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Original poster

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

918 replies

Pegfriedrice · 01/03/2023 09:25

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…

OP posts:
Naunet · 01/03/2023 11:40

Wouldn’t even cross my mind to make any judgement about it at all. Anyone who did judge is just an arsehole trying to police women and their free choices.

TheLoupGarou · 01/03/2023 11:40

'congratulations!'

I had my third baby at 37 - not a big deal at all.

Original poster
Pegfriedrice · 01/03/2023 11:42

for those asking, my sister is younger than me. She had her one dc in her twenties. I hadn’t asked her opinion she just stated it as a presumption that I was ‘done’ having children because of my age.

really appreciate all the responses, thank you.

OP posts:

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Families
Newuser82 · 01/03/2023 11:44

I had my second son at 38. I didn't think it was in any way unusual 🤷‍♀️.

ancientgran · 01/03/2023 11:49

Temporaryanonymity · 01/03/2023 09:27

Most of my NCT group were around that age. I think it’s a perfectly normal age to have a baby. I wouldn’t think anything of it.

I had one at 38 and I was the "baby" in my NCT group. I went thinking I'd be way older than anyone else so it was a pleasant surprise to end up being the youngster.

StressedToTheMaxxx · 01/03/2023 11:49

I wouldn't think anything of it, totally normal.

Wishimaywishimight · 01/03/2023 11:50

Any chance she would like a 2nd child but not in a position to have one so perhaps an element of jealousy?

Rainbowshit · 01/03/2023 11:50

Congratulations would be my response. I know plenty of women who have had children into their 40s so it wouldn't raise an eyebrow with me at all.

BlueberryBuffin · 01/03/2023 11:51

I wouldn't think a single thing about it. It's a normal age to have a baby these days

Chaytor · 01/03/2023 11:51

No not at all old to the point I'm even a bit surprised at the subject of the thread tbh! But no, I've known women to have large families even after 38 - think 5+

GimmeBiscuits · 01/03/2023 11:53

Pegfriedrice · 01/03/2023 09:25

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…

Seems perfectly fine to me. I didn't get pregnant until I was over 40. Nobody batted an eyelid.
I can't say I give that much headspace to this sort of thing. There are so many reasons why a mid/late 30s pregnancy (or any age, for that matter) might happen.

Dahliasrule · 01/03/2023 11:53

my Mum was 42 when she had me. Last of three children.

inadarkdarkhouseinadarkdarkstreet · 01/03/2023 11:53

Pretty commonplace for London and South East - Actually might be on the younger side in some circles. I've just realised, I've not known many gen-xers and younger who had a planned baby before 30.

raabbgghhrbb123 · 01/03/2023 11:54

Oh don't worry about 38 being too old. I had mine at 39 and 40 nobody batted an eyelid 😬

justasking111 · 01/03/2023 11:54

At our school in DS class it wasn't unusual. I was two months off 45 my mother and one friend thought I was mad, everyone else was thrilled

Alexa51 · 01/03/2023 11:57

I had my first at 37, my second at nearly 41, and no-one said a thing. Infact, a fair number of my friends only had their first in their early forties. I don't think 38 is old at all. Your sister may well be a bit jealous. I found that anyone who had a negative reaction to my pregnancy (and yes, usually someone within the family) was usually jealous.

Lampan · 01/03/2023 11:57

My mum was the same age when I was born. My view would be biased by my own experience of managing elderly parents, when others I know who are also dealing with the issue are significantly older than me. But nothing in life is guaranteed I guess.

madamovaries · 01/03/2023 11:58

Am 38 and pregnant with my second. Was shocked to find I was among the younger mums locally when I had my first at 35 (am in London, which probably skews things).

38 is definitely not old!

Sparklesandsunshine1 · 01/03/2023 11:58

Op I had my first child at 36 and I’m not pregnant with a sibling at 38 (39 by due date)
would I have done it earlier yes and no yes as it seems the way most do it but no that I wouldn’t have been with my partner who I am now who is fantastic and I wouldn’t have got to the position in my career I had
I believe things happen for a reason and I feel I definitely have more patience and experience than I would have had I done it in my early 20s also gotten all my wild partying out of the way

do what’s best for you and will make you happy

StrawberryPavlova · 01/03/2023 11:58

I had my second at 37/38 and had a seven year age gap, it's just the way it worked out for us (miscarriages then a couple of years of secondary unexplained infertility). Nobody, even the midwives I saw throughout my second pregnancy, ever made any comment about my age or being an 'older' pregnant woman.

People who matter shouldn't mind, and those that mind don't matter.

SoonBeTeaTime · 01/03/2023 12:01

I'd consider it as normal today, I gave birth to my 3rd child at 37 (got pregnant at 36), many women have children later now. I think if anything having children later when you have a decent career, are married and own your home is the preference vs having them young, no career, unmarried and renting. One of my relatives has just announced she's pregnant at 41, she'll be a month short of 42 when she gives birth, no one has said anything. She did miscarry at 39 so she's well aware of the risks due to her age. I miscarried between my second and third child aged 36, I also knew the risks increase with increasing age.

I wouldn't judge anyone else even over 40, but it isn't something I'd do myself. I wouldn't encourage women to wait until their late 30s either though.

BashirWithTheGoodBeard · 01/03/2023 12:02

A pregnant 38 year old is unremarkable.

PanettoneMoly · 01/03/2023 12:03

Depends where you live. I was pregnant at 39, youngest in my NCT group in SW London was 34, three of us over 38, age of parents outside the nursery gates definitely skews mid to late 30’s, average age at local hospital for giving birth was the same.

Total and very different experience to my same-age friend who lives at the opposite end of the country.

haveyoutriedturningitoffandthenonagain · 01/03/2023 12:03

I consider menopause too old to have a baby.

I want another, I'm 41 this year so unlikely but I would have another if I could.

Nottogetapenny · 01/03/2023 12:03

These days, it’s perfectly acceptable and normal to have a baby 38 and even a little older!