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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:
CourseYaCan21 · 02/03/2023 16:08

Beautiful message thanks for sharing your lovely story - you are very blessed.

Nivid · 02/03/2023 16:10

I probabilly would think good for her? I dont considerer 38 years too old to get pregnant, in fact i know more pregnancies in that age range than from younger woman in 20s. So i kind of think its very normal, would not have any prejudice about it.

Purplecatshopaholic · 02/03/2023 16:16

maddy68 · 01/03/2023 09:28

Why would anyone think anything other than congratulations?

This. Along with so what…

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Families
Hbh17 · 02/03/2023 16:17

Most people I know didn't start having babies until well into their 30s, so 38 is about average, I guess.

Emma2023 · 02/03/2023 16:42

I wouldn’t think anything , 38 is not old at all these days to be having a baby- whoever it is congratulations 🎉

alwayscheery · 02/03/2023 17:27

When I was 35 My sister lectured me about the declining quality of my eggs. I decided against having more children . 5 years later she went on to have 4 more children.

Chocdiet21 · 02/03/2023 19:22

Also my kids have 17 years gap . My oldest idolises her brother . Ignore your sister . X

Snowpixi · 02/03/2023 19:42

this is your sisters judgey issue! Don’t worry about her!

suzysnowball · 02/03/2023 19:57

I had my first DS at 19 and my second at 38, we're all celebrating this year a 21st 40th and my 60th. It's great I found I was more laid back and financially better off.

Harmonypus · 02/03/2023 20:05

I personally wouldn't have wanted to get pregnant at 38, but what does it matter? As long as she's happy being pregnant at 38, then it's her business and no-one else's.

Nat6999 · 02/03/2023 20:10

No reaction I was only 6 weeks off being 38 when ds was born.

Judijudi · 02/03/2023 20:33

I’d say Congratulations 🥳

Mrsgreen100 · 02/03/2023 23:07

Totally normal ,congratulations don’t let anyone feed negative stuff around your happy
news,
first time mum at 43 here unplanned thought I was infertile,
all the medical people treated me as if it was
so out of the ordinary, banging on about risks and the rest I joined a wonderful home birth group run by great wise women, who where no judgements and fantastic support throughout.
just got back from a spa brea with my now 20 year old daughter, who just called me from a night out with her mates to say she is so gald
I’m her mum , and we have more fun together
than anyone else’s parents.
I think older parents have more to give than
people think , as far as siblings go there’s to many people on this planet, just make sure your home is always open to lots of other kids to stay over etc .you have lots of time for oh three if you want
go op enjoy

Snowpixi · 03/03/2023 06:11

This is really lovely thank you for sharing.

Ohhelpicantthinkofaname · 03/03/2023 07:44

So long as that woman was me (had kids in my 20s and no desire for any more) I wouldn’t give it a second thought.

38 seems to be pretty average to have a kid these days.

MyNDfamily · 03/03/2023 09:09

Pegfriedrice · 02/03/2023 10:39

This thread has made me feel so much better I could cry! Thank you

How awful that your sister has been like that. My youngest child was born when I was 37. I didn't think it was too old. At my children's primary school there are a real mixture of Mums, I am not alone at my age having children of my sons age. We do have Mums in their 20's but mostly late 20's quite a few are in their 30's I think, then there's myself and a whole group of others in our 40's.

A lot of people aren't ready or wanting to have kids when they are young these days, its fine, I don't think you'll be looked down on.

Younger people may judge, but they don't know how it feels to be late 30's and wanting a child, they don't know how they would feel so I don't think they can really be the people we rely on for an opinion to be honest.

Lots of us here have told you its fine. Just go for it. You'll probably be called a geriatric pregnancy by the midwives, but I just laughed.

Grrrrdarling · 03/03/2023 12:31

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…

I found the information in the picture at this web address…

…www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/livebirths/bulletins/birthsummarytablesenglandandwales/2021#main-points

38 yrs old is the 3rd highest age bracket to be having a child in 2021 with 30 to 34yr olds being the heighest age bracket.
I had my LG at 33.
Was told at 20 I’d need help to get pregnant, if it happened at all due to severe PCOS, but by some miracle she came to fruition when I was least expecting her… lol

What’s your gut reaction to a 38 year old being pregnant?
soberfabulous · 03/03/2023 15:07

Popping back onto this thread to say: today I went for a check up with my gynae consultant, she specializes in menopause.

She told me that my blood work showed me to be incredibly fertile and that if I wanted to try for another baby I could.

I turn 47 in June.....

Tnib · 03/03/2023 15:07

I’m 42, with a four and a half month old and she is my first. I don’t plan on having any more children. I’m the only one in my friendship group who has a baby and they are aged 39-43.

Mu gut reaction to someone saying that is how rude and hurtful. It’s as if your sister didn’t think and just opened her mouth.

My pregnancy was low risk all the way through the Doctors just didn’t want me to go over 40 weeks and they induced me. I would just say avoid induction if you can, my experience was horrible but I have a healthy baby.

People say silly things. When I had a miscarriage a friend had said she’d be worried about having a child over 40. I think the same friend who is 40 this month is considering IVF.

38 is young today, ignore her.

HelloBunny · 03/03/2023 15:38

Tnib, when my friend was trying for baby no.2 she said that she wished she’d just have an MC, to get it out of the way, as everyone else had had one... She doesn’t realize that if she had actually MC, then DC 2 would most likely not have transpired. She only had two pregnancies, both successful. But may not have had another pregnancy / second child.

I MC my first baby. So, was dealing with being childless. When she said this... People don’t think. I had a surprise baby at 44. Delighted. But, he would have a sibling if I hadn’t MC my first (from POV that I went on to actually have him). People don’t consider MC as a missing child, a lot of the time.

HelloBunny · 03/03/2023 15:41

She is also a person who would be “heartbroken” to have an only child.

amispeakingintongues · 04/03/2023 08:39

Does your sister have any children herself?

VerbenaGirl · 04/03/2023 08:41

All I’d think was “congratulations”. 38 no issue at all.

surfergrl · 04/03/2023 17:50

Would not think it unusual at all. I'm 45. My mother, in her 70s, decided I was well past it at 35 – generation gap there. I don't have any and never planned any, but do still get those 'leaving it a bit late' comments.

Lupita123 · 04/03/2023 18:14

Firstly, your sister had no right to make that judgement. Secondly, 38 is very common these days whether because people have tried to build up their careers first or, like us you just weren't lucky earlier. I am about to have my second child and I will be 38 shortly after. I know people who have had kids into their 40s and no issues. A colleague of mine is 52 and has a 13 and 9 year old and she's fitter than many 30-year old. It's your life and you should never be shamed like that by someone who is meant to love you and support you

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