Would you raise an eyebrow at 43 and 38 as ages of prospective parents?

[ShadesOfPurple]

Don't be PC!

Please be honest! To me it seems older than ideal.

It'd be dc3, if that matters?

we were 40 and 47 when we had DC3

Not at all, I'm a midwife and believe me there is absolutely nothing unusual at all in having a baby in your late thirties/early forties, totally normal

I'd say it's pretty normal.

Had my DC at 26, 31, 35, and 42. In order to keep my career going. My husband is 4 years younger than me. I couldn't care less what other people think. Very good luck to you

No, I know loads of people who've had dc at these ages or older. Are you anticipating raised eyebrows or have you actually had any OP?

Not even for a second.

We are pregnant (not our first) and DH is in his fifties and I am in my thirties. We have had lots of raised eyebrows and some sarcastic comments but most people have been lovely and not judged us. I couldn't really care what anyone else thinks, DH and I are both thrilled and we are both fit and healthy.
You don't get a chance to repeat life so you just have to do what you feel is right and therefore not have regrets because you considered what other people would think.

Defo not. Over 45 I would start picturing some raised eyebrows. Not that they'd be justified then or at any age IMO.

Sounds fine to me. We were 38 and 49 when DC3 was born and 42 and 53 when DC4 was born.

I certainly hope not - DP and I are 46/43 and ttc our first together. Will be his 3rd (other 2 are 25/21 and he has a ggranddaughter of 2) If we're successful it will be my first. Our GP says my age shouldn't be an issue as menopause generally comes in early 50's now in the UK.

not really, no.
I had ds2 2 weeks before I turned 36.
But to be really honest I found the pg harder than with ds1 (30) and I didn't recover from the birth as quickly.
If I had my time again I would have them younger I think.
Ds2 is 6 and I am 43 this year and knackered!!

I will admit that I am a bit of a judgy pants in general, but I wouldn't even think about those ages as being eyebrow raising at all. In fact my friend is ttc her third, she is 40 and her DH is 44 and their ages didn't even occur to me until I read this post!

It depends where you are as to whether it is outwith the norm or not.

I have always lived around fairly young families and I am one of the older mums (was 27 with my pfb and 30 with my 2nd) - most of my youngest's (now 10) friends' mums are early 30s and I am 40.

In other areas though, late 30s/early 40s is the norm and it is the younger mums who stick out like a sore thumb!

I also have one friend with a 25 yr old and a 3 yr old, so tbh anything goes!!

If you are healthy, happy and want to have a baby at that age then it really doesn't matter what others think - I have moments of contemplating a 3rd, then other moments where I am pleased that I have older kids and not toddlers, but my age is pretty irrelevant in my thought process tbh.

Why would I
We were 37 and 46

I think it's lovely when people have babies, but it's not a choice I think I would make for me. We chose to have our kids when we were youngish (23/25) and so I'm really looking forward to not having to do the baby and toddler lifestyle when I'm nearly 40.

No

In some areas it's very much the norm.

There's a woman called Jean Twenge who has written articles and a book about fertility/older mums

She has lots of recent research on older mums. Theres an island somewhere South pacific i think where women go abroad have careers etc then return and start families later in life.

Personally our diets, health advice etc means there should be no problems at your age. Cut off age mentioned by my gp is 43 - my age!

If mine happens (not trying though) it'll be a pleasant surprise and have got pregnant in past.

Almost all my ex colleagues got pregnant 37 onwards (6 kids between them) and I know 3 40s mums including an aunt of mine. All babies perfectly healthy too.

We had our first with both of us 38 and second when I was 40. I guess it depends where you live as in N London where we live this didn't seem old and most parents we met at new baby groups were mid 30s to mid 40s. However a friend the same age had a baby at the same time in a Somerset village and was much older than the other parents. Although a little strange at first the common goal of adapting to parenthood helped to bridge the age gap.

Not at all

No

I would not think anything of it, I know plenty of good people who have children in late 30s early 40s.

Not my family, we are all young mums. I was 20 having my son and so my mum became a nan at 40

So if I mentioned to my mum that she should have another baby she would tell me her kids are grown up now and she has her grandchildren.

Go for it, age is just a number.

My husband will be 46 and me 35 when next baby is born

I was 41 and dh 49 when we had dc3