quick poll - what age did you have your first baby?

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what do you think of 34 for first baby - or is it pushing it a little? Please don't be pc - I need opinions.

Long, long saga - never been a possibility before (never felt remotely interested in babies before, financial situation ALL wrong) and now I reallt feel like I want to be a mummy and I'm so aware that it's not a given.

Looking forward to replies

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I was 37 and will be 39 for the second (and last ) if all goes well. I'm roughly the same age as my son's friend's mothers - a few years older than some, a few years younger than others. Can well understand other fears / nervousness, but wouldn't worry on account of age. Wish I had the energy I had in my 20s and early 30s, but otherwise have had no problems. 34 sounds quite young!

Having my first in a few weeks - am 30
Plan the second at a 2 or 3 yr age gap so 32 or 33

40. It wasn't by design, but it's working out pretty well. Planning on trying for another in the new year (will be 42 in March). Every woman in my nct group was over 35. Go for it.

19

31, lots of my friends had their first between 30 and 36.

37. I wouldn't have chosen to have waited that long but I hadn't met my DP until I was 36 and then we didn't hang around. Finally expecting again at 40 after lots of miscarriages.

I would always advise anyone who doesn't have to wait, not to wait. Crack your kids out as soon as you can!

I was 29 but the youngest in my nct group most being mid 30s so definitely not too old

I'm 34 and currently cuddling my 3 week old DS. A few people have commented I'm an older mother (thanks boss and MIL!), but of all the health professionals I've dealt with, the few who mentioned my age said I was still young to be doing this for the first time.

I was terrified it would be difficult to get pregnant in my 30s, but it happened the first month we actively tried. You really won't know until you start trying, so good luck!

27 with my first (turned 28 when he was 3 weeks old), and will be 30 when this one is born. Tbh would have liked to have started a couple years earlier, but mainly because my DP is almost 12 years older than me, so it would have been nicer for him to have children a bit earlier.

I was 18..!! Yes I know I was very young but would never change it for the world as my son is now 8 and my best friend

34 :)

had my children at 19, 24, 27 and having my final at 31.
19 was too young for a first baby. not necessarily for having the baby or even toddler years, but as dd got older - we went through an awful phase when she was 7 - stealing, refusing to eat, things like that, and at 26 I just felt too young to know how to deal with these issues properly. obviously we've come through that now but it was hard.
I'm glad I'm done at 31 though. I'm glad that at 50 I will have 4 adult children and will be secure financially and still be young and healthy enough to enjoy life. And young enough to enjoy any grandchildren too.
Age to be a parent is a very personal issue, 34 is not too old if you have enjoyed life beforehand and done all you want to do (traveling or experiances etc). It also depends on how many children you want and how close in age. if you only want 2 with 2-3years between them then thats perfect, but if your hoping for 4 with 3-4years between them then maybe it might be pushing it. I wouldn't want to be retiring and claiming my pension whilst still raising teenagers!

34 isn't too old at all! I had my first at 30 and now expecting numbers 2 and 3 at 32... three will be enough for us, but if I was having a singleton now I would have considered trying again in a couple of years for a third baby.

My mum had me when she was 33 and antenatal medicine has come on leaps and bounds since then with more and more women waiting. I think there is a lot of scaremongering around older women having babies, but many many women have children very successfully into their 40s, let alone 30s! The important thing is that you're comfortable with the decision... and to be honest there's never a perfect time, in my opinion.

J xx

i will be 33...... so i'm thinking 34 isn't too old at all!

Zombie thread

I'm 34 and have just had my first baby :) we'd been married two years and I was 33 when we fell pregnant. Wasn't actually planning on trying until I was 34 lol

Sorry just noticed that it's a zombie thread

I was 22 when I found out I was pregnant i am now 23 baby due in 8 weeks. I think 34 is a great age to have a baby and as you said you are now in a better position to start a family. Things can go wrong in pregnancy no matter what age you are..

I was 23.

I think it depends a lot on your state of health really and how stable your relationship is.

If both are doing well then I see no reason why not.

But if you wanted a second, I would only leave a year gap as time might put pressure on you there.

Good luck :)

36 - no 2 at 38. Have occasionally felt a bit geriatric, but that's mainly because of where I live (lots of much younger mums). If I lived down the road in Cambridge, I'd not be out of place at all!

First at 21
Second at 22
Third expecting now again at 32 :)
Feel just as sick and tired as I was ten years ago although now I work full time as a teacher and have older children to look after . I did fit in a gym workout this morning so 30s can't be too old

I'll be 42 blushes

I didn't meet DH until 38 - what can I say, I'm a late starter!

34 is a great age - you've got experience behind you and you are still a young pup!

First one in progress - will still be 31 when it pops!

23

Got married at 21 as wanted to have a baby inside wedlock had firsy baby at 23.