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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:
Mothership4two · 02/03/2023 00:30

Wouldn't bat an eyelid. Had DS2 at 37 and my age was not an issue and not raised with anyone including medical staff

Apollonia1 · 02/03/2023 00:46

I was 47 having my twins
My mum was 42 having me (and was 44 having my brother)
My granny had kids in her 40s

38 would not warrant any comment at all - completely normal,

MrsLiu1981 · 02/03/2023 00:47

I'd think nothing but congratulations. I had my DS in November last year at the ripe old age of 41.

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pollymere · 02/03/2023 00:52

I would be worried for them but otherwise happy. Loads of women now have babies into their forties.

Carriecakes80 · 02/03/2023 01:29

I just had my sixth at 42....so I'd be thinking 'Lucky bas&rd, I wanna be that young whippersnapper with all that boundless 30's energy!'

mondaytosunday · 02/03/2023 01:41

As I had mine at 41 and 43 I wouldn't think anything of it! In fact most of my women friends had at least one child in their 40s - the oldest at 46! All but one conceived naturally (including the 46 year old).

LoisLane66 · 02/03/2023 02:49

I had a baby aged 41 and I don't think that's old. Carried very successfully with only one doctor visit about 4 the month then nothing until the day of the birth when I did normal housework, checked nursery was ready and took children to school and drove myself to hospital. Baby born before noon and was home in time to greet children after school with their new sister. Contacted husband offshore and made tea while the children fussed over baby and played in the garden. 3 days later it was school summer holidays so no need to rush around so much.
A lovely summer.

LoisLane66 · 02/03/2023 02:51
  • should read '4th month' and I
Kokeshi123 · 02/03/2023 03:31

I wouldn't really think anything, half my friends had a baby in their late 30s. I was 40!

And your sister is rude.

Kokeshi123 · 02/03/2023 03:34

SavBlancTonight · 01/03/2023 09:34

So odd to even think about this. 38 is well within perfectly normal range for having a baby. It's not 1912. As a slightly older mum myself, it's true that a lot of DD's friends' parents are younger than me so I do notice that sometimes as they're celebrating their 40th birthdays and I'm starting to think ahead to 50, but certainly, when pregnant, it isn't even a thing.

My sister had her first at 37 and they made a song and dance about a geriatric pregnancy. But even just a few years later when she had her second, it was mentioned once in passing but the language had completely changed and there was much less of the indrawn breaths, concerned looks and overall references to her age.

In 1912, the average woman was probably even more likely to give birth at 38 than the average woman today, because the average mother in 1912 in the UK gave birth to around 4 children, and typically had the first one at around 24. Loads of women had five, six or seven children, and the last one would typically be born when she was around 40.

Lulu49 · 02/03/2023 03:37

I’d say congratulations. I had my last baby when I was 41, my friend had one at 43. My mum was 36 when she had me. You must be very young to think 38 is old to have a baby

Mikemartlet · 02/03/2023 04:16

Good luck to her (and him!); amongst my circle of highly educated friends and colleagues this is not unusual.

OddSockSeeker · 02/03/2023 05:14

I’d think, ‘lucky them’ & hope they’re not going to find it too tiring.

soberfabulous · 02/03/2023 05:23

i'd be absolutely delighted for you and think nothing of it. I had my DD aged 37.

At this age i was mentally and financially stable, so much more capable and able to deal with the change of a new baby. I'm so glad i waited.

JillinSwindon · 02/03/2023 05:45

I was 34 when I had my first, 39 when I had my third - go ahead! Could your sister be a tiny bit jealous? Lots of women want to get ahead in a career or become financially secure, or just enjoy being young and independent before having children. Me, it was a bit of all three. I was just a late starter and didn't meet the right man till I was past thirty.
Good luck!

Atsocta · 02/03/2023 05:53

Erm that’s normal…

catfunk · 02/03/2023 05:54

Not unusual in my circles where people have wanted to become financially stable first

JulesJules · 02/03/2023 05:54

Perfectly normal. I had both my babies when I was in my 40s, I don't think there was anyone in my NCT class younger than mid 30s.

SchoolTripDrama · 02/03/2023 06:03

My Mum had me at 39 (Dad was 45) and it wasn't fun for me. They were tired already I was bored stuff. They couldn't run around and barely had the energy to play at all. Everyone thought they were my Grandparents!
As a result of this, I'd definitely judge them, I'm afraid. I can only draw on my own experience as the child

jamdonut · 02/03/2023 06:14

I had my 3 rd child at 38.Nothing wrong with it.

AllTheExtraClouds · 02/03/2023 06:22

SchoolTripDrama · 02/03/2023 06:03

My Mum had me at 39 (Dad was 45) and it wasn't fun for me. They were tired already I was bored stuff. They couldn't run around and barely had the energy to play at all. Everyone thought they were my Grandparents!
As a result of this, I'd definitely judge them, I'm afraid. I can only draw on my own experience as the child

Sounds like they were not in good health. I'm mid fifties, DH slightly older, and we're still capable of working and running about after small children and doing various sports.

LT2 · 02/03/2023 06:38

i'd be really happy for them, nothing else. 38 isn't old for a baby! I had my first at 31.

Sleepytiredyawn · 02/03/2023 06:41

My second but unplanned pregnancy happened at 36, had it have happened when we were thinking of trying I’d have been 37 onwards. I’m now 38 with a nearly 18 month old. Honestly, I never thought anything of it, I was the forth child and my Mum was 42 when she had me.

You do you, if/ when you decide to have another child, I’m sure your sister will be happy for you, it was probably just a passing comment.

LT2 · 02/03/2023 06:42

AllTheExtraClouds · 02/03/2023 06:22

Sounds like they were not in good health. I'm mid fifties, DH slightly older, and we're still capable of working and running about after small children and doing various sports.

Show quote history

Exactly! How on earth would grandparents manage if everyone was like that!? Some people aren't naturally into 'child's play', which it sounds was more the case, sadly. My mum and dad had me at 35 and 37 (3rd child) and I had a wonderful childhood. I often reminisce my childhood memories.

Rebel1 · 02/03/2023 06:46

I had my first child at 43 and 46 for my second. They are a delight and have provided a lovely distraction for when my husband died 2 years ago. We are a United team and I wouldn’t have it any other way.