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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:
MarieRoseMarie · 01/03/2023 10:11

Pegfriedrice · 01/03/2023 09:31

my sister made a comment to me that I was getting ‘too old’ to give my child a sibling and that surely I was ‘done’ - I’m 36 and would likely be 38 if I were to have another. I just wondered if what she said was what most people actually thought - ie it’s old to have a baby, as I don’t think like that but realise I might be in the minority.

This is genuinely education and class based. For some women, 38 is the standard age of a grandmother. For others, it’s a standard child bearing age.

It’s the same as having a child at 16. For some women, it’s a tragedy but for others it’s totally positive.

Luana1 · 01/03/2023 10:11

Perfectly normal age to be having a baby these days. A friend just announced a pregnancy and she is 45, I didn’t bat an eye lid. If a woman is healthy and financially secure enough to have a baby at whatever age, older or younger I can’t see a reason for anyone to pass judgement.

ItsCalledAConversation · 01/03/2023 10:11

Nothing - it’s perfectly normal. Bit PFB to even ask really, are you going to worry about random stuff people say for your entire pregnancy OP?

Interested in this thread?

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Families
bigdecisionstomake · 01/03/2023 10:11

38 perfectly normal in my friendship group. Several of the mums from my primary school friendship group celebrated their 50th birthdays whilst our children were in juniors.

Ozcando · 01/03/2023 10:12

I had my last aged 38 .Definitely not the energy I had with my older ones.
Definitely think over 40 would have been too tiring and GP too old to enjoy.

89redballoons · 01/03/2023 10:12

Totally normal, especially these days among women who have a career.

I was the youngest in my NCT group at 33. The oldest was 42. I had another at 35 and hoping for a third at 38/39.

My grandmother had her third baby, my dad, at 37. This was in the 50s and it was a bit more unusual then, but not exactly unheard-of of.

Notbeinfunnehbut · 01/03/2023 10:13

It’s older than I’d choose to be but I wouldn’t bat an eye lid just say congrats

Silverbook · 01/03/2023 10:14

I had DS when I was 38 - totally normal in my peer group.

TheInterceptor · 01/03/2023 10:15

Had my first at 39. I now have 4! You do you.

Notbeinfunnehbut · 01/03/2023 10:16

MarieRoseMarie · 01/03/2023 10:11

This is genuinely education and class based. For some women, 38 is the standard age of a grandmother. For others, it’s a standard child bearing age.

It’s the same as having a child at 16. For some women, it’s a tragedy but for others it’s totally positive.

Show quote history

I think even in poor communities that would be considered very young

i was teenage but adult mother , from a deprived background but my DP’s were nearly 50 when she became a GP

LlynTegid · 01/03/2023 10:16

Mine would be to wish for a trouble free pregnancy and hope for a healthy baby.

BellePeppa · 01/03/2023 10:16

It’s fine. I had my youngest at 43 and didn’t get a single ‘look’ from anyone (though probably helped by looking a decade younger in those days).

YellowDaffodillie · 01/03/2023 10:16

Unless you’re a teenager, 38 isn’t remotely old!

I had my son at 44 with no intervention required and he’s a fab 14yr old now.

Whichwhatnow · 01/03/2023 10:16

My sister was 40 when she became pregnant with her first (and only), 41 when she gave birth. Lots of people I know/friends have had kids around this age or later. It's a perfectly normal age to be having a baby, particularly nowadays when women are more likely to have careers etc.

Having said that, my very working class, SAHM mother was pregnant with me at 37 and that's nearly four decades ago!

Outnumbered99 · 01/03/2023 10:16

Totally normal age around here, i would expect eyebrows to be raised at more like 45, but probably then only in a "good for you" sort of way

philautia · 01/03/2023 10:16

I'm 38 and pregnant, I'm happy for me! I have several friends who also had a baby at this age or later.

Nowhereelsetogo90 · 01/03/2023 10:17

Congrats? Loads of my friends/family had kids around that age.

Xol · 01/03/2023 10:18

Your sister's nuts. People have perfectly healthy babies well into their 40s.

Remaker · 01/03/2023 10:18

I had my first baby at 38 (and my second at 39). The reaction from everyone I know was nothing but universal delight and happiness.

The only person who was annoying about it was my mum who kept going on and on about how special and wonderful it was to be pregnant at my age like it was the second bloody coming. I told her to put a sock in it.

WinterMusings · 01/03/2023 10:19

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!

How old is she?

Does she have/want children?

it's a perfectly normal age to have children these days!

Don't give it another thought. Have baby 2 if you want baby 2 & enjoy it all!

Catmuffin · 01/03/2023 10:20

Nothing. Women have always been pregnant at that age and later. My mum was born in 43 to a 42 year old

SallyWD · 01/03/2023 10:21

Pretty common these days. I had my 2nd at 38 and knew quite a few people the same age also pregnant.

ThatsGoingToHurt · 01/03/2023 10:22

I had no negative reaction from people when I was 39. Most people don’t know my age from looking at me. The only questions I had when people knew my ages was did it take long to conceive (the answer was no as I concieved DS in the first try at 39!) however these were nice enquires and many these were from women in their 30´s who were genuinely interested as they were ttc as well or hoping to ttc in the future.

bellswithwhistles · 01/03/2023 10:22

Didn't have my first til I was 38. So to me it's normal!

Sickoffamilydrama · 01/03/2023 10:22

I was pregnant at 38 with my third so wouldn't think a thing!