What’s your gut reaction to a 38 year old being pregnant?

[Pegfriedrice]

Do you consider 38 old to be having a baby? Just interested in how people honestly feel hearing it as obviously most people would be polite in person but I’m not sure if secretly they’d think it was quite old to be having a baby?

probably overthinking but hey…

I did wonder what prompted the original question. Had my first at 36 and just had my second at 38. I think it's a completely normal & average age these days, however, I would say that I probably would have preferred a bigger age gap (a toddler & a newborn isn't easy) but my age did make me go for a second much quicker than I might have.

Interested to know how old your sister is and if she's had any fertility issues. She may be projecting her feelings onto you.

Three of my SILs have had kids late 30s, possibly even 40 and you can't see a difference between them and me who had a third at 31.

For middle class people (who generally start having kids in 30s or at 28/9 at a push) it's totally normal. It's only unusual for people who have family/friends who started their families in their early 20s.

Same as anyone else being pregnant
Congratulations

No problem at all if you are healthy. I had my last child at 38 and the only negative I had was the midwife calling me a mature mum….that said my pregnancies were all after I was 32 so it was a common theme in all of them !

There is a mixture in her school year of parents around my age and younger parents - the younger ones are generally children with younger siblings and mums my age with children who are the younger sibling.

If you feel ok in yourself go for it ! No problem.

I was 39 when I fell pregnant with my last child. I never ever considered what other people thought about it. Why would I? It was none of their business. 🤷‍♀️

Tell her to sod off! My sister had her second at 41.

She’s clearly uneducated about the ages women have babies, especially at the current time.

At this age, this is becoming more normal. Prices are higher and it is harder to get a house. Women are more career driven now too because we have to or for whatever reason so if they have a baby at a way later age, it's fine! As long as the baby is healthy and cared for, why would that be wrong?

I'd think great as long as it was wanted.

I had my first and only child at 38😊

I'm 38 now and no chance would I want a baby now but these days it's absolutely normal. 26 when I had my first seems too young now.

Would be - congratulations!

Some people are just judgemental shits.

I had mine at 35 & 39. I got all sorts of 'soooo old' smugness BS from the super young mums. My friend's 18 y/o who has a 3 month old even tried to make a dig about her age versus mine.

No one else batted an eyelid. My kids, now 10 & 7, don't care.

So you do you.

I wouldn’t think anything at all. It’s pretty much the norm where I am to have a child in late 30’s. Stuff what anyone else thinks anyway!

My gut reaction would be "Congratulations!"

With reference to your sister, I would have to query why she gave such a horrible reaction, something seems to not be quite right with her for her to feel like that about you?

Sorry @Pegfriedrice I have only read the first page of your thread, so you have probably already covered your sister's reaction. But my Congratulations would stick.

I would think that they and their coming child are very lucky.
It's a happy time whatever the age - these days medical care is better.

Absolutely wonderful

Pay no attention. My first was born when I was 37, nearly 38. Second at 40. Considering a third when I’d (hopefully) be 42.

I think personally I benefitted from being an older mother. I’d done the intense, long hours job, I’d done travelling, restaurants, bars etc. All the brunches and weekend breaks and gourmet dinners and cocktails were beginning to merge into one and I was getting very bored of them.

I’m enjoying every single moment of being a mother (even the challenging parts).

I'd think how great it is, if she's happy. I had DC at 38 so I see it as completely normal.

Your life.

I had DS1 at 35, DD at 37 and DS2 at 40.

This feels entirely normal to me. Most women I know had babies mid thirties to early forties. I had mine 30, 33, 36, 39. All fine. I'd barley give it a second thought. I also know someone that had a baby at 47. That was obviously a bit more noteworthy but other than that, nobody judged.

I think it depends on where you live. Around my area there’s a lot of grandparents from the age of 34 upwards.

My mum had me at 36. She always said I was a "nice easy baby". I was the 4th in our family. So no, I don't think 38 is too old!

This may be a snobby thing to say, but I have always thought that it's the 'working classes' who are askance at slightly older mothers.

When I was in hospital giving birth at 34, I heard some mothers discussing someone else who was 35 and having a baby and they were shocked.

My own mum had my sister when she was 37.
I have many friends who married at 35 and between then and 40, had 2 children.

In my family tree, most of the women carried on having children till their early 40s (some had as many as 9.)