How old is too old for baby #3?

[OohIdreameditagain]

How old is too old for ttc baby #3?

Id love another child, but can’t realistically ttc for another 6/7 months due my company Mat
policy but I’m a bit concerned about leaving it too late.

how old is too old for number 3?

Yes of course- if I have a third I’ll let you all make it too - it’s only fair

Absolutely agree with @VisionsOfSplendour - and also convinced that having a baby later than 35 will consign everyone to a life of misery/ill health/exhaustion etc. Everyone's life journey is unique - you know what's right for you. Good luck with whatever you decide

For me, about 37/38 for the third. That would have been the point where I thought, “y’know what, I’d like three but I’m getting older and I’m happy with two”.

But (off topic!) if I’d had no children, I’d have continued trying until I was in my late forties tbh. Not optimal at all, but I really wanted to be a parent.

Well I guess the ‘natural’ cut off is about 45 as most women would not conceive naturally past that point.

But it’s up to you. I had my second a few days before I turned 43 and that was my absolute upper limit. I’d actually decided to stop trying and a few weeks later realised I was pregnant!

I do wince a little at all the "Am I too old for a baby?" threads with everyone assuring the OP that they knew someone who had a baby at 45 and it was all fine....

I had DS2 at 41- would rather have had him earlier, but it just didn't happen that way. Now, I wouldn't be without him, but experiencing perimenopause with a young child to look after ain't the greatest, I can tell you that.

(I know someone who is pregnant at 45 right now- a surprise natural conception after decades of TTC naturally. Obviously, I tell her it's all going to be fine....it's not going to be exactly fine, but all things considered she'll never regret having this baby, so 🤷‍♀️)

i was 2 months away from turning 38 when i had my 3rd. he's 2 in a months time so obviously approaching my 40th. 40 was always my cut off and i'm a little sad that I won't be having anymore. He's been a fairly easy baby and slept so well but my god he's active compared to my older girls.

Oh and I’m 34 but I’d be a few months of 35 before I could ttc

You're still super young in my books! Most of my friends were only having their first baby at that age or older.

As a Woman who just turned 40 and is pregnant with her first (due to the circumstances of life) threads like these never fail to make me feel like shit.

I could have kids in my 20s or 30s but they'd either have been saddled with some dipshit waste of space Father and/or have gone without due to finances.

Did the right thing, considered the child over myself, waited until the time and the relationship was as right as it might ever be, and now I'm roundly considered to be at death's door and condemning my child to be a young orphan. God forbid we were to consider a sibling in a year or two.

You’re the age I’d be if I ever decide to go for number 3. I like big age gaps but I think having a baby after 35 would just be the death of me! Not sure how my body would cope tbh.

congratulations on your pregnancy!

but if it makes you feel like shit, why click and read and comment?

Had my 3rd at 31….certainly wouldn’t have left it any later

Same here. The early years were ok but now I'm menopausal and physically and mentally exhausted.

It just depends on biology - if you know you definitely want another, don’t leave it to late.

Other than that it’s your personal choice, people are very different about that.

I’d realistically be over 35 though, especially when factoring in ttc and then delivery

Just before 42. ( She was great, very energetic and interested in everything so kept me young!)

Currently in my 70s, looking after dgd aged 3, she's doing the same!

Oh for god sake OP, you are young!

That’s what I mean, what’s too late though?

That seems like a completely average type age to me?

So why not pass on by….you don’t have to read the thread…..no way would I have had a baby at 40….but you are…that’s fine

Well some on the thread have said that early 30s would see them done, so I guess it’s all relative

I started TTC when I was 26. Didn’t have DC1 until I turned 36 and now expecting DC2 at 37. Undecided if we’ll try for a third after never expecting to have a second but personally 40 is my cut off for what would be best for our family but everyone is different and sometimes the journey you end up having isn’t the one you expect. I thought it would take us a while to conceive but never 9 years. In another life I’d have been done by 30.

Don't feel bad, there are so many ridiculous comments on here, apparently you are bound to die a premature death or have the worst menopause while dealing with the worlda toughest teen or suffer permanent exhaustion

Meanwhile in the real world there are hundreds of thousands of women over 40 with young children getting on with perfectly normal lives.

For myself I had no 3 at 31, I wouldn't have wanted to go past 35/36.

Had 2nd at 39. She's 6 now. I'm perimenopausal but we manage fine. No regrets at all. She keeps me active ,& young.