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

41. I don't regret it in that there was no option to choose to be younger, it had to be older mum or no mum at all. I would definitely prefer to be a younger mother - my second child was born when I was 45 - I feel knackered and concerned about how long I'll be around and fit for my kids. But families face far worse problems than this.

I had my first pregnancy at 16, and was devastated that I didn't get to be a mum then. Soon after I came out as gay, and having children seemed like it would be impossible for me (younger posters - most of you! - might not know that it has only been legal for gay couples to adopt for a few years, and even when I was ttc for dd1 our hospital refused to do any fertility investigations because I am lesbian. Back in the 80s, when I came out, there were of course gay parents but they were few and far between and very much pioneers. Social opinion was that gay parenting was cruel and irresponsible.

By my 30s the social mood was changing and I started thinking seriously about how I was going to do this. I was in a new relationship and we decided to wait awhile longer, so I was 35 by the time we started seriously. It took me 6 years to sort out how to get pregnant and then to actually get pregnant. I never chose to be an older mum, but in the end I was.

Having said that, and generally feeling regretful that I'm not 10 years younger, I'm aware that I'm raising my children in a far more tolerant and welcoming environment than would have been possible 20 or even 10 years earlier. After school today I invited the neighbours' kids over and we spent a happy couple of hours splashing in the paddling pool, then their parents came over for a drink. They are very ordinary (nice!) people in a very ordinary-but-nice suburb. This is not Islington. I don't believe our family could have lived here to happily when I was young, and I'm glad my children experience their community as welcoming.

And, some perspective: my second child is adopted, and though I think it would be nice for her to have a younger mum, when I compare what she has now to what she would have had with her birth family, there is no comparison.

Sorry, that turned out a bit of an epic

I met DH at Uni and we got married the summer after graduation, when I was 23. We travelled and worked for a bit and had DD just after I turned 25. I worked for about a year after DD was born (long hours, crazy commute) and then packed it in to be a SAHM when DH started progressing very quickly in his profession, more than doubling his salary. I've been at home ever since and I love it...it suits me and it works for our family. DH is unusually young for his professional role and we live in an affluent, middle-class suburb...we are definitely unusual amongst our peer group...most of the parents of the DC's friends are mid-forties and dual-income (I'm 37, DH is 40). I wouldn't change anything; we have a nice, comfortable life. Our kids are happy and healthy, we are happy and satisfied in our roles, we own our pretty little house (we recently downsized from a much bigger, far more expensive and time-consuming one) and our (one, good) car and can afford a few luxuries and the odd holiday now-and-again.

35. I met DH when I was nearly 33. Had my 2nd at nearly 37.

I would have had them earlier if I had met DH earlier, I was concerned at the time as Dsis had been TTC for many years. Worked out well though- still young, had a lot of fun in my 20s, at the highest point of my career I wanted to get to, financially secure.

26. In my profession considered a gymslip mum! People were horrified. Was also a childbride at 24

Suffolk hmm, are you 100% sure about that? Rumour has it you've said otherwise elsewhere...

Yep sounds about right. I was 30.

34&39, right time, right DH . I wonder how old the dads are? My brother is having his second at 50 this year

42
No mention of my age during checkups although I was sent for a consultation with a specialist in case I was at risk of high blood pressure etc. Had a problem-free pregnancy and now have a VERY active small child.

38

31. Felt like a good time for me, mind you up until we started to try I wasn't going to have kids nor was dh!!

36 ( right now with 8 weeks left until EDD)
Still enough time for #2 (fingers crossed)

I was 27. It worked for me.

In terms of how 'old' or 'young' I felt, context was all. We were among the first of our circle of friends to have children, and those that were ahead of us were some years older. I was on the younger side in my ante-natal class with dc1 and we were regarded as relatively young parents in the city we used to live in. We moved to an entirely new area a while ago and I read in the paper that the average age of all mothers registering births in our local town in 2012 - so not just the first-time ones - was 28. There are a lot of very young mothers here. If we ever do get no. 3 I will be among the oldies. But if we moved back to our city I would no doubt feel average.

Had my first at 28, second at 30. It was right for us. Glad we didn't wait longer - had 1 mc before and another 2 between the dc and have had a further three while trying for dc3 (which is ongoing, I am now 37).

36 and 38 for no. 2. No regrets

33 (almost 34) and 37 for number 2. It was the right time for us and I wouldn't change it looking back.

20...it was a learning curve...no2 at 23....then no.3 at 36 when I had to wait for my dp to catch up a bit, he is 10 yrs younger, but I knew I didn't want to leave it any later. I went to art college between no.2 and no.3, very happy and settled now.

I was 33 when DS1 was born.

24 - I bucked the trend for middle class educated girls and got married at 23 and had our first daughter at 24. We had our second at 27 and are still happily married 16 years later. I am 40 this year and have a 15 and 12 year old. Was absolutely the right decision for us but I was made to feel young as all the other mothers in my antenatal class were mid to late thirties. However, I love feeling young compared to the other parents at parents eve now!

23 and was told by medic that I was geriatric !!

I was 25 and considered old to be having first baby, it was normally around 21 or 22.
Our second I was 29 and considered ancient, by society and the medical profession.
However, our 3rd at 38 I wasn't considered old at all as people in their 40's were having their first, and I was treated normally.

I think it depends on the average at the time how your age is viewed.

I was 25 and thoroughly fed up of the drs and nurses commenting on how I was a 'young parent'. I felt like an unruly teenager.

31. It was perfect timing for us, No 2 came along at 34

I say I think because I was either 24 or 25 and I can never remember which. I'd have to work backwards with a pen and paper.

I should probably have someone take a look at that...

I think I was 24 when I had my first. And had my second 15 months later (mad fool that I am )

It was fine. You just get on with it whatever your age, don't you?