Are you more tired at 40 than 30?

[Jennywren2000]

I heard someone say they’d be more tired having a baby at 40 than in previous decades. I am 40 and definitely more tired than I was a decade ago, but I have teenagers now and have had a lot of stress recently. Friends are still having babies at the same age is me, and it definitely feels like I am too tired to do it now. But I think that’s just because I’m at a different stage than they are.

Do you think everyone is more tired at 40 than 30? Is it more tiring having babies then?

By the way: I don’t want this to be insulting to anyone having a baby at 40, I am pretty sure no one makes a plan that involves having a baby a particular age, it’s just how life happens. It’s all swings and roundabouts and usually not much of a choice as such.

It is impossible to say.

I was out raving still in my 30’s and was absolutely knackered most of the time-working mad hours, competing a horse and living it up.

At 41 I had DD. I’m tired in a different way now.

Having more children is tiring at any age. It’s always harder adding more in to the mix. Having your first is pretty much tiring at any age I think.

You can’t compare a first time parent to an existing parent - they aren’t starting from the same baseline.

I didn't notice a massive difference between 30 and 40 really but really started to feel my age when I turned 46. Felt like I aged 15 years overnight. It's improved (eg I've got used to it) and feel fine now at 50 but it was a shocking time lol!

I'm 40 and pregnant with an 18 month old, I'm tired but it's a different tired to when I was 30 when I was still going out to night clubs and working long hours to get up the career ladder.

I'm pretty sure you feel the stage you are at, my BIL is the same age as me and has a 15 and 13 year old and he couldn't even contemplate having another baby now. I have a friend from school who has a son who's 21, I'm sure she wouldn't think she'd be too tired for another when she's closer to being a grandma at her stage. I am tired but can't imagine I'd have been much less tired a decade ago in the same circumstances