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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:
wyntersuhn · 01/03/2023 12:34

I had my third at 39, very normal around here.

FuckoffeeBeforeCoffee · 01/03/2023 12:36

"That's the age my mum had me"

DarceyG · 01/03/2023 12:36

MaryJean87 · 01/03/2023 09:35

I wouldn't really think anything other than glad it's not me.

Thats exactly what I would think.

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Families
Raindancer411 · 01/03/2023 12:38

I was pregnant with my second at 38, and had her when I was 39...

Wheresthebeach · 01/03/2023 12:39

Your sister is being an idiot.

Lenor · 01/03/2023 12:39

I’m a childminder and wouldn’t give it a second thought. Have looked after plenty of children with parents a similar age. X

Dibblydoodahdah · 01/03/2023 12:39

I was 37 when I had my second. Two of my cousins and my SIL were pregnant at the same time. I was the youngest. It’s really not unusual these days. The midwife at my booking appointment asked me whether I’d be having any more and I joked that I was getting too old. Her words were “you’re not old for Cambridge”. As I went to more appointments throughout my pregnancy (high risk - nothing to do with age) I realised that she was right. I was often one of the youngest looking in the waiting room.

RedToothBrush · 01/03/2023 12:41

Pegfriedrice · 01/03/2023 09:33

She said it to me with a tone of almost disgust at the thought of someone my age having more children which made me feel a bit shit!

Your sister is warped.

A huge percentage of parents at DSs school had babies at 38.

It's bloody normal.

Your sister needs to be reminded that she's practically dead on her 40th birthday.

FaceLikeASlappedArse1985 · 01/03/2023 12:44

I won't be having any until I'm at least 41

whoamI00 · 01/03/2023 12:44

38 is not at all old to have a baby

Blocklynn · 01/03/2023 12:44

I’m 36 weeks pregnant with my first DC and I’m 38 😊

misskatamari · 01/03/2023 12:46

I wouldn’t think much tbh. I’m 39 and for me the thought of having more kids is “noooooooo” but if someone else this age wants to, it doesn’t seem odd to me.

Randomuser9876 · 01/03/2023 12:47

Most of my friends had their first 35ish and their second 38ish.

I'm not a fan of massively older parents as I have 2 of them and it's hard bloody work but wouldn't say 38 is old.

I'd start trying as early as you're able through to be on the safe side and give best chance of conception

nurseynursery · 01/03/2023 12:47

I'm 37 this year and feel too old. It makes me desperately sad. If I heard this I'd be enviously.

TheABC · 01/03/2023 12:48

I'd say 'congratulations,' and get them a card.

QueefQueen80s · 01/03/2023 12:50

Wouldn't even have an utter of a thought about it, apart from congrats!

Tulipomania · 01/03/2023 12:59

average age of most of my friends for having 2nd child

qazxc · 01/03/2023 13:00

Late 30's is pretty normal age to have child these days, especially if it's not your first one. I met DP when I was 32, started TTCing at 34 and had DD at 38 (I had problems with recurring miscarriages). I don't think anybody thought it strange or that I was too old.

Oigetoffmylawn · 01/03/2023 13:02

Really normal to be having number 1 or 2 at 38 in my circle.

Catonahottin · 01/03/2023 13:03

A friend of mine is about to become a grandmother. Her daughter in law is 32 and claims she is an ‘older mother’ according to the medical profession. Absolute nonsense. 38 isn’t old to me. Most women have babies in their thirties rather than twenties these days:

sqirrelfriends · 01/03/2023 13:03

Wouldn’t bat and eyelid, completely normal age round here.

NortieTortie · 01/03/2023 13:04

A few years ago I would've thought it was old.

That's influenced by my mom (who had her last baby at 37 and said she was too old for it, the words 'geriatric pregnancy' were thrown about a lot!) as well as having my own DC very young -- common in my area. Since I've moved, matured, and become surrounded by older, more career-aligned moms (often with a baby on their hip) at my DCs school, I never think anything but congratulations!

BloodyHellKen · 01/03/2023 13:05

I was pregnant with my third at 39 and I asked my GP who I know very well a similar question. The reply was if it was a first pregnancy it I would be classed as getting on a bit, but nothing to worry about if the mother was fit and healthy. However as it was a third pregnancy it was a perfectly 'normal' age to have a third child.

Hersetta427 · 01/03/2023 13:08

Wouldn't bat an eyelid. Had mine at 37 and 41.

SiegePerilous · 01/03/2023 13:08

I was 39 (by choice) when I had my only child, and of the eight women in my NCT group, 2 were also 39 and 2 were older at 40 and 41. All first-timers.