is 33 too late for a second baby?

[taylorsweet]

Hi, I have a seven years old DD from my first marriage. i am now happily married second time and my husband loves my little girl. we are thinking of trying for a baby next year sometime but i also want to study for a second degree and i will be 29 this year!
I don't know which one to do first? And my DD keeps asking when she will have a sister or brother? Another degree will be 3 years more so will i be too old at the age of 33?

First at 39, second at 41.

Not brave, that's just how it worked out. If I could have had them sooner I might have done, but then they wouldn't be who they are and that's ok with me.

Again, not brave. Normal. That's why most women still menstruate in their 30s and 40s. So they can conceive children. Normal.

I had DC1 at 22, DC2 at 25 and DC3 at 36.

So, no, not too old and not too big an age gap .

Oh my god this will sound horrible but I really need to get it done with! I don't want to be changing nappies at the age if forty by that time I want to have a teenager and maybe a ten year old! When do you live....I mean go out with your partner enjoy life without having to think about babysitters, nurseries etc etc?

I had dd2 when I was 32. So no you're not too old, but I did feel different in terms of energy and was more knackered than after having dd1 in my twenties, it could be because of having 2 children to deal with, but I do feel my age was a factor. If I could rewind time, I'd have my children mid twenties - having kids is a young persons game

Junebugjr that's exactly how I feel

taylorsweet..... i did an awful lot of living beforehand

having to stop going to the boozer/clubbing/work shindigsso much coincided nicely with not really particularly wanting to go to the boozer/clubbing/work shindigs so much any more....

taylorsweet..... i did an awful lot of living beforehand

having to stop going to the boozer/clubbing/work shindigsso much coincided nicely with not really particularly wanting to go to the boozer/clubbing/work shindigs so much any more....

Oh no I hate clubs or boozing I don't even drink alcohol! Not in that sense but just that quality time together and not having to think about who are we going to leave the kids with!
I think I am definitely having a baby and then if I still want the degree I will do it after......good night all and thank you

Meryl That's how I feel. I do miss going to the pub sometimes, but clubs and all that... noooooo!!

And I'll be back to the pub in a couple of years.

Now you see, this is where I suppose I was lucky.

I lived about 10 lives up to the age of 25. Had a fab job, travelled the world, wanted for nothing and just lived it large.

I therefore, don't feel I ever missed out on anything and am quite happy with my lot now.

My mission in life is to be like my Nans - surrounded by their grandkids, taking them on days out, baking, being 'there'....silly and sentimental but that's what I want in my future. I don't want DD being an only child (although she is going to get the benefits of being an only child in a way - she has been my all for the past 8 years!) I want a big family, extended, madness.

I will happily have just one more but the desire is ridiculously strong and I can't imagine not having any more children.

DD is a blessing though and I do realise I am lucky to have her.

Mmm... Each to their own. Personally I would rather be changing nappies at 42 than 22. I wouldn't have changed that young carefree time of uni, travelling, partying without worrying about babysitters and such. Much happier doing all that now - small children & toddlers. I guess we all need to do what suits us best.

Rustykuntz you've loads of time!! Look at all the lovely ladies ttc in their forties! You'll enjoy it more if you find the right man!

I so totally agree with londonkitty. My mum had me and my sister very young, and while i love her dearly always felt that she resented having her youth curtailed (not that she resented us btw!). Me, on the otherhand, had complete freedom to study, travel, go wild, protest. Went on to have a couple of lovely careers in different fields. Now I am a mother in my 40s I look back and think fab - I grabbed it by both hands and didn't miss out on anything. Most people (not all, granted) stop hankering for wild nights out after a certain point (never thought i would but did). Obviously you can do most of that stuff when you have a baby, but it is much harder. I love being at home with my ds more than anything else the world has to offer, nappies and all. I'm not saying that I wouldn't of had children a bit earlier if it had been possible, but goodness, you seem to think the world will stop when you hit 35. I promise you it doesn't.

I had my 2nd at 43. Not perfect maybe, but very very lovely.

"you are all so brave having babies in your thirties" You must live somewhere with all young mums - most people I know were well into their 30s before they even started. I was 36. All perfectly normal these days!

I am 37 and still trying for no1 ok if things had worked out as planned s/he would be two by now but still

• In 2010, nearly half (48 per cent) of all babies born were to mothers aged 30 and over
• Nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) of fathers were aged 30 and over (excluding births registered solely by the mother)
• The standardised average (mean) age of mothers for all births was 29.5 years in 2010
• For first births the standardised average (mean) age of mothers was 27.8 years in 2010

Data from ONS for 2010, released 2011. Will be quite interesting to see the 2011 and 2012 data; it's been going up steadily for years.

Cornish that is largely my experience too!

Apart from my nephew & his GF who have just had a baby boy at 16 - but they live a world away.

I am in the middle of an interruption from the social work degree. I got pregnant with DC3 during my 2nd year and am now in my 2nd year out of the degree, I go back in september when my youngest will be nearly 2. I am dreading it, it is a tough course, on placement full time and still having to complete assignments during your own time. The first year was a doddle as there was only a 10 day placement. I am really going to miss my dc when I go back but I have to go back otherwise the first two years would be a waste.

Eh? I was 32 when i had DS. My sister was 36 (IVF baby, but first attempt). My friend was 31, another friend was 32. I don't think any of us would consider ourselves brave. In fact, i think people in their 30s might be more settled, more comfortable in their own skin, with their lives, more comfortable financially, in their careers etc etc than a lot of younger women. No disrespect to younger mums at all, i just think 30-somethings might feel they have less to prove and therefore have more confidence in their child raising abilities iyswim?

I am the same.we have 2 at 28 but we bith want to make sure we can a bigger mortgage so we can have our last at 32. most mums i know are that age or lower with a little child.only know of 3 mums in their 40s and 20s is by far the most populat age here so wouldnt want to be the oldest mum iyswim

i was told i was old at 34! id ont think 33 is too old at all

Who on earth told you that? I trust you set them straight.

'I really need to get it done with! I don't want to be changing nappies at the age if forty' - it's not a chore to be ticked off on a list! Childbearing...yup...done that...next!

When do you live? Well, the same as you do now with a 7 year old.

I also did a bit of living when i was in my twenties too, strangely. Went to uni, travelled, had boyfriends, got mortgage, had kids. By which time i was around 30.

Blimey! You do realise you are being daft don't you??

No way. I didn't have my first until I was 34!!