To ask some of you slightly older mothers about your experience?

[theboomtownrat]

NC'd as potentially outing.
I'm considering having a 3rd baby, but a bit worried about how my body will handle it, and how I will cope with the demands of a newborn.

I'm interested in hearing from those of you who had DC between 38 and 42. How did you bounce back?
Would you recommend it?
What were your biggest challenges?

I had my 1st and 28 and 2nd at 33. I definitely found it tougher 2nd time around.
I'm now 37 and fairly healthy. I'm a bit overweight and could definitely so with loosing a couple of stone but could do thy before I get pregnant (if that does happen)
I've only got 1 tube so my chances of a successful pregnancy are somewhat limited.

Tia x

@Springwalk Excellent point. I have disabilities and I'm a single Mum. My Mum is now nearly 75 and does everything she can (and then some) to help me with having her etc as I have no friends or anything, but she's sometimes dropping on her feet and I feel terrible. I've had to massively reduce the amount she goes there for my Mum's sake. Ten years ago it would've been a different story entirely.

@MummyParanoia101 I bet your parents were hurt too

Being older parents in the 1980's was quite unusual. They must have so wanted a child and loved you very much. How sad for them that you felt like that.

Had my first just after I turned 43 last summer. After the first trimester great pregnancy. Enjoyed it. Was induced, (not my choice) terrible labour. Baby is wonderful - at 12 weeks she started sleeping through. Those first few months were hell on wheels. Now all good. She’s a great & happy soul. We are very very lucky. I am still knackered though. Early menopause. Really adds to the fun.

Honestly I am more worried about what’s to come, when she’s at school and beyond & how old and knackered I’m going to be then. The only answer is to become super healthy & super fit. Damn.

I had my first at 40 and second at 42. I was fine in terms of energy - tired yes, but no more so than my younger mum friends. DS2 has SN though - he’s now 16 but with the developmental age of a 3 year old - and at 58 that is very, very hard. We don’t have the parental support we had when the DC were younger because they’re too old to cope with DS2 and I worry about his future as we won’t be around, realistically speaking, after his 40s. Having said all that my gut feeling is still that you should go for it!

I had one at 28, one at 34 and one at 41. The last was the hardest pregnancy in terms of complications. She's one and I haven't lost any weight . I haven't struggled with having her though, she's a dream even if she does regularly wake at 5am!

Had 1st at 33, 2nd at 43.
Was fine.
Yes tired but from a psychological point of view, coped much better as a mature lady.
Thing that made all the difference was a very hands on, very committed husband. It was all definitely 50:50 with every aspect of raising our second.
He is equally as old as me so we were just very tired together but very very happy as number 2 was a huge happy surprise as we had given up all hope of having another after years of trying.

Had my first at 28 and my second at 38. Both pregnancies were straightforward and without complications. Both births were good and I'm less tired with my second than I was with my first because he sleeps!