Too old to have babies?

[squidwid]

I'm 36 and we have 2 dc. I'd like another maybe 2. Am I insane? Or too old?

I had mine 36, 38 & 42.

It's strange because I feel like I want to work hard and also have children.

I feel like it's in me to do both.

I'd like to have one 37 years old, 37/38. I still feel old enough to work afterwards. Will I feel old all of a sudden if I have another?

If you feel old or not is really a state of mind.

The time will pass whether you work, have babies or anything else. So do what you want to do :)

I had my first at 35 and second at 39. The gap reflects how long it took to conceive including with lots of failed fertility treatments. So if you want two more kids I'd crack on with trying for them.

I’m TTC at 43. I belong a to an over 40s pregnancy Facebook group and it’s amazing how many people have babies well into their forties !

My friend had her second set of twins at 47. Her first set were 17!

Oh wow 😂 very lucky indeed. 🥰

I have twins too 😂

The older you get the more likely and potentially babies will be disabled and the higher the risk of multiple births. Only you know if this is something your family can deal with.

I've got 4 grown up Dc and As much as I love them it just doesn't stop. It seems there's always one who is in some sort of crisis. I feel pretty depleted to be honest. I'd stick to two if I were you !

I had my youngest aged 36, felt absolutely fit and healthy, l am now 54, my son is 17 and to be honest l am exhausted, even though l have looked after myself the menopause has depleted my energy, plus l am a widowed parent, having to do absolutely everything myself as well as working and trying to help out my widowed Mum.
I never envisaged having teenagers in my mid 50s and all that entails, my friends had their children much earlier and their children have all flown the nest. l felt ok until l hit my 50s, but l feel more tired now than when my children were babies, and my self care is really high.

Hard to say about feeling old. I developed health issues after my last which made it very hard looking after a baby. Whether my health issues are related to a late pregnancy I will never know, I personally don’t think so. On my good days I don’t feel too old or my age is an issues, on bad days I feel 30 years older than what I am.

There are a lot of older parents at my DDs school that don’t feel old and most of my antenatal group were older first time parents.

I had my first at 35 and second at 38. I felt a LOT older and more tired the second time round.

I think you know deep down whether you’re able or not. I think you know whether your body and mind are able for it and I think 36 is no way too old to have a child

My friend was 49.

I cannot stop thinking about having another child. It’s always on my mind. I’m 38. My only child is 9. I work full time. But feel I’d do it alone and go part time.

Could that have been related to having a 3yr old and a newborn though, rather than just age?

I think plenty of 20 somethings might say the same with 2 kids under 5yrs.

I had 4th baby at 39.

All I would say is that it's one thing having say 4 under 10. Cute, hard work, rewarding. 4 aged 11 to 20 hard flecking work, spend money faster than you can earn it.

I'm 34 with one 2 yr old but the majority of my mum friends are in their late thirties/early forties with just the one and/or planning a second. My mum was 38 when I was born. As cliche as it is, age is just a number!

If you want 2 more then have them quick. If peri menopause kicks in and your energy levels drop then it is daunting thinking about dealing with everything with less energy. Nothing stops you ageing. The issues I am dealing with with my kids in the 20's is so much more draining than dealing with babies and toddlers and if I get these issues again in 20 years time with the younger ones I will be useless to them.

Mine were born at 38, and 39 and I'm now 16 weeks pg at 41. In my heart I want four but I've told myself I've got to stop at this.
Had to laugh at 36 being too old. Being under that is the 21st century equivalent of a teenager imo!

I came across this article yesterday and found it food for thought as I do in a way agree with the journalist. I am almost 40 and have a 1.5 year old and am trying to decide if should try for a second and husband (42) not currently keen so its a no at moment and know I have v limited time if any left. Thinking about having 2 teens in my mid 50s never mind 4 is def daunting but its personal to everyone and their situation. Good luck with your decision. https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-11958231/LUCY-CAVENDISH-dares-say-No-woman-baby-40.html#article-11958231

While I understand the points Lucy Cavendish is making, that's an incredibly cold article from an unhappy, resentful sounding woman! If I was her daughter I'd find that upsetting to read at any time, whether now or in future.

I'm an older mum and still at the stage where I can't imagine I'd be any more or less tired if I was ten years younger. But am nowhere near the teen years yet!

Insane - yes
Too old - no