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?

27 was when it really hit - DS was born when I was 31 and DS2 is due when I'm 33.

My cousin started trying at 30 and didn't conceive her first till 40 so I never wanted to hang around in case I struggled, especially as I'd had a few gyno issues in my 20s that I was worried might affect conception.

I remember going to the doctor to tears at 29 because I wanted to know if I could conceive or not and I was petrified I'd left it too late (!) - she said there was no way to know without trying and (in a nice way) to stop being so ridiculous! I had some low level anxiety at the time which was clouding my thinking.

30 on the dot.

29. Like someone hit a switch overnight.

Thankfully, it STFU by the time I was about 32 and I escaped unscathed.

Hey Wanderlust21 - thanks for speaking on behalf of all women. I'm so glad you turned up to correct us all and let us know how we actually feel/felt.

Around 26, and since then have been purposefully working towards having a child.

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.

Voice of reason. Listen carefully OP.

It didn't. I was horrified when I found out I was pregnant (planned). However, I love my daughter dearly.

29/30

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

I disagree.

I’ve never wanted children. Neither had my husband. We established that very early on and got married on that basis. When I was 29, I literally woke up one morning with his visceral need to have a baby.

Luckily, it passed and I got back to normal after a few years but it was a very real biological impulse.

26. Had first at 27, second at 30. Now nearly 33 and think I’m done

I was 29 but no clock - I definitely didn't want them - then accidents happen and I couldn't have an abortion so had my DS. 6 years later - remarried and had my second.

It didn’t. I was caught by surprise at 21 and now have 3 dc and my family was complete by 25. It wasn’t on my radar but I’m glad I had them young. Who knows if the clock would have ticked at a certain point otherwise.
I didn’t want dc st all until I had my first surprise

Mine never did. I got pregnant accidentally every time on the pill, implant etc. Very young and naively. If I had choice I don’t think I would of had kids. (Doesn’t mean I don’t love them though!)

My clock has never ticked either. I never envisaged motherhood when I was growing up and never felt the need as an adult. I did wonder a few years ago but it was fleeting. I'm rolling towards 40 now.

I was 29 when I really started wanting a baby. But I didn't meet my exh for another 6 years and didn't have my first baby til 38 and second at 42. So there is still plenty of time!

Always knew I wanted kids, no question, but no real urge as was still young. Got pregnant at 24 (unplanned) and then had a strong urge for a second a couple of years later - and that second baby is now a month old!

Mine hasn’t started. And I’m mid 30s and pregnant. Wish me luck!

I was 29/30 although it wasnt so much a clock ticking as a sudden change in where I saw my life going. Throughout my 20s I wasnt sure If I'd have children. I didn't not want them but I couldnt picture them in my life. I remember suddenly taking more of an interest in passing babies then one day in asda I had an urge to go and have a look at the newborn baby clothes and after that I knew it was something I wanted sooner rather than later

PLEASE do NOT assume you have time on your side. Nothing is a given in the world of fertility and the human body. You only have to go over to the Infertility threads to see how many people think they have time on their side to then have a reality-check that they don’t.

I had my first at 20 as well - in hindsight I was much too young and with totally the wrong person but oh well.

33 for me. First sign was feeling 'odd' when people announced pregnancy. I slowly realised I was jealous. I also started dreaming about babies constantly!

When I was 34, we had settled in our own house and I just felt ready. I fell pregnant pretty much straight away bit it was another five years before we actually had a baby.

I wanted them more than anything from about the age of 12. It wasn't conditioning, my family is very bohemian - no one is pushed into anything or made to feel one way or the other, it was just in me. I got incredibly broody at about 26 but my DH is 3 yrs younger than me and wanted to wait a few years so we had an agreement that I could have one before I was 30. I had DS at 29 and DD at 33. I’d have loved another two but DH didn’t want more. I’m still broody now at 41!

I was very young 19-20 when I started becoming obsessed with getting pregnant. My DP at the time was older and ready to have kids so we were parents by the time I was 21. Looking back I realise how messed up I was due to various childhood traumas and though my now almost 16 year old son has been very loved all his life I do wish I’d had him much later than I did. I look back at the girl I was and just despair.

I had my DD young and was convinced for years that I didn't want any more. Age 29 I started panicking and thought how can I get pregnant! I even considered a sperm donor. I came to my senses and I realised I was just panicking as I know I won't be fertile forever (I do still think about it sometimes).

Have you looked into freezing your eggs?
I don't know much about the procedure or cost. But the figures of how many eggs you have left after 30 is quite scary if you are planning to get pregnant - obviously people do still conceive but it does get harder.