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Original poster

Is 39 too old to have another baby?

65 replies

arixo · 04/03/2020 21:19

Is 39 considered old to have a baby? Thoughts? Smile

OP posts:
chipsandgin · 04/03/2020 21:59

Not at all. Had my second at 39 & have a good friend who’ll be having her first at 40. I’ve also know plenty of people in very similar situations & who had kids at that age or later, I’m far from the oldest Mum at the school gates!

Shamazing · 04/03/2020 23:02

There are millions of threads on here about this....

So what. Confused Why is that a problem for you? If you don't want to read the thread then don't.

toffeeghirl · 04/03/2020 23:33

It's entirely up to you OP. I have friends who had children in their 40s. I had mine late 20s, early 30s and got sterilised at 36. At 39, I would have liked another baby.

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Families
fullofpolroger · 05/03/2020 01:48

I had my last at 42. I'm fit and healthy and everything went great, he's keeping me young!

DropYourSword · 05/03/2020 01:51

Depends entirely on how you feel!

You will medically be classed as “advanced maternal age” though.

RainMinusBow · 05/03/2020 02:01

@DropYourSword I'm 39 and they haven't classed me as such. In fact, I'm pleasantly surprised at the fact it hasn't been metioned once by any of the health care professionals!

SleepingStandingUp · 05/03/2020 02:10

I just had twins a fortnight before turning 38. It isn't too okd

DropYourSword · 05/03/2020 02:15

I think it’s anything over 35 here @RainMinusBow!

moanyhole · 05/03/2020 02:20

Had my 3rd at 39. Not a bother. Didnt even occur to me that it would have been too old

RainMinusBow · 05/03/2020 02:26

@DropYourSword Where are you? I'm UK and nothing has been said about my age at all Smile

Megan2018 · 05/03/2020 02:42

I’ve just had one at 41 so clearly not!

DropYourSword · 05/03/2020 02:49

No, I’m in Australia, so we might have very different cut off levels!

Probably even between different UK trusts there’d be differences.

tisonlymeagain · 05/03/2020 02:58

Just had one at 40. It wasn't what I thought I'd ever do as I have teenagers but in a "new" relationship and it felt like the right thing for us. (At the time...it's now 3am and I've been up for two hours with a grumpy 5 week old...reconsidering my life choices right about now!)

Onesailwait · 05/03/2020 03:04

I had my third at 39 in North America I was clased as Advanced maternal age. I was offered extra testing and the harmony test. A very straightforward & pregnancy birth

Littlemissdaredevil · 05/03/2020 04:01

I’m currently 30w with DC2. I’m 39.

gameofmoans83 · 05/03/2020 04:05

I had my second at 39 and 3rd at 43. it was fine.

GlamGiraffe · 05/03/2020 04:08

2nd was born a couple of days after my 42nd birthday (my children have a 15 year difference by choice) Being older makes no difference, if you want and love a child that's a perfect reason to have one.

Poetryinaction · 05/03/2020 06:47

Of course not. It's a completely normal age these days.

user1480880826 · 05/03/2020 06:52

It’s not uncommon, if that’s what you mean. But that doesn’t make it ideal. These threads are always full of women saying they had babies in their 40s and it was fine. But it’s not full of all of the women who failed to conceive due to their age. Obviously you won’t find them on Mumsnet. Beware of anecdotes.

Also, How do you feel about looking after a teenager when you’re 55?

turquoisesapphire · 05/03/2020 06:55

Why is looking after a teenager at 55 an issue?

Patchworksack · 05/03/2020 07:02

I had my third at 39. Had my life plan worked out I'd have been all done by 35, but multiple miscarriages (due to immune dysfunction not maternal age) put paid to that. It's been fine, I do feel like an older mum at the school gates but that probably depends on area.

yukka · 05/03/2020 07:23

I'm 41 with a 7 month old, it's really not uncommon anymore. Debating whether a sibling will be in the cards or not.

But weird planning pensions and uni fees (for example) at the same time. My mine thing is that they are not tied to our care in their 30s or 40s, let them live their lives and we'll sort ourselves out.

Roselilly36 · 05/03/2020 07:26

If it is right for you and you’re family, go for it, life is too short for regrets. I don’t think you are too old.

Shamazing · 05/03/2020 07:34

But that doesn’t make it ideal.

Perhaps not ideal for you @user1480880826 but it's hardly a statement of fact. I'm 53 and have two teenagers. Remarkably at this great age I still have all my own teeth and about to run my 5th marathon. And my teenagers are awesome.

CormoranStrike · 05/03/2020 07:36

Why is looking after a teenager at 55 an issue

Well, it’s not for some; but as this is a site full of opinions, not facts, and OP invited opinion, I know I would have hated a late baby and all that entailed.

I’m now 52. My kids are in their 20s. We can go in weekends away on a whim, child free holidays, have money for us.

That dynamic in my marriage and life would be totally different if I had had my kids when older, I think

I couldn’t be doing with homework, puberty and teenagers now.

If I am lucky I will get to enjoy grandkids when young enough to be an active part of their lives.

Best of luck whatever you decide OP, I am sure it will be right for you.

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