikealdi · 17/07/2014 13:15
  1. Young in my circle.
BlingBubbles · 17/07/2014 13:14

I was just 30 about to turn 31, so am average Grin next one due in January and I will be 34.

farfallarocks · 17/07/2014 13:13

32, not through choice, it took forever!

MrsBungle · 17/07/2014 13:13
  1. Perfect age for my first, for me personally.
colafrosties · 17/07/2014 13:13

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

kidcrayola · 17/07/2014 13:11

18 and whilst I don't regret it, it was certainly too young to have a child!

Itsfab · 17/07/2014 13:08

I was 29 when I had my first. He was born after we had been married for 21 months and we couldn't really have had him earlier. He came quicker than expected as it was!

I wish I had had different age gaps but that isn't anything to do with my age.

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