To want a baby at 36

[Hg176]

In a stable, loving relationship and want to have a baby. Just turned 36 in July. This wasn’t really on the cards before as I’ve been so career focused.

I’m worried I’ve left it too late and everything around ‘geriatric’ pregnancy is scaring the life out of me! AIBU?

Had son at 36, a week before I was 37! The only thing re age mentioned I remember was a note on hospital file mentioning the word age, but was never said to me re any possible issues, and there weren't any! Go for it, and best of luck.

Adding to the list of older mothers. I had mine at 37, 39 and 41. They are now 14,12 and 11. All doing well and, although it's tiring, that's probably because I go to bed really late.

I'm 43 and sat cuddling my beautiful sleeping little 5mth old daughter, while her brother age 3 watches Moana.
Definitely not too old :)

I had my DD at 34, you're not too old at all!

My partner was 40 when we had our first and only child.

I think it's a great age personally.

I had mine at 33 and I was the youngest in my NCT group. We had two mums in their early 40s. I'm planning my second now and I'll hopefully be 35 or 36 by the time they are born. I haven't ruled out trying for another after that though my DH probably has

Yes, the older you get the riskier pregnancy is in some respects, but it is just one of a number of risk factors including obesity, genetics and just dumb luck.

And those are just the factors related to physical health. A lot of people are better prepared to be parents emotionally and financially in their 30s than their 20s.

In summary, go for it

Just crack on!

Have a baby! Plenty of people have babies when they are 36 and over. You'll be fine.

I had dd at 36 and ds3 at 40.
I wouldn't consider 36 old at all, either in fertility terms or physical parenting.

23 years ago I was pregnant with DD and was referred to as "geriatric". I was 29. I couldn't believe it! I had my second at 42. Nobody used that term in front of me thankfully as I was far from geriatric. You are young, go for it!

Phew this thread is reassuring. I found myself broody for a second at 36 but we're not quite in the position to have one yet, and I often get the niggle that I'm pushing it with my age. Sounds like we're fine OP!

I'm 30 next year, most of my friends haven't even thought about having kids yet. I think having children mid 30s is pretty common these days..it certainly isn't old.

I think it’s a pretty standard age to have a baby these days.

I’m 36 and don’t feel too old to have a baby, though I don’t cope so well with lack of sleep now as I did in my early 20s when I had mine. I won’t be having one as I have teenagers and there’s no way in hell I’d go back to nappies. But if I didn’t have kids I’d go for it. Personally I’d want to be done by 40 so I’d be cracking on with it.

Don't worry about it but do get on with it! Best of luck! I was geriatric when I had my first too.

I think 36 is fine. I understand you feel your window of opportunity to be closing, but you've got plenty of time to try yourself and get tests and treatments if needed (in the future).

Just answering the question in your thread OP of course YANBU ! Personally I don’t regard 36 as an older pregnancy anyway but everyone’s view is different. Good luck !

I had
DC2 at 38
DC at 39

DC3 ^

I'm 35 and 32 weeks pregnant, I had my son at 31 and I don't feel any different at all in this pregnancy than previous one

Do not see myself as 'geriatric' at all, and no one medical has treated me as such either

Go for it! :) x

Not too old, and entirely your decision to make.
"Geriatric pregnancy" is an awful term.

I had my boy at 36, didn't feel old or too old at all. I was glad I waited until I was personally ready.

36 is an entirely unremarkable age to have a baby. As for the term geriatric, an elderly relative of mine was described as that decades ago for having a baby when she was 28. Most people I know in my circle of friends start their families in their thirties.

It’s a good age to start as gives you a couple years to have a second if you decide you want another

I had DS at 39. My friend had her youngest at 49.

@WhatAWasteOfOranges

It’s a good age to start as gives you a couple years to have a second if you decide you want another

Totally agree with this