What do you consider is a realistic age for having a last baby?

[GlitteringJasper]

Purely based on your own personal opinion?

What age is the 'cut off' in your mind for someone having their final baby?

Really interested to hear views on this!

Am dithering!

I had my first at 35 and the cut off in my head to stop trying for our second and (probably) last is 38.

I have no idea where that number comes from or why, and it could probably change if I haven't got pregnant by then. So its a nonsense tbh...

I was 42 (well, in the last weeks of being 41) and didn't want any more after that.

I kind of wanted to fit my last child in before I was 40 but it didn't really work out like that for a number of reasons (none of them to do with my age or health though).

Speaking to the mother of one of my DD's friends this morning, I realise I'm nearly ten years older than her, but I don't specially feel it.

Sure I originally said 35... And probably would have been if I hadn't had four miscarriages. I now think life doesn't always go to plan, not all of us are lucky enough to find the right partner early - if you want to try, whatever your age, that's your business and no one else's.

Had mine at 20, 26 and 32. To be honest, 35 would have been my absolute max.

The menopause? The 35 age oft quoted does not have significant impact, it's based on very historic data and data on infertile couples (and probably the Downs risk). Fertility does decline post 40 in most women but I've got two grandmothers who had late pregnancies, a mother who didn't go throught the menopause until her mid 50s and have no sign of the menopause myself yet in my mid 40s (and I've got a 2 year old who was conceived in the first month of trying). The oldest woman to have a natural birth was in her 50s, no-one comments on old fathers (Charlie Chaplin anyone?), and frankly we could be hit by a bus tomorrow so there's no point worrying about what might be.

I'm not sure this is a question it's possible to answer. Ideally, I'd say 38 but life hasn't worked out like that for me. I'm not going to stop trying for a baby when that deadline is reached.

I've never understood this prescriptive way some people have of looking at things eg want a house by this age, marriage or baby at such a such age. Seems v rigid.

Just play it by ear...live and let live and other cliches.

45 for me. But I feel its how the person has grown. I haven't had my first yet and im 35. Honestly im not ready. Im a very late bloomer and still look and feel in my early twenties. I also only started menstruating at 17 so this may be why I haven't had the urge yet. Some people mature quicker than others I guess, its all about how you feel at the time.

I had DD at 19, so for me my personal cut-off is my 26th birthday. After that, the age gap is bigger than I'd like and I miss out on the bonuses of having my children quite early. For my 45th birthday, I intend to go on a fortnight's luxury cruise, just DP and I.
Also in that equation is that DP is 11 years older than I. He doesn't want to be dealing with teenage obnoxiousness at 55+.

For other people though...I don't know, 45 maybe? Never really thought about it. My mum's 52 and I can't imagine her with a ten year old.

It depends v much on the circumstance.
If you meet your partner young and start having children at a young or fairly young age, your cut off is likely to be much younger than someone met their partner or decided to start a family at an older age.

If I had met my partner at 40 years old, I would v likely have ttc at 41 or 42 but I wouldn't consider another one now as I already have four healthy children and am in my late 30s

For me, personally, I would say late thirties.
But for someone who's just starting to have kids, I think it could be into early 40s.
I think it's adding up how old you'll be when they're teenagers that puts me off.

Personally, 35 at the latest (though I have had my last at 30).

I wouldn't want to have young children at home in my late 40s/50s.

hmm I think its strange to categorise ourselves in terms of chronological age and to pontificate upon appropriate ages to do certain things. childbearing being only one such example.

In short you should probably stop when your ovaries determine so. But even then some women have ridiculously premature menopause so even that rule isn't without its notable exceptions.

I don't know if its been said.
My feeling is that is has a lot to do with how old your eldest child is.
Ours is 16, and youngest 6. I couldn't go back to the baby days, even though my periods/fertility is not so different from when l conceived our daughter (6)when l was 37.
At 43,l would be done in.
Just thinking about it, makes me anxious.

I think 43-45. For me though it was 30 having had number 1 at 21. I am 38 today and I feel too old now though I know I'm not. But dd3 is nearly 8 - so it's a long time since baby days now.

I had mine at 28 and 30. Of course, there is no right age but personally I wouldn't fancy being in my 60s dealing with a teenager. Or an Alzehimery parent and a teenager/young child at the same time.

Sadly, for quite a few women, having a successful pregnancy in their 40's simply isn't an option - it just doesn't happen.

For everyone women who has a baby at 42, there's probably 50 who couldn't manage it, & even if you do manage to get pregnant you're more likely to suffer complications. So, for those reasons I'd say have your dc before 36/37.

My own personal cut-off point was 35. I had my last child at 33 and having had three in under four years I found my last pregnancy very tough physically. Another one would've broken me.

We were only lucky enough to have dc when I was 46. I worry about her being an only child but if we tried for a second child I'd be 48 at least . I feel like it would be a huge risk at my age. Dd is beautiful and healthy, I can't imagine we'd be so lucky twice with me being so ancient !

I had mine at 37 and 40 so obviously my cut off point is, er, somewhere above there. I don't feel particularly geriatric, though am pretty sure I don't want another one (I'm 42).

A friend of mine's mum had him as a "surprise" at 49 - she thought her periods had stopped due to menopause, then went to the doctor....

My cut-off was 45 - after that I felt the option had shut down.

I had my last one when I was a few days off 38 - almost 46 now, and feel way too old to have another one/wouldn't want one anyway. I think 42 was when I last felt I could have coped with a baby - at a push.

For myself, I hope to be done before 40, though I don't really think in terms of an absolute cut-off. I just don't fancy pushing too far on into my 40s because I know my mum had a very difficult time with hormonal mood swings from about 50 onwards, and if I'm like her then I don't fancy dealing with the needs of a very small child at the same time.

But then I'm 31 now and 8 weeks pregnant with what will probably be my last child! So although anything can happen, right now it's easy for me to say oh yes, I'll be all done with babies by then... If I hadn't been able to have a child, and I wanted one desperately, I can't picture when I'd be ready to give up on the idea. I can easily imagine that being an older mother would still be easier than the grief of never being a mother at all.

And so much depends on the person. My dad's partner is almost twice my age and has about twice my energy as well! I reckon she'd make a better new mum than me. Some people just keep going.

I think abt 45 is the cut off in my head.we plan on 5. Had my 1st at 30, 2nd at 32. Am now 33yrs plan on having one. At 35, 37 and last at 40. Had all the travelling and fun in twenties. Got married, got a house settled when was 28. Have an older sister who isn't In a relationship and is desperate to meet the one and have babies. She is 35 this year. I'm a bit ?? ppl think 30's is old ??. My sil is 37. Having her surprise 4th dc this year. Will be a gap of 10yrs between youngest and 4th and 16yrs between eldest and 4th dc!

I agree with 45.

I am in my early 40s expecting no 6 thinking that I could do this again