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?

I had a termination when I was 19. I got pregnant at 23, and had my DS when I turned 24.

Pregnant with my first child at 30. I've been with my partner for a long time and we're both emotionally and financially secure so felt it's the right time

29 and 32. Perfect for us. Wouldn't change a thing.

I had ds when I'd just turned 33

Pregnant with my first at 28. None of my friends have kids. I think when is the best time will differ for everyone. Me and DH have been together a while and are financially ok plus he's working so hard at the moment it's not like we're off on holidays or partying all the time anyway.

Fell pregnant at 17 and had DD1 when I was 18. Obviously not ideal as was in the middle of my A levels. Still got 4 As, went to uni, grew my career and managed to send her to private school and buy a house in the SE.

Now pregnant at 28 (again a complete shock), married, financially comfortable and actually MORE terrified because I know I have half the energy and am unlikely to again walk out of the maternity ward in my size 8 jeans. This pregnancy is already so much worse and I'm dreading starting over again :(

Pregnant at 28, had DS at 29
Pregnant at 30, miscarried
Pregnant at 30, had DD at 31

Wouldn't change a thing, perfect ages for us. Among the first of our friends to have children and made other friends in antenatal groups too.

Pregnant at 32, had our baby at 33.

It was the right time for us. We are married, have a house and mortgage and good jobs. We spent our 20s travelling extensively and working crazy hours. I work in a very competitive industry and I was 30 before I got the role I wanted in the organisation I wanted to work for. I wanted another promotion before I had a baby, because I knew it would be harder to get one once I was a mother. Got promoted just after turning 32, went on one last big trip and then started trying for a baby. I’m young compared to other mothers at my work - most wait until late 30s.

I’ve loved being a mother. She’s been amazing. And I feel like I was ready for the changes - I don’t miss the nights out and we’re still managing to travel, but it’s hotels and suitcases rather than hostels and backpacks. I know others, however, who felt very curtailed by their children no matter how much they loved them.

I think “the right time” will be different for everyone. Only you know if it’s the right time for you.

got married at 20 and was pregnant aged
22,24,27 and now at 30....i think it depends on circumstances as to what age is best as everyone's doing different things at different ages....I would say mid to late 20's is a nice age for you guys who have your heads screwed on and as prepared as your likely to be....don't make desicions based on others opinions,follow your gut and good luck

Molar pregnancy 26
DS 32
Miscarriage 34
DD 36
DD 39

28 with DS - had him at 29.
30 with second pregnancy but ended up MC
31/32 with third pregnancy (literally found out a week before my birthday). Currently 9 weeks.

I wish I had been pregnant earlier - I think 27 is an ideal age but my DH wasn't quite ready then, which was fine.

I also think it depends on how many children you want, I've a few friends that say they would have liked more but time ran out or they feel over 40 is too late for them to carry on. X

I was 21with first son
25 with second
Now trying again at 41 🤞🤞🤞

It’s definitely more about where you’re at in life than your specific age I think!

I’m pregnant with my first at 31 and will have given birth while still 31 if all continues to go well (I’m fifteen weeks).

For me, I realised around 27/28I wanted a baby and soon, but was with my ex who didn’t. So we split and I dated specifically for men who also wanted families relatively soon. Met my OH at 28, he was 24, was surprised he also wanted kids within a few years. Now I’m 31, he’s 27, will both be those ages when baby arrives.

For me it was important to be in a solid relationship of a few years with someone who wanted a child as much as I do, to be earning what I consider a decent salary (when we started trying our household income was around £70k I think), to both be well into our careers (I’m as far as I can realistically get professionally and in terms of salary so I’m not concerned about my career stalling now as I’ve reached the highest peak I can envisage for a long time, we’re both qualified professionals), to have savings, and to have either purchased property or been well on the way to doing so. We started trying once we had enough in the bank to buy a house and got pregnant during the mortgage process and will be moving in five months before the baby is due.

It’s the perfect time of life for us due to the stability we have both in our relationships and professional lives/finances. I’d have happily done it late twenties if I’d achieved everything I have now but I hadn’t.

Wouldn’t have wanted to wait later than 31 due to endometriosis/blocked tube and subfertility but if I hadn’t had met the above goals I would have done. I’d rather wait and bring a child into the best environment I can provide than rush it and struggle. It’s so lovely waiting for this baby while knowing we’ve removed a lot of the pressure that comes from being skint and in insecure housing (been there, on both counts!).

We’d have liked to have been married first but didn’t want to delay TTC as fertility is finite and we can marry anytime. I did look into the legal aspects and as I have my own career/income/savings/both jointly own the house I don’t feel at risk having a child with him unmarried, though I’ll be making it a properly to get married before baby is one or two at the latest.

Married at 31, started trying straightaway but had unexplained infertility. IVF at 34 which thankfully worked on the first try and had DD at 35. I’ve had a difficult few years for various reasons so we are only now thinking about using our remaining embryo (I will be 40 next March).

I had my first at 20, second at 22, third at 24 and just had my fourth at 30! I definitely noticed a difference with my pregnancy this time round - I struggled a lot more than the others. Most of my friends are just having children now. I think had I have started now I would of had 4. We will be doing everything a bit back to front, kids early but then hoping to travel in 40's/50's once kids are old enough to look after themselves! I think there are pluses and minuses to every age and there actually isn't a perfect age or situation! I know good and bad mums of all ages, situations can change for better or worse at anytime. It's good that everyone is different.

Think it's absolutely down to where you are in life and there is no perfect age, but your health & fitness, ability to provide emotionally & financially for child, and committed partner who wants to have children with you, were major factors for me.
For me, met partner at 40, very early mc at 42 and healthy twins at 43.
Having said that, I have explained to my children how fortunate I was to conceive easily at that age and have an uncomplicated pregnancy and suggested they don't leave it quite as late as me!

@popsadaisy delaying children is better for the environment as it reduces the population. So there isn't 3/4 generations of people living on the earth and using it's resources, at the same time.

I didn't know this until recently so I was 23 with no 1 and pregnant again now at 26

I was 33 when pregnant with DS and had him a few weeks after I turned 34. I really wish I had had him younger, but DH and I didn’t meet until we were nearly 30.

30. I think it's a good age.

26/27 is fine

Married at 30,
DS1 at 33
DS2 at 35
DC3 I’ll be 38.

In hindsight I wish I’d had my kids a few years earlier as I’m physically exhausted, but on the other hand loved having them in my 30s due to career, financial security etc etc

Started dating husband at 30.
Married at 32.
Baby at 33.

Was a bit quick for my liking! I thought it might take a while, but i got pregnant as soon as we started trying. We're only having one, so we're done now 👍🏻

I never wanted a baby before 30. I spent my 20s studying, travelling, moving around. I'd have liked to have had more time just the two of us - either meeting him earlier, or getting pregnant later, but it's generally worked out well for us.

I meant to add, I see ‘there’s no perfect time to have a baby’ thrown around a lot, but while that’s technically true, I also see people use that phrase to either encourage others in not great situations to try, or by people who know they’re not in a good position to be able to offer a baby very much, to justify why they’re going ahead and having a baby. There isn’t a perfect time but there are definitely terrible times! And some people’s circumstances while not ‘perfect’ are infinitely better than others. I know this is about age not life circumstances but it just came to mind. If I’d had a baby even four years ago at 27 it’d have been with zero savings, no hope of ever buying a property, with a guy who didn’t want kids and who was in debt, and it’d have held me back from progressing my career. I wouldn’t have had much to offer other than love and it’s just not enough. Waiting a few years despite intense broodiness was the right decision not only for me ultimately but definitely for my future child. I do think as potential parents we owe it to our future children to think carefully about not only whether we want a baby but whether we can give a baby the resources, stability, and time they deserve as well as love.

36 and 38