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.

worral I am 33 & pregnant with my third, blimey my energy levels are rock bottom this time round!
Saying that I did have glandular fever at the start of my pregnancy so probably didn't help matters.

Personally, I wish I had my kids in my mid 20s and I'm now in my mid 30s, with 1 DD and another due in a few weeks. My 2nd pregnancy has been a lot harder than my first and the only reason for it all seems to be age. My hips and pelvis are knackered I'm hoping not permanently!

I bloody well hope it's not too old. I'm 49, my wife is 44, and our first child is likely to arrive a week today! It's true that I don't have the stamina I had when I was 21, but I'm a lot more patient and caring. I know it is going to be hard - very hard - but I really believe we have more to offer than we would have if we had conceived when we were newly married.

I'm 34. Had my DD at 32. Was seen in A&E recently with early pregnancy bleeding and the doctor referred to me as an older mother at least 3 times.

monkey not that wouldn't have helped at all...I hope you're over it now

Jollyb I was referred to in my notes as an older mother the 2nd time round and I only turned 30 the month before he was born!

No it's not too old at all.

I'll be having one next year at 38 sole, and I feel like I want another too!

I always said I wanted to be done with pregnancy and b/feeding by the time I was 40, but that's just for my own reasons - I definitely don't think 40 is too old per se.

Of course not. There are no perfect circumstances to have a baby, anyway.

thanks worral I was admitted once 23 weeks pregnant with a severe throat and mouth infection (flare up I think?) and had fluids iv. I am 39+4 & I think back to normal now :)
well as normal as I can be ;)

Quite a lot of my family members have had children in their early 40's (my mother and one of my sisters among them) and it's definitely not too old. Although some people would feel 'done' by then and not feel they had the energy for another child

Personally I am 47 and my two at home are 16 and 7. I definitely have the physical energy to parent them daily, although my oldest has SN's and can be very demanding at times. Emotionally it's taxing but I don't feel I had any emotional reserves at say 25-35 that I don't have now. I also babysit my 5 month old grandaughter and again, although I don't want a little baby myself at 47, I have the energy to look after her when she's here. I still happily run about and cycle with my 7 year old and do plenty of 'active things'. I don't feel old. I feel that, if i stayed the way I am now, I could potentially become a parent again (aged about 49-50) to a child aged 3 plus

My mum would say it is too old. Her siblings were born when nan was in her 20's mum was born when her eldest sister was 19. My mum still feels resentment for the years she was cheated of that her siblings had. Mum was 32 when she had lost both her parents.

It's just how life turns out sometimes.

I thought having children in my late 20's would be perfect, I'm 35 next month and expecting DC1 now. Ideally I'd like 3 children, so will quite possibly ttc at 39/40 years old.

It's not what I would have wished, but hey ho. It took me until I was 33 to meet DH and he's 44 so has been waiting a lot longer than me.

You are ready when you're ready. Go for it.

I'm 6 months pregnant and 41 in February.....tiring but am hoping it keeps me young!!

I wouldn't say it is too old. It depends on the woman on a case by case . I'm 25 and pregnant with DC2

My mum fell pregnant at 39 (after 15years of Fertility problems after I was born). She had a bad pregnancy (polyhydramnios, bleeding, liver, kidney and stomach problems) and ended up being admitted at 6months pregnant until they delivered my brother 3 weeks early weighing 9lbs. My mum died 2 years after his birth through cancer that had spread through her body. When she was pregnant she kept telling us how excited she was to be having another baby and she was pleased she was an "older" mum as she felt different to when she was having myself and my older brothers in her teen years and 20's, She would have had loads of energy to look after my baby brother if she wasn't so poorly and kept putting DR's off for 6 years.

My DP's mum had a baby at 40 and 46. She has now got a 14 and a 10year old. DP has said she is a better mum to the younger 2 then what she was like when he was younger as she seems to have more patience. DP's mum doesn't look her age and seems to have more energy then I do looking after DD (4) and 24weeks pregnant. She keeps taking DD out to give me a break, I just want to sleep.

I have a hell of a lot of pounds to lose first.

27 would be to old for me :) so no way at 40 lol. ( I don't want any more)

But any other women who wants a child 40 is not to old. It's crazy to think my mum was a grandmother at that age lol

Can I ask OP (out of total nosiness) how old your parents will be if you have another baby and whether that's a consideration?

It's not always an actual decision with second families,it's a case of getting on and living your life how you see fit,and taking happiness where and when you can.

It is young parents who feel out of place where I live! 40yrs is very common-so common that it wouldn't even be worth a comment. They will get older and older-people simply can't afford it younger. I was 40yrs and have never felt old compared to their friend's parents-I am younger than some.

I was almost 27 when I had my eldest dd and people told me I was too young to have a baby. Which I was really, looking back now, very very young. And I had dd3 a few months before my 39th birthday. I've loved every second of so called 'older' motherhood and have miles more energy and money now. Women who feel it's 'too old' make comments like that because they feel old or are old before their time, in the way they feel/look/act etc.

I'm nearly 40, but I don't bloody feel it and I know I'm younger in outlook/attitude and appearance than some much younger women. I'm always a bit baffled when women want to have Motherhood all done by their mid twenties. But then I really wanted to travel and live before I had children. I guess you can do things the other way around- have kids, then travel/live later. But it's easier to work, save and build up a life in your twenties before babies, in my opinion. 'Too old' is when the menopause starts, that's the perfect message to stop!

Op - if I were you and I had no children already I would go for it, BUT some people on this thread are very naive and are only thinking about people for whom late motherhood has gone well. My mum was diagnosed with dementia at 57, and if I was at uni while she was going through this, well fuck that, it would screw my life up. I have a friend whose mother was diagnosed with Alzheimers at 60, and several friends whose parents have died of cancer aged around 60. It's not ideal.

cakebar I am sorry to hear that about your Mum.

I have to say that being an 'older' Mum has made me think about safeguarding my health as much as possible,such as giving up smoking.None of us can allow for the cruel blows that life can throw at us indiscriminately at any age,but I am aware of doing all I can to stay in good health for as long as possible.

For as long as a woman is menstrating, then I believe she is not too old to have children. Biologically, she can have a child (even if external assistance is required in the form if Ivf etc.) so who are we to say a woman is too old at x age.