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?

Too late is when you feel it is for you, and no one else.

Or, when you hit menopause.

Well you wouldn't know it, judging by most of the threads on MN.

But in any case I thought I was quite clearly referring to the potential Fathers in my own younger life, not anyone else's.

I felt broody for number 3 when my youngest started school (I was 36-37) but my DH age was just as much a factor ( he was over 50) So we didn't do it.
No regrets.

I feel financially secure considering we’re both mid 30s, we’re reasonable earners (high 50s each) even better if funded nursery places for 1 year olds come to fruition. My health for the most part is good, ibs but no actual health conditions. Probably do need to go on a health kick and get in better shape. I feel I could do it, my second pregnancy I felt pretty bad but I wonder if that was in part how close my first and second were together

I totally agree with this. Ageing varies so much from person to person.

I come from a family who really don't see ageing as a barrier. My parents are 70 and 71, both of them play competitive sport, one of them does 3 sports competitively and one travels round the world competing.
They are fit, they have full, busy lives. I see posts from people saying at age 42 that they feel far too tired to consider a baby and Im never sure whether that person is genuinely physically tired or is just worn down from life.

Energy levels don't have to be dropping at age 40, in fact many people are at their prime at this age. In some sports, such as long distance running, peak endurance is in your mid 30s, and many are still competing at the top level in their 40s and even 50s.

There are many perfectly valid reasons for stopping having children young, but there is no reason why you will be over the hill or not be an active parent in your 40s and 50s.

My personal cut off for trying would be 38 but I'd be happy with a surprise at any age.

But many women only have their 1st child at 34/35!

Not all meet Mr Right in their 20s.

I was 34 with my 2nd.
My mum had her 2nd at 37.

Do you have friends or family OP who had their children young? Is that your yardstick?

Almost all my friends were in their early 30s when they had their first child.

I can't believe you are pondering about a 3rd child at only 34 .

You are still very young!

Nowadays most women who've got a career want 10 years or so at it before they start having children.

30-35 seems the norm in my circle for a 1st child.

Had my first at 40!
And I feel so young haha

It depends on the health and vitality of the woman.

If I was in the right relationship I'd have them as late as nature would let me provided I felt fit and healthy.

I do think past 45 is pushing it though.
34/35 is so young!

Some yes but some no, one friend had her first mid 20s but then 2nd early 30s so had a 6+ year gap. Others have been a similar age to me and some don’t have dcs.

im just really starting to think about it because I really would love one but can’t actually do anything about it now

My friend, my sister and my neighbour all had their 3rd at 40, 41 and 42 respectively.

I have friends who had their first at 37 or 38 and complained that they were so tired, but honestly I think its all much of a muchness. I had my first at 30 and looking back it was the most horrifically exhausting time of my life, he never slept. I had my 3rd at 37 and I had a tough patch there too, can't see any difference. Running around after a toddler is awful at any age, I certainly wouldn't have found that easy even at 20. In fact I was probably fitter and healthier at 37 that I was at 20. So it really is subjective to everyone.

I had my 3rd at 32. 11 years later I'm exhausted! But then I have 3 DC with additional needs, and I'm a solo parent. I don't think it would matter how young I was...

I definitely wouldn't have considered another DC after 35.

I think they feel old because they've got older children who are now adults. I don't know, but they're always making comments like "I'm too old for this", "I feel about 80 most days" etc.

For me I already said when dh turn 40 which means I’ll be 37.5 but I then had our 3rd at 34, the first month of ttc as well.
I was 24,30 and 34 when I had mine and the pregnancy that took its toll on me was when I was 30. It was a breeze when I was pregnant at 34 in comparison so I don’t think you’re old.

I'm nearly 37 and expecting my 4th any day now. My eldest is a teenager so I have been a young mum and now an older one. If you had told early 20's me I would still be having children in my late 30's I wouldn't have believed you.

I'm my head I still feel 25 so I don't really think about my age much and this pregnancy has been pretty easy really. Definitely the last though!

I’m 41, my youngest is 2 and I don’t feel too old for another so maybe 45?

It really is a how longs a piece of string question op! Only you will know what feels too old for you, that will vary from woman to woman depending on their circumstances.
i can’t decide whether a third is on the cards for me after the first two have exhausted me! I also don’t think I could do the crippling RTW part time whilst being hammered by nursery fees scenario again. If I had a lotto win however I’d probably go for it.

I'm 36 and have a 10 month old. I would like number 2 when the LO is 3 but I feel that's too old personally. 37 is the cut off for me

I’d say 35. It’s all personal preference though.

Well there is supposed to be government funding for nursery places, if it’s rolled out it’s very unlikely to be rolled back even if a new gov gets In, another reason for my wait a bit approach

It varies, hasnt Gordon Ramsay's wife just had another at 49? Im almost 50 and have teens and young adults , im exhausted and would never cope with teens / young a later, its v hard

But she’s the exception rather than the norm and unlikely to have conceived naturally, most likely frozen embryo or eggs from much younger. Plus they have much larger resources and access to better ivf treatments than the average don’t they. Who knows how long they kept at it, but for the average it doesn’t work out like this, I think these stories provide false hope sometimes

i guess I’m worried about being able to conceive in the first place and any health complications/ potential for loss

Yes its v unusual to have one at 49, i did conceive at 44 but lost , i would say after 40 it is a risk , problems with the pregnancy and child etc, miscarriage