How long were you with DH/DP before babies came along?

[tryingforasunshine]

Wondering what the average is. If you could, would you change it and try sooner, or have more time as a couple?

7 years. We got together when I was 18. I had my first at 27 and last at 32

14 years as we got together when I was 20.

9 years, but we met at Uni, I was 19 when we met.

I knew I was ready to start trying 5 months into our relationship as we met in our late 30s but that was after several years of online dating and knowing what I was looking for in a man and knowing that with my now DH it was different to all those other men. Took us several years to have a successful pregnancy that ended in a healthy baby.

14 years, we met in our teens and did a lot of travelling and living abroad first. It was perfect timing for us.

I got pregnant about 4 months into the relationship (unplanned, still at university). Still together 25 years later. Wouldn't want my kids to do the same though!

8 years

2 years! Some people would see that as way too soon but it was all perfect for us :-).

We were married exactly four years which was just right for us, and planned. I have no regrets about the timing.

19 months from first date to first baby , she’s 28 and we’ll have been married 30 years ( was a quick engagement/ wedding too ) next June

Met at almost 20 (me, 21 him) married at 25 baby at 30.

We started dating when I was 25, we had been married for 16 years when our DC was born. I think our ideal time to have a child would have been about 8 years before that. We had a long journey to parenthood before success. We’d been a couple for 18 yrs when DC was born

First we’d been together 4 years - we were only 22,
not planned. Second we’d been together 13 years (secondary infertility)

If I’d been able to choose I would have liked to have kids in my late 20s close together. As it worked out I had kids in my early 20s and early 30s and absolutely not close together!

We were together for 15 years until l had our first at 33, we tried for years to get pregnant two miscarriages later l gave birth to our first and 17 months later to our second . If l could have had them sooner l definitely would have done so .

We'd been together 14 yrs. Ideally it would have been nearer 10 yrs but that's just the way it worked out.

4 years; we married the previous year
we were mid 30s by the time we got pregnant so felt a bit of time pressure which we may not have done when younger

Pregnant after 22 months (I was 41)

10yrs. Love our child, but so happy we had those years of responsibility free fun. We both had a great time before and we are having a great time after. Wouldn’t change it.

Nearly 4 years, we didn't think we could so was delighted and as much as I'd have loved kids sooner I'm
Now pleased we had that bit of extra time together during Covid especially

6 years after meeting. Once we'd lived together, then bought a house and married.

Whilst nothing is guaranteed in life, it was important for me to be in a place where I had done the things I wanted to do and was ready to have children as well as being financially secure.

Didn't make it any easier! Parenting is tough.

6 years. Married for 2.5 years before DS born.

Nearly 20 years. We both wanted to do a lot of living, working and travelling before having a child.

Oh dear rather shamefully a year 4 months knowing him aged 18, , still in love after 34 years

Together 12 years before our son made an appearance! We did get together as teens though. I'm glad we waited. We've done all the things together that we wanted. It's hard to get that quality time just the 2 of us now (toddler years currently!)

We'd been together just under 4 years, married just under 1. I wouldn't change it at all. Initially we had planned to spend a year doing lots of holidays before I got pregnant but Covid changed that and we were ready to start a family sooner.