To ask how long does it take to meet someone and have a baby?

[WhereDoesThisRoadGo]

This is going to seem like a ridiculous question, which I acknowledge, bit hope you forgive me because we cannot be rational all the time. I am worrying a lot that, at 33, I am no closer to having a child than I was at 23. And I am just getting older. I am single and do not have anyone in the pipeline who wants children one day. Please share your stories of time between met - engaged - married - baby (or met - baby) to help me work out what my cut off needs to be for giving up going it alone.

Met my dh aug 26th, engaged sept 10 (2002), married June 2003, ds came along march 2004 (yes he was a honeymoon baby x

Met when 31, married at 33 and had our DD at 36. DH was thoroughly vetted before going through with either project - couldn't be happier x

I had my first ywo children by 21 after meeting at 17, was a single mum for 8 years, which for me, best thing that ever happened, made me strong, focus on the kids, and made me realise what and who I wanted in my life, no parades of 'Uncles' for my boys lol, just happy Mum.
Anyway, I always thought "I'm crap at meeting blokes!' but the secret I think is to stop trying. The more you enjoy life and enjoy yourself, that's when blokes seem to appear out of nowhere! The second I stopped keeping my eye open for Mr Right, I started to live, sang with a band, took my kids to all sorts of awesome places, the more people we met and made friends with, and then one night, I turned on my computer and joined Myspace, and the very first screen was this lovely looking bloke, I messaged him juts saying Hello...was a whirlwind romance but by the end of the same year we were expecting a little girl, that was 12 years ago and he is my soul mate n best friend. Honestly, the less time you spend worrying, and the more time you spend just getting on and enjoying yourself, the more chances you have of finding someone that will compliment your life and make you even happier!

I met my DH at 29 and immediately knew he was the one (and vice versa). We were living together within 3 months, engaged within 18 months, started trying for a baby straight away and then married 6 months later. Unfortunately we've since miscarried so no baby yet but we were married and trying by the time I was 31. We're blissfully happy.

Meet aged 32 (2011)
Engaged aged 33 (2012)
Married aged 34 (2013 - 364 days after engagement)
Fell pregnant aged 35 (Sept 2014)
Had baby aged 36 (May 2015)

No plans for a second one though!

First husband met at 23, first child at 24, second at 26. Divorced at 32. No intention of having any more men or children!! THEN met second husband at 35, first child at 37, second at 38. (he's 10 years older than me) You have time honey. My second two kids have been the making of me, so much easier when you're a bit older (Imo)

I split up with my school sweetheart at 35, partly because my ex didn't want kids. I started dating for the first time in my life, which was pretty rocky at times.i was that cliche woman in her late 30s desperate to have kids. No relationship lasted longer than 3 months! After 2 years I was pretty miserable with the dating thing and I knew I was a bit 'psycho'. So I decided to take a br

Ugh, don't know why that just pasted!
I took a break from serious dating, just wanted casual hookups when I met 'the one'... we all have lots of things we want in our life partner, but I only have 3 must haves:

1. time has to disappear when you are together, i.e. You meet up for your first date (I was online dating, found my dp on OK Cupid) and 5 hours later you are still talking in the corner.
2. things in the bedroom need to be fairly good, it doesn't have to be the best sex you ever had but it does have to be good.
3. has to want kids. My dp meets those hands down and ticks almost all of my desirables too. We moved in together at 9 months, started trying at a year and a half. Painfully, we suffered 2 miscarriages. But I'm happy to report we have the most amazing baby boy who is almost 3 months old. He was born 2 weeks before our 3 years anniversary of meeting. I'm raising my family with a man I feel is my soul mate. You need that because raising a child is hard on a couple! I was 40.5 years old when DS was born. Good luck

Met May 2002 on Match.com. Moved in together within weeks.
Engaged July 2004
Married Sept 2005
DD1 May 2010
DD2 Dec 2013
How long's a piece of string?!
DSIL had her first DC at aged 43 (IVF, first time) after meeting her DP at 39, so there is time for you to meet the right person and have a child.

Arghh, sorry I forgot to say that I was 26 when I met DH (her was almost 28). 34 when I had DD1.

*he was almost 28.

Met May 2011. Moved in together Jan 2013. First baby born March 2014. Second baby due next month. I am 35 and he is 39.

2.5 years for me!

Ps I was 33 when I met him

Met in Feb 2014
Got engaged December 2015
Baby is due October 2017

Met at 29yrs and he was 33 - Pregnant 4 months into relationship .. daughter is 5 now & we are still together but unmarried as not important to us.

Sorry if anyone has already mentioned this but there was a really good Longest Shortest Time (podcast) episode that talked about this. The woman discussed how she counted time backward in her head, i.e. if she wanted to have a baby at 37, she would want to be together for a certain number of years, etc. It was quite an interesting listen. longestshortesttime.com/episode-119-dating-when-you-want-kids/

As for me... we met and started dating when I was 22 and he was 32. We got married at 25/36. DD1 was born when we were 28/38 and DD2 when we were 32/42.

Damn that's a long time gone.

I met my other half in 2011 when I was 35. I fell pregnant with our daughter in 2012, and gave birth to her in 2013! I never thought I would meet someone I loved enough to have a family with but it can and does happen.

Met at 28, first baby at 37. I don't think we're typical though. I have two friends who met someone at 35 (via the Guardian dating site actually), married and had 2 dc by the time they were 40. It can be done. But it helps I think to actually look for someone, rather than leave it to chance.

I met my partner when I was 29 and he was 48. We have just had our six year anniversary and I am 5 months pregnant. My ex husband had the best years of my life and I honestly thought I had missed out on having kids. But here I am, turning 36 in July and pregnant. It is never too late xxx

Knew each other for ages - like, years. Got together and he moved in in a couple of months. Got engaged after 2yrs and now been married for one yr and have a 5m old DD. I've just turned 36.

I think the harder you try the worse it will be, just live your life, socialise and if it is meant to be it will. If you really want kids you could always adopt or become a foster carer - or sperm donation!
my friend was 34 when she met her partner, they have been together almost 2 years but still not planning on having kids yet. The one thing I would say is go to your GP and find out how many egss you have left - some people leave it late then discover they are infertile anyway.
do you really want kids, or just panicking that you are gettig older?

Oh my story - DH and I met, together 9 months, decided to start a family, got pregnant after 1 month of trying, married when dd 2 months old!

Still together 17 years on. I think when you know you know - we also did lots of talking, worked together for a while, travlled and met each others families. We were 21 when we met.