How old were you when you had your last baby.

[summerfinn]

I was 22 having my first and will be 37 having my last. Just wanted to see is 37 a common age for having your last baby. I never dreamt I'd be pregnant at 37 . I always thought that it was a bit old. Now I'm scared that I'm just being selfish and could have a baby with lots of issues.

39. I should have been 40 but he decided to arrive five weeks early.

Literally nobody said that though. People are only suggesting it as a possibility. OP said she was worried that it might be a possibility. It might. Why is that so offensive to say?

I was a teen mum. It wouldn't offend me if somebody said it might not be the best idea to have a baby as a teenager and that they were worried about it. It's perfectly normal to have these concerns. All ages bring different worries to the table.

If somebody said "well all older mums are shit mums" then yes that would be offensive but nobody is saying that.

I was 24.

Why are you so offended by facts? Older mothers do have a higher risk of having a baby with issues. I didn't make up a scientific fact, nature did. Unfortunately as women age so do our eggs. If you are offended by that then maybe stay off Mumsnet and go home and get into your wardrobe wrap yourself in bubble wrap and never leave. I don't have as much energy as I did when I was in my early twenties having my first. Another fact of getting older. I get that nowadays women are having children older and older but in an ideal world I would have met my partner earlier and be done having children but we don't live in an ideal world.

First at 18, second at 21, happy accident at 34. Youngest, now 21 has ASD

27

Gosh, I shall scurry to my wardrobe forthwith <doffs cap>. I really can't imagine who you think you are, but I know lots of women that had kids in their late thirties and not a single issue amongst them, but thats not what the OP insinuates therefore implying that having a baby at 22 is actually a good idea. I'm really not sure why this thread has become all about bashing me when my opinion is just as valid as anyone else's. Kids having kids is never a good idea, my children have all sorts of opportunities through the things I've done professionally let alone personally in the years I was 22-35 and I certainly am a much better parent because I had matured. I can't even say that I was an immature teenager as I picked up young caring responsibilities for my terminally ill dad from about age 11 until 18 when he died, so I'd probably dealt with more at that age than most. I still needed time to find me though and that would have been 1000 times harder with a baby or two in tow. My opinion. Just as valid as anyone else's. Now can everyone just fuck off and bully someone else!

35 but still debting having a third at 39. Lots of my peers are still having babies.

I agree that your post is pretty offensive.

Why is offensive. My worry's are real not fictional. I don't think women are supposed to be having babies into their 40s. Late thirties is risky enough. You can't get offended by the facts of nature. I'm almost 37 and pregnant with my third child. I would have liked to be done having children at 30. But my life hasn't happened that way.

@TheSnootiestFox the audacity of you complaining about biological facts and then spewing that. Calm down! You sound like you have a massive chip on your shoulder. Why?

First and only (by choice, I always wanted just the one! at 28. I know fantastic and terrible parents of all ages - parental age is pretty irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

37 (two weeks off 38) for my second and final.
I wish I'd had them earlier.

21 for my first (who's now 17), and 35 for my second (who's now almost 3).

Is also a “fact of life” that , while being an older mum entails more risks in preg/ childbirth, children with older mothers tend to be healthier,
perform better at school and have fewer emotional, social and behavioural problems, compared to children of younger mums.
theres so much stigma still against having children later, even though these days is both normal, and generally beneficial to kids.

Oops just saw this is a zombie 🙈

I was 26, 27 and 30 when I had mine. Where we live/kids school we were probably on the younger side although there were a quite a few similar age to us but also lots 5-10 years older.

Had my second and last two weeks before turning 44

first baby at 19
second and last! baby at 41
Really lucky to have had such positive pregnancies and happy ,healthy kids. I am so greatful with my lot!

@TheSnootiestFox Kids having kids is never a good idea, my children have all sorts of opportunities through the things I've done professionally let alone personally in the years I was 22-35 and I certainly am a much better parent because I had matured.
How arrogant! Plenty are mature at 22, more so than many 40 year-olds. And 22 isn't a 'kid' in the way that a 16/17 year old having a child is a 'kid having a kid'.
One doesn't have to have a degree or a career to be a good parent for christ's sake
But well done you for using your professional and personal experience to provide all the opportunities for your kids. Please remember though, that many young, (relatively) uneducated people have managed to do the same without being all holier than thou about it

38 for my first & 42 for my second (and last).

Would have had them earlier but life didn't pan out that way. I remember thinking after my first "this (motherhood) is a young woman's game" as I had a lot more energy aged 22 than 38, tbh.

I love my children to bits and motherhood, whilst challenging at times, is without doubt the best thing I've ever done and I'm very, very grateful to have my two. I have several dear friends who have had unsuccessful rounds of IVF with all the emotional and financial implications that has brought.

I wish you a happy and healthy pregnancy, OP x

I disagree, and stating a fact isn't arrogance. How can a 22 year old possibly be more mature than a 40 year old? I was still working my way around the US at that age, had no professional qualifications save a couple of City and Guilds, no home of my own and precious little life experience apart from University and travelling. The 22 year olds having babies may not even have that. My father always said he wouldn't consider me an adult until I reached about 25 which outraged the teenage me, and as I was 18 when he died we never got there, but now as an over 50 with teenagers I understand him completely!

I was 3 months short of my 47th birthday, didn't know I was pregnant until about 22 weeks in.

You are being obtuse. Of course a 22 year-old can be more emotionally mature thana 40 year old. It will depend on experience (life and emotional) and a whole host of other factors.
I had a cousin who had never left home, went to work in a shoe shop, stayed there all her working life. No boyfriend ever, only 1 friend (girl). Didn't go out, didn't engage in world events. So yes, she was mature in age, but not in any emotional way
So what if a 22 year old without a degree or your type of travel experience has a baby? So bloody what? It does not make her any less mature than you with your 'experience'.

I think a 22 year old can be just as mature if not more so than a 40 year old. I work with a 19 year old (I am 38). She really has her head screwed on. She absolutely amazes me with her maturity at such a young age. Yes she is still 19, there will be lots she hasn't experienced yet but I could absolutely imagine her coping well with a baby and being a fantastic mother. Age is irrelevant to how good a mother you can be.
Age often comes with more money, which is useful, but it has it's draw backs that your children will probably have you for less time. There is no perfect age to have kids, every stage has benefits and drawbacks. I started at 31 and wish I had started 5 or 6 years earlier, but equally I am still tempted by another baby now.

I'm not being anything of the sort, I just disagree with you. It is allowed!