To not think 26 is young to be pregnant

[User54047]

My friend has recently announced that she’s pregnant. I’m delighted for her however she’s getting a lot of comments from people saying she’s too young and that she will regret it when she’s older. She’s recently brought a house with her partner and both have stable jobs.

The older generation had an average age of 24 for first baby. In the 1980s the NHS medical term for a mother over thirty was “elderly mother.”

26 is a lovely age. She’ll have energy for her child and be able to enjoy her grandchildren without putting out her back. She’ll recover from birth much faster and manage pregnancy better.

Only morons would think 26 is too young. We’re the first generation in human history being pressured to leave starting a family until thirties and it causes all sorts of problems, mostly for the woman.

No not at all! I had DS when I was 26 for me it was a perfect age.

I think it's young because she has only been an adult for 7 years and now has this life changing responsibility. But it's great news if she's happy.

As a side note I'm always intrigued when people say they've bought a house and are in a "good job" by the time they're 20. I was 18 and a half when I finished secondary school, couldn't imagine buying a house 18 months after leaving school.

That's ridiculous. 16 is young. 26 is a perfectly normal, sensible age. 36 is on the older end of normal. 46 is old. 56 is a miracle and probably one to be avoided.

Hell No! I think it's a great age. By 26 I was on my 2nd house and had a 5 year old and 2 year old and loving life, I was starting a phd. My husband was 25. I personally think a lot of people are too old, but that's my take on things.
26 is definitely not too young at all.

I had mine at 23 and 25. I don't think 26 is particularly young. I am very glad I had mine in my 20's. It felt the right time and now I am 41 and really enjoying time with my 16 and 18 year old.

I had DC1 at 26. I was the 2nd of my school friends to have a baby, and a couple of people told me I was very young. I'd partied very hard and travelled so I was ready to settle down. I had my last baby at 32 I certainly have no regrets ably my age, and feel very lucky I was able to conceive easily.

I had DS when I was 21. I wasn't considered a young mum (lots of the mums at school were younger than me) but DH was always being mistaken for his grandad

Definitely depends on the area. I had my son at 30 and definitely felt like an old mum at lots of the groups I went to!!

It would have been too young for me, but that's my life, not anyone else's. I definitely don't think it's young in general.

And yes i think it is very area dependent. I was 33 when DD was born and I'd say most of the mums at our baby classes are 30+. All the women at our antenatal classes were between 30 and 40 too. But we attended a taster class in another area and I felt like Methuselah

Does she look young? I was 29 when I had my first. I'm quite small and was probably a bit immature so people assume I'm younger and I got a lot of comments saying how young I was and didn't I want to experience life a bit more.
Tbh it's no one else's business when other people have babies. Even if she was 18 as long as she loves that baby and it's well looked after other people's opinions can do one.

It’s young by today’s standards but it’s rude of people to comment.

I was 28 when I had my first child (31 years ago), that was considered quite old then. Late teenager and early 20s pregnancies were very common.
I can't see why anyone would think 26 is too young, if both parents feel ready of course.

26 great age to get pregnant.

It depends on your area.

I had DD at 21 and felt geriatric at the first toddler group I went to. I moved a year later and felt completely out of place with all the mums in their 30s and like they looked down on me.

I know someone else who chose to have a baby at that age, both her and her partner had left school at 16, she had been to college and trained as a nursery nurse and he was a mechanic. They had been together for 6 years and had a stable place to live.

Other 21 year olds might still be studying and partying and a very long way from having babies.

I had my wee son in August, at 38. I’m dead on my feet and I reckon it might be a wee bit easier if I had had him at your friend’s age!

I was pregnant at 32 and I’m one of the youngest Mums of my daughter’s peer group.

It’s rude to comment as others have said and it’s all relative.

I’ve just had my DD 6 weeks ago, I’ll be 24 in June.

I had those comments too, but like your friend, and like I told them, we’ve been together 6 years, brought a house together 3 years ago, both in stable professional careers.. I’ve never had an interest in travelling the world, I prefer to holiday than travel long term.. I’m very much a home bird and just wanted to settle down and have my family. So we did and I have absolutely no regrets.

I suffer with generalised anxiety and panic disorder and it used to get so bad I wouldn’t leave the house on my own. Now I’ve had DD I love to take her out with me, As cringe as it sounds.. I don’t feel alone anymore, even though she’s can’t talk and she’s asleep 97% of the time we’re out, I don’t feel that overwhelming loneliness.

Congratulations to your friend

Well she's 2 years older than I was . Nobody said anything then about me being too young, unless they said it behind my back of course...

When I was 26 dd1 was 11😂😂😂

If I was her I’d be pointing out that most people of her parents generation would have been on their third by that age!

Pregnant at 26 with my first, gave birth at 27. Got a well paid job, got pregnant at 29, bought a house and just gave birth 24 days ago to my second, just short of my 30th birthday. I don’t feel young to give birth but also don’t feel old. This was the perfect time for me.

I had my first at 26 (one month away from 27) . It's not too young- it's been fine for me!

Too young? Ideal age.