poll about age!

[MumNWLondon]

I was reading the times yesterday (annoying can't post link because now have to pay for their website) was article about women having her first baby at 30 and how all her friends were still waiting. Midwife said all first time mums generally under 20 or over 34 unless it was unplanned.

So - who here is on their first pregnancy, how old are you (and if you don't mind saying was it planned?) if its your second pregnant how old were you first time?

Just nosey really couldn't really believe that 30 was young for a first pregnancy...

33 with first. Very much planned but was not trying for long because I didn't feel ready for then.

i'm 26, will be 27 when its born, (tried for a couple of years on/off) it's our first and it's planned :)

26 and 28, both very much planned. No more for us :)

had always planned to have children but wasn't trying when i had ds1. i was 28 at the end of nov and turned 29 beginning of feb. ds 2 was planned he was born nov 05 when i was 30

I am 31. I will have just turned 32 when I have my first baby in a few weeks. This baby was very much planned. Depending on the success of this one (!) we will hopefully have another in the next 2 or 3 years. Not planning on more than 2, at the moment anyway

I was 23 when conceived and 24 when I pop him out. First and planned

I was 23 when DS was born - although it was a surprise that it happened so quickly, DH and I had decided that we would stop using contraception and just wait and see, so technically planned. For DC2 I will be 25 when born, and again, has been planned.

I'm 31 weeks with my first and I'm 37. This was very much planned (and I can't wait!!) Although I would have loved to have had kids when I was younger, I didn't have the opportunity. It annoys me when people assume women are having children later in life because they have put other things (e.g. career) first. I'm sure there's lots of other older first time Mums out there who simply hadn't met the right dh/dp before.

1st - 22 planned
2nd - 24 planned
3rd - tried for eight years, finally gave up and accepted about six months ago. I will be 35 when DC3 arrives

was 18 with first son unplanned
32 with daughter very much plannned
will be 33 when baby number 3 comes planned aswell

Am pregnant with my first now at 32. Started trying when I was 29 though. Would have tried earlier if I had met my partner earlier - I have been broody for years!

25 when DS born and am 29 now, due 31st August. First planned, second not planned but very much desired (DH was being over cautious about saving money!)did want another before I was 30, not sure the significance!

I am unusual where I am, I think the article is spot on for around here.

well alot of people here seem to have had their first in their twenties! So do you think the midwife has just taken a view of her local surroundings/hospital?

I had my first at 22, second at 23 and thrid at 29

23

19 with DS- unplanned
20 with DD1- unplanned
23 with DD2- planned

29 and 9 months. Ds planned fairly tightly - began trying just before xmas for a September baby and voila! 1st out of all my mates, although another is now catching up. Nearly time to start trying for no.2 now.Freakishly, I was almost the exact age giving birth to DS as my mum was to me. She was considered ancient.

Mine were planned and were DS1 at 26 and DS2 at 30. If DC3 makes an appearance I'll be at least 34.

i'm 33 and all being well my first is due in jan (planned) when i'll be nearly 34.

This is an interesting thread, I do think the media is particularly annoying in the way it seems to conspire to make us feel guilty and worried whatever age we have children - be it young or old!!

It also annoys me that this decision is often talked about purely as the woman's ie: she is acting selfishly if she has kids late etc. Nothing is ever said about the man involved! Several of my female friends really want children but it is their other halves who are stalling!

Had my first baby at 29, although I did fit in to one of her categories in the article where she said that the other reason anyone has a baby in their 20s is because they've married someone 10 years older, which I have done!

first baby at 23 (unplanned) now pregnant with second at 28 (planned)

37 and planned! 39 now and no more planned. My old body is knackered.

I'm 25 and my partner and I planned this pregnancy but did not expect to conceive so quickly since we know so many couples that have had issues conceiving.

Interestingly about half of my old school friends have children already, most of whom didn't choose to pursue any career ambitions and chose to start a family as early as 16.

I agree with Splodge that its always us woman that are blamed for holding off on the family which is a tad unfair, in my case at least, I decided I wanted a baby and told my other half at least 6 months before he brought up the issue again. Coincidently a week after his 30th birthday. In fairness though, this is the earliest I could have had a baby without it interfering with my career plans.

DD1 - 30, DD2 - 33, DC3 - 35 (due in four weeks); all planned. Conceived first time with DD1 and DC3 but took four months with DD2.

24, baby is due around my 25th birthday (partner is 30). Unplanned but happy with the situation - children weren't in our plans for certain but now that it has happened serendipitously we know it is right for us. Would like another baby after this, probably within two years of no. 1.