What age did you get pregnant?

[ErrolFinn]

Hello everyone,

Whether you're pregnant or have been, I'm looking for a little wisdom here:

I know there's no 'right' age to have a child and that you can never really be fully prepared for what it entails - but what would you say is a good age to consider it? Obviously everyone is different but I'm just really interested to know what you would consider a "good" age to get pregnant and was that the age you had your DC?

Oh and I’m 35 now

A shock at 37. Never wanted kids. Since I had him I wished I could have turned back the clock and started 10 years ago ! Would love to have had more and cannot describe the joy he has brought to my life.
You will never know for sure when the right time is , but you will have the right child!

Fell pregnant at 18 with DS1, had him 2 months before I was 19. And then at 21 with DS2.

I was 25 when I fell pregnant with my LG
I had been with my OH 5 years, own a house with him, both had/have stable jobs and a degree and I was told at the age of 23 I might not be able to have children so started having unprotected sex straight away in the hope that I would! If I hadn't had been told I might not be able to have children I would have waited until I was 28ish.

Pregnant at 18, gave birth at 19. Not ideal, by any means. But, 50 years later, it all worked out well, for both of us.

The ideal age? No idea. It turns out 18/19 was ideal for me. Would I recommend it to another woman aged 18? Certainly not. I was lucky (though I had years of very hard work). But I'm out the other side of life, and I know I would never have had a child if I'd had to make a decision when I was older.( And wiser, maybe).

To have a child seems like a massive decision to me. I'm not sure I would have made such a decision to have a child if it was a choice, rather than (what turned out to be) a very happy accident.

@CountFosco why would delaying having a child be good for the environment?

36 and 37

DC1 = 19 (semi-planned - had just got married and come off contraception. Wasn’t actively trying but not preventing either. Fell pregnant within a month)
DC2 = 21 (Again, stopped contraception to start trying and fell pregnant on the first try)
I then had an early miscarriage at 22, and another at 23.
Currently pregnant with DC3 at 24. (Complete and utter accident after getting extremely drunk at Christmas but a welcome surprise nonetheless )

I was 30 when I got pregnant for the first time. It was a really good age for me because my career was well established, which means I've been able to take a few years off as a SAHM and return to a good, interesting job - I think this would have been harder if I'd had less experience.

32-33 and 34-35
Great if you only want 2, as we do.
30 would've been my preference I think.

19,20,21,25,27 and 29 I’m now 41
If I could do my time again I’d have still had them-10 years later than I did

@ErrolFinn if you feel ready and are in a good place financially, go for it!! You might get pregnant first time or it could take a couple of years. If I had met DH earlier, I would have gone for it earlier. I still would have needed IVF but I could have started that earlier and had a better chance of having a second child.

Pregnant at 31, had my baby 2 weeks ago at 32. Perfect age for me - I'm at a great place in my career, and had got partying and late nights firmly out of my system. Any younger and I think I might have resented all the things I was missing out on.

Got pregnant 24, had my DS 25 :) Best age for me! I will be just 41 when he will be out for college 😈😈😈

Pregnant and had my first DC at 27. That was right for me in some ways, but maturity wise, I could probably have done with waiting until 30. The reality of motherhood was a shock!

24 with DD (born a few weeks before I turned 25)

28 with DS (turned 29 during pregnancy)

30 now, probably won't be having any more but if we did it would hopefully be in the next couple of years.

I dont think theres anything wrong with having a baby in your early twenties (I'm relieved that it gives me more time if I want other children and once I'm done having babies I can go back to work and establish my career without any delays etc), but it was definitely more stressful than if I'd waited. We ended up purchasing a property while I was pregnant and had only moved in a month prior to giving birth, too! But then I'm also glad it gave me the push I needed to get on the housing ladder. I'm proud that I'm a homeowner and mother by 25.

However, obviously my career development has definitely been stunted and will be for the next few years until DD is in nursery/primary school. But you can't have everything in one go and my heart is warm with what we've made for ourselves. It's important to follow your own path and not compare yourself to others.

DC1 27
DC2 29
DC3 32

Fell pregnant at 28, had DS at 29.
Currently pregnant again at 31, will have DC2 just before I turn 32. DH is a year younger than me.
I felt happy having DS when I did - I was definitely ready for a baby and totally over drinking / clubbing so I found it a good age, as did DH. Friends of the same age have varied - some clearly resent the sacrifices to their social lives and finances and I think probably would have held off had they realised the impact a baby would have. Others love it. So I think it really depends on where you're at in terms of adapting to a major upheaval to your lives.

38 and 42.

15 had a termination
23 miscarriage
24 had ds😊

Married, homeowner, degree, professional job. Why wait! However some may think I've missed out on my twenties. I just think I get to share them with ds💗

Having my son is the best thing I have ever done and I fell pregnant at 24! I'm the first of my friends to have a kid, but me and my DH got married at 20.

My biggest tip is simple, just don't forget that falling pregnant rarely happens straight away! (there's only about 13 chances a year!) So if you want a kid in two/three years I would start trying now.
Also you won't regret it at all, having a child will only change what you allow it to change, you just need to plan ahead a little more

Age 18,21,30,32 and 34 now im 39 & pregnant with my last baby. I think 30 is a good age but if u want more than 2 id say start earlier. Ive enjoyed being a mum at all the ages.

Finished degree at 21,
met Dh at 22,
married at 25
Ds1 at 29 and Ds2 at 32 both planned pregnancies

None of our friends had children we were the first, so Ds1 is 16 and in our group of friends the youngest child is 4!

I had my first son at 26.
Currently 30 weeks pregnant with my second son. 😊