to think that 40 years old is NOT too old to become a Mother, whether it is tbe first time or not?

[SoleSource]

I am 39 soon and would like to have another baby.

I've had twins at 40, third pregnancy too!

Never wanted to leave it that late, mostly because of possible genetic abnormalities, but like someone else said life got in the way, but the desire for a third child never left me.

I hadn't considered there might have been a fourth thrown in!

They're 8 months and I'm finding it really hard but that's because there's two of them (plus the other two), and only one if me

I had my son when I was 42. I am better at playing wii with him than his 18 year old babysitter. I am not a knackered old crone, despite the fact that I'm now nearly 47. I think. Or nearly 48. Memory's not what it was :o

40 is not too late.
I conceived my ds at 40, after many years of trying, just as I was thinking about ivf treatment.
I was watching Lorraine this morning where an American woman at 65 is the oldest twin mother with children aged 5, they were asking people in the street how old was too old to bea mum? One person said 33!

DS 4 turned up a couple of months before DWs 40th.

Have 2 at primary, one at seconadry and one at uni.........

It's funny how things change. When I had my first child (now 36) I was considered elderly (I was 28!). I remember at the time, however, my DH's stepmother, who suffered from severe arthritis and who was in her late 40s, telling me that her doctor had advised her to have a baby as it would help with the arthritis.

I was still having periods until I was late mid-to late 50s, so it was possible (if not probable) that I could have conceived then - it makes early 40s seem quite young.

That was the programme shortbutsweet

Lorraine fecking Kelly.

I'm 38 will be 39 in dec. my dc's are 17 and 11. This week I will have looked round two uni's and one high school.
I know I'm physically able to have a child but when I think about it realistically then no it's not what I want.
I don't think 40 is too old but I think I am too old!!

Would you be so knackered if you hadn't had your family yet though Ultra?

That's pretty much the same situation as me, brighter. It would feel like going backwards.

No, it's not too old. DS1 was born when I was nearly 38 and DS2 when I was nearly 40. It's just a matter of timing really. We tried for 8 years for DS1, so I would have been younger out of choice but it just didn't happen that way.

I had my only dc when I was 39 - it did take 8 years to get there so it wasn't a conscious choice.
3 of my great grandmothers had children well into their 40's. It wasn't unusual in the olden days- people kept reproducing until the menopause or until they stopped shagging.
It seems to be only after reliable contraception that we have started judging people for having late babies.

It most certainly is NOT sole!

As others have said its a personal decision.

I'm 40 with an 8 year old, 4 year old and 3 year old - I don't any more children - I couldn't face the sleep deprivation again.

But for others - I think its entirely up to them.

Well I had my first at 31 and my second at almost 35. I am 40 now and became pregnant ridiculously easily earlier this year. Unfortunately it turned out to be an ectopic (due on 22nd of this month actually ). In no way do I feel past it or too old.

When I went to the doctor to discuss contraception options afterwards she really pushed sterilisation at me, which I was rather at. I am not menopausal, I am active and healthy, if in the next couple of years I met a suitable father candidate I would definitely love to another child. I certainly am not ready to say that's that right now. The strange thing was when i said i wanted to keep my options open she kept saying "well it won't be easy to conceive at your age". Considering I was there for a follow up appointment for an op for an ectopic PREGNANCY I wasn't really sure why she was saying that .

Anyway OP 40 is certainly NOT too old imo.

One naughty night just a day off my 'safe' period was all it took to conceive Baby No 6 I am 28 weeks pg and will be 45 when s/he arrives ...Good luck to you!

Lol pickled every single post gives me and others hope.

Of course it's not. I am 41 and have 3, youngest is 18m. I'd have one more if I didn't have to work for a living!

Reading through this thread has shown me just how personal this is. Some people seem to feel old so young, and say physical ailments would make it an impossible choice for them.

At 39 I feel young - I can run 10km in under an hour, hike, climb, do everything physical without a problem. My parent who are in their 70s still ski, travel, hike, climb, and play tennis against 20 year olds (and often win). I look around at some of the young mums in the village, and they shuffle along, 3 stone over weight, struggling with lifting etc. I will cope every bit as well if not better than them with motherhood.

My consultant said that unfortunately the NHS treats older mothers as statistics rather than individuals. They push for CVS and amnio, when often it is just not necessary. I went private for my nuchal scan so that my risk would be based on my baby's health not my age.

Each to his own, and may we not judge one another for it.

My mum had me when she was 39. My oldest brother is 18 years older than me but I never felt strange about it. The only thing is Mum was only 67 when she died which was and still is 21 years later shit

My first is due in April, I will be 37. 40 is not too old.

It's definitely personal choice.

I think it's also down to the parent's fitness and energy levels too

I had my first baby at 22yrs, my second at 30yrs and my last at 33yrs

I definitely had more energy for the first one than for the other two.

My aunt had her last at 41! If you want to add to you're family go for it. A friend of mine is 40 & due her third at Christmas.