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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:
FiveGoMadInDorset · 17/07/2014 11:34

A month before turning 36

cailindana · 17/07/2014 11:34

With hindsight I might have left it a bit later, but I'd been told as a teenager by my shit gp that my fertility might be low due to irregular periods so I worried about leaving it too late.

cailindana · 17/07/2014 11:33

28

pigwitch · 17/07/2014 11:32
  1. I wish I'd waited a year or 2 and travelled a bit first.
BabyBellasMumma · 17/07/2014 11:30

I had my first at 25 and second at 28. No regrets at all Smile

Gooseysgirl · 17/07/2014 11:29

36, no regrets but would have definitely started sooner but hadn't met my DH! Most of my friends were 34-37 having first babies.... And I have one friend who finally had her first at 47 after years of IVF

TheHoundsBitch · 17/07/2014 11:23

23, I hope I will have another before I am 30. better get cracking

exexpat · 17/07/2014 11:23

I got pregnant for the first time at 29, gave birth at 30, which seemed pretty normal amongst my friends - and that was 16 years ago.

My mother had her first at 29 back in the 1960s, when that was seen as distinctly elderly. And even my grandmothers were in their late 20s when they had their first children, but then they both went to university, which was unusual for the time.

StillaChocoholic · 17/07/2014 11:23
  1. I do think I'd have found it a bit easier if I was older but I wouldn't change it.
SantasLittleMonkeyButler · 17/07/2014 11:22

22 then 25 and 36.

In all honesty, if I had the chance to go back and do it all again I probably would have waited a few more years to have the first two. I would still have wanted the exact same children though, of course Grin.

fanoftheinvisibleman · 17/07/2014 11:22
  1. No regrets.
apocalyptus · 17/07/2014 11:21
  1. Youngest amongst my friends (many are still childless in their late 30s/40s). Ironically all the support given made it much easier for me than the ones who did it later, and I had supportive young parents so was still able to party/travel/study in my 20s.
MirandaWest · 17/07/2014 11:20

28 and 30

fledermaus · 17/07/2014 11:20

I was 26 my sister 24, both uni graduates!

EvilHerbivore · 17/07/2014 11:17

23 with DS1, as it turns out if we'd have waited until 30 to start a family, I wouldn't have been able to have any at all so Im pleased I was on the younger side of things

Mammuzza · 17/07/2014 11:17

Oh and zero regrets. Was pretty much the perfect age for me to do it all things considered.

Mammuzza · 17/07/2014 11:16

32 and a half to the day.

Acunningruse · 17/07/2014 11:16

I had just turned 30. We had been TTC for 18 months.

AggressiveBunting · 17/07/2014 11:14

35 so way above average nationally although pretty average amongst my friends/ colleagues.

TenMinutesEarly · 17/07/2014 11:14
  1. Married, mortgaged and settled. No regrets.
Degustibusnonestdisputandem · 17/07/2014 11:14

32, 'surprised' by my lovely DTDs (glad I didn't wait until we could 'afford' it)

JonSnowsPout · 17/07/2014 11:13

17 no regrets

Having a home,job, degree and fond memories are good but its not concrete- they can disappear or be gained at any age.

I'm 30 next month. I have a home, still with my dp, have another ds, have a good job and I enjoy my life.

I really hate the dumb young mum perception. Age does not make you a good parent

flipchart · 17/07/2014 11:13

30

MrsMarigold · 17/07/2014 11:12

34

PrincessOfChina · 17/07/2014 11:11
  1. I was among the first couple out of my uni friends, but friends who hadn't gone to uni seemed to start at about 26.