Is it too late for a third baby?

[Yolo12345]

I’m fit and healthy and have two children - 9 and 7…but I really feel I would like one more child. The thing is I’m 47…. I still have periods…and have lots of energy…, so AIBU?

You really don't want a preteen at 58. The feeling will pass.

Totally agree.

It would be my worst nightmare, both my children will be adults when I’m your age and I would hate to have a baby now let alone then. But you feel differently so I’m not sure what you will get from asking on here when it’s such a personal decision.

Way to late.

Enjoy your life and the children you have.

Paying for university in your late 60s wouldn’t be something I would be planning for in my retirement

No - do what’s best for the potential future child. That is, don’t impose an elderly parent on it as it’s starting its adult life.

This. It's not fair on the child.

Yes it’s too late. And I say that as somebody who had a third at 40. Adore the third but wouldn’t want to be any older when they hit teens/early adulthood

I would say yes it’s too late think of the long term too and how it would affect the child you are 47 now you would be 64 by the time they finished secondary school (if you are UK based) also think of how it would affect your other two children too

Yes
I have friends your age that are on their second grandchild
There’s more to life than having babies

Too late. You need to find something else in life to fulfill you now. You need a goal, whatever that is.

Sorry but yes. IVF required. High chance of complications and DS.

I’d give it a try, but in the knowledge it might not happen.

IMO, yes. I’d hate to be ten and having a mum who is 57.

Honestly I wouldn't more for not wanting a teen still at home and in school when I want to retire.

But only you know what you want your situation to look like when you are approaching 70.

I had my first at 29. He is 22 and at uni 200 miles away. I had to do the 8 hour trip and help lug boxes to my car. He was worried about me driving so far in this heat.

I was very mindful that I had my youngest at 40 so will be doing the same for her in my sixties.

Would you want to be doing that in your almost 70s?

I know lots of his peers at that uni don't go home but all of his school mates are back at home during summer, Christmas and Easter. You normally are still very dealing with big life changes as they become young adults.

It's not too late, but look far ahead.

I must say this is also true. My 12 year old isn't chuffed I'm 52. I'm not the oldest mum but she frequently brings up that I'm old. My 14 year old doesn't feel like this as I was 38 when I had him. Being past 40 seems like a big deal with her mates

Babies/toddlers take up an awful lot of time and attention just catering to their physical needs. You need to assess whether you would still have enough left to give your 2 existing children the attention they will need as they enter the phase of leaving primary/starting secondary, bearing in mind a likely depletion in energy levels over the next 5 years.

Also, there are so many fun things you can do easily with older kids that would be much more difficult with a little one in tow e.g. theme parks, water parks, hiking, museums, theatre, cinema, adventure activities like Go Ape, camping - would the older ones miss out because family life will revolve around the little one?

I think it is too late, but maybe consider whether you'd find fulfilment in retraining to work in a nursery. You could be around babies/toddlers all day but hand them back! And I think nurseries are usually staffed by fairly young, child free women, so you could really fill a gap.

9 and 7 are great ages, enjoy them! You do not want a newborn thrown in the mix, that's aside from all the health risks that come from being 47.

I mean that's not ideal! Can't imagine being a grandma yet lol!

But you could imagine being a new mother?
You are not young at 47 years old

Nope, I didn't say that. I am 46 and say no to both!

Going against the grain, you’re healthy and had two healthy pregnancies, you could give yourself a year and see if you can get pregnant naturally? I do know someone who had a baby naturally in her late 40s (mum of a friend in primary).
As long as you’re willing to accept the increased risk of miscarriages and have all the prenatal screening and feel like you could cope physically you could see what happens.
I wouldn’t be going down IVF route though when you already have two children

Becoming a grandmother’s not actually in your control it’s not your decision.