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…

My reaction would be a Biiig smile....I had my first one when I was 38+ 🙂

I had my first and only at 41!! he is a fab kid, I had wanted children all my life and wanted more, I didn’t “choose” to have him late In Life and I certainly didn’t put a career first - it’s just the way it panned out. I count myself lucky.

It’s one else’s business but theirs. I would only be ‘judgy’ about it if the child was knowingly being put at risk from abuse, u are a drug addict, you are an alcoholic or you expected the state (Aka hardworking taxpayer) to fund them…

As my user name suggests... I'm currently 35+2 with my first baby and I'll be 41 in June! Just love being referred to as a geriatric mother 😂 this little one was natural too, a complete surprise. 38 is fine!

TBH I would be far more surprised at someone having a child in their 20s.

It’s depressing if people do judge. It’s no one’s business as long as the child is loved.
I had my third child at 38 and my fourth at 40. To be honest having 4 wonderful children has kept me young, i think anyway!

Just "Congratulations"😊

Gut reaction = fabulous! 43 here and TTC, could not give one single toss what anyone else thinks about it. You have to do what's right for you in your life regardless of what other people think.

I was 42 and 44. The best thing ever ! Being an older mum is a super power !

I had my first a month before I turned 39… my youngest friends are around mid 30’s with no kids but planning for in a few years so for me that’s more normal than not… there’s too much fun and adventures to be had before 35 without kids 🤣

Congratulations!

No judgement at all. I had my first at 41 and he is now 10 months.

Ignore your sister. It’s your womb, your life and your lovely baby

Completely normal.

My sister, at age 23, told me she didn't want to be an "old mum" so needed to get on with it. I had my first (and likely only although that's not only age related) at 34. Some people think once you're 30 you're basically barren! Times have changed, average ages of first time, and therefore second time etc, mums has risen. Ignore her.

Had my first at 37, second at 39. Worked with a woman who had her first at 47, her second at 49 - both were IVF babies. I’d say she’s probably more tired than younger mothers, but I don’t think she regrets it for a moment.

I wouldn’t have been a good mother in my 20s. OP your sister needs to mind her own. It’s your choice, if you decide to go ahead it’s not too late or too old.

Would there be a big age gap between your children if you had another? I think if it's been over a certain amount of years I'd assume my sister wouldn't be having another. In fact my sister is about the same age as you, she has a nearly 5 year old and I'd be very surprised if she talked about having another just because usually if you are planning to have more than one the gap would be smaller and also there are more risks associated with pregnancies the older you get. So I would just assume that if she was going to have another she would have by now. Obviously fertility might be an issue but it wouldn't be my immediate thought.

I would never ever judge anyone having a baby at 38 or indeed at any age. There are pros and cons whatever end of the age spectrum a woman is. Surely it is their body and their choice and if they are happy to be pregnant then I am happy for them.

I was a little older and was considered one of the young ones in my NCT class.

If your sister feels old and not able to cope with another one then she needs to realise that others don’t feel that way.

Friend refused to get pregnant after her 30th birthday and expected everyone to remain childless if they hadn’t given birth in their 20s as having a child later in life was tantamount in her eyes to child abuse as by the time you are 60 then you are so old and so ill you need a care home.
She was a geriatric nurse and her response was all the people she knew over 60 were ill.

Although a lot of women in their 30s and even 40s are quite capable of getting pregnant and giving birth and have good health I do know a few women who make their feelings of disgust very clear that because they couldn’t go through with a pregnancy and are knackered they can’t get their heads round that others can.

I think different areas have different attitudes.

In my area 42 I would say was the average age for the first. Then they had 2nd/3rd in quick succession

One of my NCT Group had her first at 40 and her 4th at 45

Really?

Erm Congratulations! I had my 4th at 42

Amazing - I’m 38 and TTC. All of my friends in similar situations. My mum was 38 when she conceived and I think she had a few frowns but this was 30 years ago: nowadays, i don’t think people bat an eyelid 🥰

As someone who was lucky to have a child at 42 - my first and only - I would think nothing of it

Honest gut reaction?

Envy.

38 is fine and I'm coming at that as someone who had her last child at the age of 28.

I would just say congratulations, no other thought really. i had my son at 37, a lot of other mums were around the same age.

Oldish but not really old 🤷🏼‍♀️ Like how 23 you’d think ‘youngish’ but not really young. Wouldn’t really register tbh

Excited and happy for her but whilst thinking: thank fuck it's not me! (39)