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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:
DetectiveDouche · 01/03/2023 22:01

Gut reaction = to say congratulations to the pregnant person

ILoveEYFS · 01/03/2023 22:04

I had my 1st at 20 and my last at 37. Was I too old to have more? Hell no. Did I have enough DC? Most definitely. My eldest cousin had her 1st at 33 and her last at 39. My middle cousin had her 1st at 18 and her last at 36. My youngest cousin had her 1st at 37 and her last at 41.

Faz469 · 01/03/2023 22:10

I turn 37 in 2 days, and I'm 20 weeks pregnant with my first child. The plan was always to have a second in a couple of years, but with how much I hate pregnancy, I doubt that will happen.

However, either way, it would be the decision of myself and my partner. I never listen to other people's opinions. I'd go crazy if I did.

Take your time and make your own decision. Sod what anyone else thinks.

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Families
Miisty · 01/03/2023 22:10

Congratulations to you a lot of women have babies in their 30s had a patient who had her baby at 42 yes it was a bit old but so much wanted

StaryEyes1978 · 01/03/2023 22:12

I was 39 when I fell pregnant with my daughter and 8 weeks short of 40 when she was born. A few people asked if I was worried about my age but in my NCT class of 9 parent groups only 3 of the other Mums to be were younger than me. 😊

wellstopdoingitthen · 01/03/2023 22:13

I would be delighted for them (assuming they were happy with it).
Nothing wrong with it at all. I had my second child at 40.

Pinkfluff76 · 01/03/2023 22:20

I was nearly 37 when I had my first and 39.5 when I had my second. All good!

nannykatherine · 01/03/2023 22:21

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…

Totally normal age range
here in west london anyway
other parts of the country or dreaded suburbia maybe not allowed as you have to conform to the norm there
horrors !!!

axolotlfloof · 01/03/2023 22:36

I have friends that have had babies at 46 and 48. Personally I feel its too old, but there are reasons.
38 isn't old.
Both friends above had successful pregnancies and healthy babies, no ivf. The 48 y o it was her 1st child!

axolotlfloof · 01/03/2023 22:38

Also my Mum was 41 when my sister was born in the 80s.
I was 9, so biggish age gap, and I think she was considered an older mother.
Now, not so much.

wonkylegs · 01/03/2023 22:39

Totally normal age - most of my professional colleagues were late starting families and many were post 40
I was the weird one amongst my uni friends as I had my first at 29 and my second at 38
Most of us didn't qualify until 26/27 or later so took time to establish careers.
However among my village friends I'm an old mum so I guess context plays a big part in it.

wonkylegs · 01/03/2023 22:42

Umm just realised a slip of the finger there.... 2nd at 37 not 38

myfaceismyown · 01/03/2023 22:46

I was 39 with my 2nd and have several friends who had their 2nd at the same age. So, congratulations is my instinctive reaction.

a1poshpaws · 01/03/2023 22:49

Honestly, my gut reaction would simply be "rather you than me" - but that's because I had my only child 4 months after my 19th Birthday, and am now unfortunately almost 70 and suffering from amongst other conditions, M.E and Long Covid so that the very thought of child care when the glorious days of youthful energy are but a memory, exhausts me!

But I can't think of of a single reason why a fit and healthy woman shouldn't have a baby right up until she physically can't, if a baby is something she deeply wants.

(Although, doesn't the risk of birth defects increase with age? My son decided against a baby because apparently that's definitely true of men.)

Anyway, you go girl. Don't let other people influence you if it feels right. 🙃

Joyjoj · 01/03/2023 22:51

Wouldn't think its unusual.

Jack80 · 01/03/2023 22:55

I would just be like oh congratulations, each to their own.

Rosesara · 01/03/2023 22:56

Pretty normal!

Katrine27 · 01/03/2023 23:04

Omg, this is depressing. 38 is normal these days. I’m 37, single and childless and I desperately want to meet someone and have kids. I wanted this before 40, but this seems to be slipping away from me slowly. But having said that, someone at work thought I was under 30 today, 😂
Age is but a number really.

Sarrho3 · 01/03/2023 23:06

NORMAL!!!!!!!!

EndOfEternity · 01/03/2023 23:15

I was 37 when I had my DD
My mum was 38 when she had me
My gran was 42+ when she had my mum
My great gran still having children in her 40s

In response to your question, I’d say, welcome to a family like ours 😁

chick01 · 01/03/2023 23:31

I had my first child 4 days after my 41st birthday. Chose to have all the extra tests but otherwise nobody treated me or mentioned I was an older mum. Certainly nobody gave up their seat for me on the tube even at 9 months and very visibly pregnant…….

Kjpt140v · 01/03/2023 23:33

Fine by me, don't be sensitive.

Butterfly44 · 01/03/2023 23:42

Congratulations!

keffie12 · 01/03/2023 23:45

None of my business is my answer! My daughter had her first a year ago at 35.

Absolutelyridiculous · 02/03/2023 00:02

Aw...I thought I was old at 30 having my first baby...then had another at 33 then another at 38....I love them all ..wasn't a problem .wouldn't swap anything...