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Original poster

What age do YOU personally think is too old for YOU to have a/more babies and why?

194 replies

Jaaxe · 19/01/2023 18:30

Just curious as to what age you’d stop having babies and why? How old would be too old for you and why? I’ve just had a baby and I thought I’d be done after this one but now im not so sure, it all seems pretty final to say im done but maybe I am….maybe it’s the hormones, I certainly don’t want another anytime soon or maybe even at all but then I wonder if I did decide im not done how old is too old :/ perhaps im just feeling like this as this one was meant to be my last one…

OP posts:
Parrotid · 19/01/2023 18:32

I’m 52. I would get on with it if I got pregnant now. It won’t happen but I would be ok with it if it did.

IneedanewTV · 19/01/2023 18:33

Individual’s choice. I would never want to say what age a women should stop as it’s so easy to be prescriptive if you were lucky to meet the father of your children at a younger age. I didn’t meet anyone that I would like to have a child with until I was 35. My last child was born near my 40th birthday. Some would say that’s too old. I don’t think so as there wasn’t a lot of choice about it.

allgoodthings84 · 19/01/2023 18:33

I’m pregnant and 38. I definitely don’t think I’ll have more as I’m so worried about miscarriage or things being wrong now. It will be my second child.

devildeepbluesea · 19/01/2023 18:35

I’m 49. Highly unlikely and probably would be the second coming, but I’d be fine, similar to @Parrotid . I did have my only at nearly 40 though, and still fit as a flea.

bakewellbride · 19/01/2023 18:35

35 final cut off for me if just talking in theory but I had my last at 32.

AuuYSC · 19/01/2023 18:35

28

I had my last baby in October (second) and I got sterilised, knew I didn't want anymore and honestly I'm buggered running after a toddler, training to be a nurse and having a new born. I never ever want to be pregnant or have another baby again - happy with the two I have.

But it's a personal choice and everyone's threshold is different.

lili2308 · 19/01/2023 18:36

In the ideal world I would love to have kids out of the house (ie 18+) by the time I'm in early 50s. For me it's not driven by when is too old to have them but rather a desire to have that post kid 'freedom' when I'm still young. I've seen some relatives have that and it looks amazing.

bobby81 · 19/01/2023 18:36

When I was younger I would have said 35. Now I think 40.
As it happens I had my 2 DCs in my 20s and various circumstances meant I didn't have anymore.

YellowHpok · 19/01/2023 18:37

For me personally, 37. Because I am knackered. I am so done.

laurwalsh · 19/01/2023 18:38

39, and although I always wanted a third I wouldn't now as I'd be so nervous. I've just had a friend loose her twins at 30 weeks abs she was 39

thaegumathteth · 19/01/2023 18:38

I had my youngest at 29. If life hadn't worked out that way I wouldn't have said no to anymore children after that though. Hard to know hypothetically.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 19/01/2023 18:38

I was done when I had DC 2 at 23. I am 32 now and there is no way I'd have another child.

Everyone is different.

Honper · 19/01/2023 18:42

Congratulations on your baby!

I was psychologically done by late 30s. That wasn't about my age though - it was because my kids were in school and I didn't want to go back to the baby/toddler stage. The further I got from it the less I wanted to go back.

I think that's relatively common but it can go the other way - I have a few friends who missed having very young kids around and promptly got up the duff once their youngest was in reception hahaha.

Prior to that I always wanted to have another baby for 12 months after the previous one was born. Childbirth made me high, I think!

I think you will get a huge variety of responses because women are fertile for a few decades and the "having young kids" life stage can happen at any point within that. It can also happen more than once!

ShamedBySiri · 19/01/2023 18:42

Parrotid · 19/01/2023 18:32

I’m 52. I would get on with it if I got pregnant now. It won’t happen but I would be ok with it if it did.

My neighbour surprised us all - and herself - by having a baby st 52.

We were pretty surprised by the first one which must have been in her mid forties. And I speak as someone who had her first at 40 and second at 42. Maybe if I'd had lots of money - no need to work, additional hired help as needed - I might have rolled the dice one more time but I think I'd have had a superstitious thought that I was pushing my luck.

Being an older mother has its challenges and honestly I wish it had all happened ten years younger but I hadn't met my husband then. 🤷‍♀️

ContadoraExplorer · 19/01/2023 18:43

I had my second at 38 and don't intend on any more but I think that if I hadn't had my two and wanted a baby I'd probably go as far as 41/42 to try.

Its obviously different for everyone but I'm knackered at this age running around after them so I wouldn't fancy being any older.

MumUndone · 19/01/2023 18:44

I have two kids and I'm 40, couldn't have another now, I'm knackered.

user8545 · 19/01/2023 18:46

30, because I'd already had mine by 27. Wouldn't want to go back to it now and don't think it would be fair on the kids. Really enjoying my 30s with more freedom, filled with giddy thinking about my 40s!

user8545 · 19/01/2023 18:46

Filled with giddy...definitely mixed 2 metophors there BlushGrin

Bellabon · 19/01/2023 18:48

I would say 35/36 for me personally. I had my first at 29 - he's now 15 months and I may be one and done to be honest 😂 we shall see!

Nutrigrainygoodness · 19/01/2023 18:48

I have always said I wouldn't have a baby after 30. I don't know why, I'm 31 now and am completely sure I have made the right decision. l was one and done.
I love the life I have now and a baby would ruin that. The chances of me getting pregnant are precisely 0 so I'm all good.

LaFemmeDamnee · 19/01/2023 18:48

I was 35 when I had my second and in myself I felt that was pushing it really. I'm 41 now and knackered, I wish I'd been able to have them a bit younger but it didn't work out that way.

Favouritefruits · 19/01/2023 18:49

early 40s would be my cut off, I don’t want to do the school run and sit around in soft plays in my 50s I want to sunbathe on a beach!

Dacadactyl · 19/01/2023 18:50

30 would've been my upper limit for a planned child. I am 37 currently and had my children when I was 21 and 26.

If I got pregnant again accidentally, I would have a baby at any age, even into my 50s.

Tapitandunwrapit · 19/01/2023 18:51

It’s a personal choice! I had my first at 32 and last at 40 and I would have had more if I could. My friend had her one and only at 44. I personally wasn’t ready in my 20s but my friends who had kids then were horrified at the thought of having a baby in their 40s. I think once you’re out of baby mode/baby mind you are done. If I wanted a baby, I’d keep going until my body said no! Everyone’s experience is different and if you want one and can try, why not. Positive thoughts to anyone TTC, especially after a loss. It’s all encompassing.

TerfOnATrain · 19/01/2023 18:52

32 for me. I’d had two by 31 and that was enough. In 1997 that felt quite old.