Best age to have a baby...20's, 30's or 40's? ( light hearted)

[Shellywelly1973]

Or all of the above?
I has 2dc in my teens. 10 years later had Dd. Had my 2ds in my 30's. I am expecting a new baby next January ( hopefully, if all goes to plan). I will be 40 before new baby arrives.

Most people are shocked when i tell them the dc ages. When i went to see a GP for a referal for this pregnancy, she presumed it was my 1st...the surprised look on her face made me laugh!

Personally, my last dc birth was the easiest. I recovered quickly, physically as well as emotionally. I was 35.

Any other experiences of having dc over the decades?

Hmmmmm well I was 28 dd1, then 31 with dd2, now preg with dc3, am about 10 weeks and have had a hellish time so far! Of course am attributing that to my older status (according to midwife) of 34!!!!!! I think it's the limit for me emotionally and physically. I think dd2 was easiest throughout and very quick birth, shock but quick so that's always best I feel! Dd1 I was naive and didn't know what was coming although normal birth was longer pushing than dd2 who just flew out into pool, am dreading dc3 and planning all drugs I can get, xx

34! Your a spring chicken!! I remember with my 3rd being really nervous of the birth...it was fine. By 4&5 i was very confident. This time just waiting & seeing!

37, but then again I would say that as I am 37 and pregnant with our first.

I had my 3 children at 21, 33 and 41. Definitely found the lack of sleep/getting up in the middle of the night harder with each decade!

Thats some serious age gaps davidjrmum!

1st at 17 2nd at 19 3rd at 43! Don't really remember first 2 pregnancie, births were fine. This pg has been great much to my surprise. Loving the chance to do it all again. pg at 40+ is a real gift.

Im the only person i know with grown up dc & little dc, my youngest is 5. There will be 24 years between my youngest&oldest. Its nice to know Im not the only one mad enough to mix teens & toddlers!

I the only one i know too. Most people have been unnecessarily negative about my little surprise. Seems it's ok to have late babies if you hadn't had Any but to do it again after such a big gap is not acceptable. My own family have been the most judgemental.

Rosie-my family especially my mum &sister think Im mental. They are very judgmental. I was pregnant earlier in the year& had a mmc at 12 weeks. I spent 8 weeks worrying about how i was going to tell them i was pregnant. Their reaction to the mmc has changed the relationship i have with both of them.

I actually feel v.lucky to have my dc. I've worked, gained a degree. Even squeezed a career in between 5 dc in the last 23 years.

I don't consider pregnancy, birth & children to be awful like my family do. Luckily i have another sister who is very supportive though she opted for just 2 dc!

Sorry to hear you've had a tough time shelly my mum and 2 of my sisters are just refusing to speak to me now. My baby is also 'mixed race' which is an embarrassment to far for them. I'm also a degree holding, house owning, well traveled professional. My attitude is..... who says i can't have it all!! I would have loved loads of children, dh want to squeeze another in after this little one! [Confused]

Not sure because in still pregnant with no 2 but I found pregnancy easier the younger I was. As for looking after children I can't say yet.

Dd was born I was a very immature 23
Ds was born I was 28 and now this lo will be born with mec at 42.

I had a difficult birth with dd but a great birth with ds...
I am more tired this time around but the overall so far so very good... Apart from weeing for the whole of Britain!!!:)

Rosiedays...we should make a mixed race baby club. Mine is mixed race too. Shocking behaviour we have been getting up to obviously lol.

On topic! I had my DD around my 19th birthday, this DC is due around my 33rd birthday making that an age gap of 14 years. I was at the stage I had decided I wasn't having any more because of the age gap and hey presto, find our I'm PG. I think there is going to be advantages and disadvantages of being a mother at both ages.

So far I'm finding that as an 18 year old I sailed through pregnancy not worrying about anything. This time I am worrying a lot more about things like the blood tests and scans and what I should and shouldn't be doing.

I think I will be a more confident mum as a 30 something. For example I remember being self concious about breast feeding before and now that won't be the case. Intend on doing that longer and more freely. Also I just felt more judged being a young mum and was less likely to socialise with other mothers and their babies at playgroups, nursery and the likes. So probably confidence wise the baby I am having now will be at an advantage.

I feel like I have as much energy and love to give though, so all in all, it's win/win. Is there ever a right age to have a child?

Got to be 20s. If I could drink and dance all night raising a baby would have been peasy .

You are generally skint in your 20s do don't miss the salary too much when you're off on maternity or SAH.

My vote goes to your 30s, because I seem to have spent the entire decade either pregnant, trying to get pregnant or breastfeeding - DS1 at 30, DS2 at (just) 35 after a longish period of secondary infertility, DS3 at 36 and DC4 will be born (all being well) three months before I turn 40! Then I am done.

i'd like to think 36 as thats the age i am now with first baby on the way But i do agree in your twenties you don't feel as tired as you do in your 30's. We had many a weekend dancing away in all night nightclubs til 6am and felt fine the nxt day but the thought of doing that now feels me with dread.

Although i do think the older you are the more contented you are to stay in and not feel like your missing out on something because you've already done it :)

20's i think.
Im currently 11 w with dc4 in my mid 30's. I am SO TIRED.
I cant remember being like this is my 20's.

Stickortwist I am also so tired! Mid thirties. Maybe it's extra tiring when you already have dc and are in thirties for subsequent preg? My first was def easier but then all I had to think about was my merry little self!! And dh , to an extent and what fancy buggy to choose and our new house.....now 5 yr down the line at 10 wks with dc3 I have rather less frilly concerns! So yes very tired, happy mind you but tireder, x

I think it's for everyone different. It's not only your age, but also the situation that you're in at the moment. Planned / unplanned pregnancy. All that makes a difference in how well the pregnancy goes. It's not only your age.

My first when I was 21
2nd at 23
3rd at 24
Now my 4th at 27

The 3rd was the hardest. He was our little surprise and financially things were not going very well for us at that time.

I've always recovered very quickly after giving birth. Not really any problems there.

DS17 was born when I was 21. DD when I was 24. Im trying to get PG now at 37. In one respect I think it will be great. I have a wealth of knowledge now, that I didn't have back then. On the other hand I am nowhere as fit as I used to be!
Sadly, I recently MC and am worried that I wont get PG again, so right now I would say 20s!

I had dd1 at 17 and both pregnancy and birth were easy peasy, had ds at just turned 24 and pregnancy was 90% as good with another easy labour.

31 weeks pregnant with dd2 at 25 and it's awful - i've been ill 97% of the time and can't stand having this jumpy little baby inside me restricting my life and annoying me all the time.

I think the fact that i looked after myself better as a teen with dd helped, ds was planned so i lost weight and took care of myself whereas dd2 was unplanned, i'm still carrying a lot of weight from ds, my hormones and body just weren't ready for another baby yet i don't think.

DF and i have said no more for a few years so i may be back at some point breezing through a 30+ pregnancy

Ds1 17, ds2 20 and got pregnant with my ds3 at 22, I turned 23 last week he's due in 8 weeks. And all my pregnancys have been horrible if I'm honest lol, im extremely tired all the time and was with all of them, this ones been the hardest though but I think thats prob due to looking after 2 young children who are very lively. In my expiriences my age hasn't had nothing to do with it. With my first me and my aunt was preg at same time there was 3 days in us, I was 17 she was 36, and she sailed through it. I however had to take 3wks annual leave from 26wk then mat leave from 29wks cause I was that exhausted and kept fainting at work xx

Do you know, I've read this thread thinking "all these people recommending 20s...hmmmm yes, so glad I'm in my 20s now I'm pregnant with my first cold, smug smug smug" etc.

It's just dawned on me, however, that I'm 31.

Im really surprised, i thought i would get replies saying 'Im in my 30's, feel great...'

I worry more now. As each pregnancy has come along, my concerns for a healthy pregnancy & baby has increased. Having a mmc in February totally knocked me, i went into awful shock & i still can't talk about it in RL without crying.

I have confidence now that i didn't even in my 20's. As well as wrinkles!!

Each to their own but i think my 30's was the best time to have a baby. Im pushing my luck having this baby at 40...

interesting thread.

I'm having my first and am 30, am 22 weeks and have had very straightforward pregnancy so far (no morning sickness at all) but I dont think that has anything to do with my age, my mum was the same with all three of her pregnancies.

To be honest i would have liked to have my first earlier that this, in my late 20's around 27 would have been my ideal as I would like 2 or 3 and dont want to be too late into my 30's but I dont think there is ever a 'right time' just go with what feels right for you.