How old were you when your clock started ticking?

[catsonmysocks]

I am 30 next year, and in the last year I have felt more and more aware of my bio clock. Up until this point I've felt I have all the time in the world, assumed all okay health wise and concentrated on other things - buying a house, work, saving etc etc.

I now look around me and many people my age already have children - some even say they're done having them now. And then there are those around 10 years younger than me having children. I don't feel or think I look young anymore, and worry about how much longer I can wait. It feels like my generation has moved forward on to the next stage in life whereas i am stuck where I am.

I know women have children in their 40s, but I think it's a big risk to wait until then and assume all will be ok because I may not even be fertile by that point. But I don't think I will ever be ready financially, Job wise etc etc. I just feel time is running out I suppose

Please can someone tell me I'm being ridiculous?

It didn’t but I had two anyway.

I always knew I wanted children but from about 25 I began getting increasingly broody.
Dh and I had our first a couple of days before I turned 29.

25, I went a bit mad. BUT I got over it, the relationship I was in wouldn’t have worked out and I knew we couldn’t have a baby. Now I’m 30 and I’ve not felt broody since then. Tbh I’ve felt a lot freer since I’ve started to consider what my life might look like without children.

I’ve just turned 40 and thought we wanted children around 6 years ago when we married. Despite trying, Nothing happened and I didn’t feel the urge to go down the ivf route. I thought turning 40 may have triggered a desire to make it happen no matter what the cost, but nope, love our lives now and particularly with the current lockdown situation I am actually thankful it never happened for us.

I always looked forward to having children, I babysat as a teenager and used to imagine that my little charges were mine. I'm from a large happy family (5th of 6 children, all of us close in age). By the time I was 25 I had 12 nieces/nephews and couldn't wait for 'my turn' - so probably 25.

In my 20s I was told that I would never conceive. I managed this. But then at 35 the clock ticked loudly. I did all I could to make it happen and at 39 I was a mother.

However, I was financially secure and believe that it's made me a better mother than I would have been if younger in terms of the rich life experiences I have.

Not until I had dc1, who was planned, but not because i desperately wanted a child. I really felt it kick.in when.we started trying for dc2.

I was desperate to be a Mother,I wanted to be no older than 25.

I had a miscarriage at 28 and my first baby at 30.

I’m 29 and my clock still hasn’t started ticking. Sometimes I think “oh it might be nice” but then remember how relentless being a nanny to a baby was and think oh god motherhood would be a million times worse. A lot of my friends have had children/are starting to think about having them. My mum is desperate for grandchildren. I feel guilty but I just don’t want them at all yet, it all seems so tedious. Not sure if it will change

Is there something wrong with me? I was broody from about twelve. I can remember it so clearly - I used to pretend I was pushing a pram along whenever I was on my own!

I didn't even start my periods until I was 16, so no idea where it came from biologically.

32, we had DS when I was 36.

I always wanted a baby, certainly. I'd say broodiness really hit around my mid twenties. Got married, bought a house and had ds1 at 29. Since had ds2 at 32. I do know quite a few people who've left it much later though.

Didn't ever think about it but I suppose it started the day I was born! It must be almost ticked over now :-).

Mine never did. I'm 58 now.

I fell pregnant at 21 and mc, then I had my DS at 24, followed by my 2nd DS at 27 and my DD at 30. I wanted one more but my ex had the snip so that door was closed. I think it was different then and people are now waiting longer to have their DC. My DS will be 1 this year and his GF is 27, they bought a place together last year and got 2 kittens, which has made them think its time to start a family, but this virus has made them rethink about the timing (they also may discover they dont get pregnant easily). My other DS is 27 and also bought his first home last year, he got engaged in January and they have just got a lovely little whippet and want to get another dog, Him and fiance are not sure they want DC as they have a large mortgage and both need to work. Then my youngest DD is 25 and lived at home , her BF is 20 and lives here too, she is studying for a degree to become a teacher, so a long way off having DC yet. I would say having DC is very personal to your own circumstances but I do understand about the biological clock. I know lots of people who had their first DC in their mid thirties and a few over 40 but as I say its very down to whether you are in the right situation,relationship etc.

sorry just realised a typo my DS wont be 1 this year he will be 31, he would be a very advanced one year old to be starting a family :)

33. Had DS1 at 34, and DS2 when I was 36.

Probably around 32 here, wasn't at all bothered before then. Had them at 34 and 38.

@BertieBotts you're not alone, I was desperately broody by 12/13 and knew I wanted kids young. Had my eldest when I was 20.

I'm not sure mine ever did! I always thought I would have them and now have two but there wasn't a sudden switch.

I've always felt it on some level. I think it's partly because I did an MSci in Genetics so there were too many occasions where I saw the effect age can have.

But I really felt it at 28 which is when we started trying for a baby. I'm very fortunate though, I met my DH when we were 16. If I hadn't met him when I did I could easily see me having babies in my mid to late 30's because I'd need to spend more time building my career and getting to know the potential life partner before having children.

We had our first baby last year when I was 29.

Mine never did.

35

31, just after I got married.

There is no such thing. It's all brainwashing. From a young age it is drummed into us ladies that having kids is the natural path. We're given baby dolls to play with ect...all rather cringe really. So we hit an age where we start to feel something is missing in our lives and are predisposed to thinking it's a baby. It isnt.