To want to start TTC aged 28?

[TheNanny23]

I'm married, we own our home, and I am finishing my professional exams off now. I've been broody for a while, but we have said 'we'll have a baby after this' and then find it's the next thing and ended up putting it off.

If I conceived in the next 7-8 months I would be eligible for a very good maternity package at work-however if I leave it longer my contract ends and though employment itself won't be an issue I could find its another two years until I'm in the same position I am now.
We have a bit of debt from doing house up but I've just had a large pay rise, payments are low interest, affordable and the lot should be gone in two years.

I haven't asked other's opinions per se but there seems to be a sense from friends that I'm a bit young yet and should enjoy a few more years of couples holidays.

If we were lucky enough to conceive quickly then I would be pregnant for a good friend's wedding and for a holiday to a fantastic wine producing region.

I do feel at this point now though we have had plenty of luxury holidays and boozy holidays and I quite fancy a cottage in Cornwall with a baby! There is always more I'd like to do and see in terms of travel but can wait a few years and am hopeful we could then take kids with us.

If it makes any difference we both have relatively local (within 20 mins drive) active, supportive, semi-retired parents who want to provide regular childcare.

Should we take a few more years, pay the debt off, optimise our finances, and take a few more big holidays, or should we just go for it? My husband is happy whenever I'm happy but feels it's my decision as I will be the one primarily affected at least initially and I am the higher earner. I'm doing this post to try to put things logically as I feel overtaken by a deep burning maternal urge!

Just go for it... you don’t know how long it will take. We started ttc when I was 30 and ended up having ivf two years later... we got more holidays in and saved more in that time so We could afford for me to change career when our twins arrived... somethingwe wouldn’t have been able to do previously.
Good luck!

Depends, exactly how good is the maternity package?

Go for it! I was 28, had baby just shy of 31.

I’d try now. I conceived my first at 29, started trying at 28 and it’s a great mother to child age gap. Plenty of time to have a second or third child and time to have nice holidays after they’ve grown up. Most of my friends who had them older did so as they weren’t in stable relationships or didn’t want children until they were in their late 30s. I’m glad I won’t be pushing 60 and still going to parents evenings at school. Good luck with your exams.

My thoughts is there will always be something to wait for.
Just go for it, I think you are the perfect age.
I had my daughter at 38 and I feel I left it too late as we only have support from one side of the family due to my in laws age.

I wish you all the luck in the world.
Merry Christmas

I’m biased as I fell of at 28, so am convinced that it’s the perfect time! However, it does work well on practical levels.

DH and I will only be 50 when DS is 21, so we have a lot of time for travelling etc then. We have just found that holidays change a bit for a few years, then we started travelling again- currently we are in Morocco as we all wanted to go to Africa as we’d never been (it’s wonderful- we’ll be back next year). Couples holidays are great, but so is seeing the world with DC.

@notsuchasmugmarriednow1

8 weeks full pay then 18 weeks half pay- even half pay would be double our mortgage payment. Then we would do shared parental leave and my husband take the rest of the time as his pay alone wouldn't cover all our outgoings if I was only on statutory maternity whereas even back working 3-4 days a week mine would.

It’s a good age but I think if you were my daughter I’d be telling you to clear the debt and get some savings behind you first. Having a safety net is very important when you are responsible for a child.

Go for it. There is never an ideal time and you could wait forever waiting for it.

I had my first DS at 29 & my second DS at 30, the best journey ever, knocks everything else I have ever done out of the park, I loved everything, being pregnant, giving birth, bf, watching them become little people, my two are 18 & 16 now I wish I could do it all again.

Enjoy OP.

Go for it, i m 24 and ttc.I know it could take time but i know there's plenty of it if something does go wrong and if it doesn't take that long we'll have plenty of energy to be grandparents when we're older if any future children have them.
we bought our house nearly a couple of years ago and it's practically finished now. we have some debts doing it up like you have but we've almost cleared our credit cards and the other debts will be fine to pay them on mat leave.

It sounds like you're in a good place and have done what you've wanted to do beforehand.

Do it now, if you are ready. It could take you a long time, or it could only take a month! But either way you sound ready, and like you are a considerate, clever woman who is thinking about the situation financially and emotionally so I'd say you're definitely ready!

Good luck & have fun

I’d get on with it I think. Depends on how serviceable the debt is. Would make sure I had critical illness/redundancy insurance first.

There's never a perfect time and there will always be events to go to and places you want to visit so I wouldn't put off trying on that basis. If you and your DH feel ready now then go for it! Just be prepared as although it can take a while to conceive, it can just as easily happen first try x

One thing I would say is dont worry about being pregnant for a good friends wedding. At your age there will be a wedding every year to go to! Also I started trying at 34 and thought it would take 6 months but it took two weeks....so just bear in mind it can be instant as well

I'd go for it! If you feel ready and you really want this then why not 😊 I'm 10 weeks pregnant with my first and I'm 25. I don't mind missing out on holidays and events in the slightest - knowing I'm growing a little baby means more to me than all that and I'm sure you'll be the same. As you've said, it makes sense to try now and you have a great maternity package and your own home. Good luck

I don't think your age is any factor in this. 28 is not by any standards too young to have a baby. Your financial situation might have some bearing, but really if you have a job and a home and your debts are not big, I can't see the issue.

I had my first at 27 and second at 30. I wanted to be done by the time I was 30 for lots of reasons. I don’t think 28 is young at all!

We started ttc at 28. Baby didn’t arrive until i was 39! Lots and lots of fertility problems that we didn’t even know existed. I’d recommend starting earlier because you never know how long it will take.

I agree with everyone else here. If you feel ready then go for it. I started trying at 29 and now I’m 33 and still trying for my first baby through IVF!

Good luck

I’d do it. Perfect age. I was that age with my first and in hindsight I’d do it at that age again. Right in the middle of the younger mums and the older mums which makes it easier to find friends who you have something in common with. Also you are avoiding all the negatives of being an older/younger mum by being in the middle.

Perfectly fine. And the average age for first birth in the UK is 30. Given that this isn't because we're all having kids at either 15 or 45, and assuming the average time to conceive is maybe a few months, that suggests 28 is a very common age to begin TTC!

If you know you wantt a baby just start ttc

I started TTC at 23! I was married good job amd degree owned own house.
It took 2 years to get pregnant. I am now 30 and my career is flying, moved to a bigger house still have holidays each year and have a wonderful dc.

Dont delay as you dont know how long it could take.

It's fine, I had my first at 28, everyone wants different things out of life, there's no right time.