Giving birth at 24 vs 32

[beetuljoos]

I had babies at 22 and 24- all fine, no complications, easy delivery with no gas and air, no stitches, recovered well enough. My body looks a mess (stomach muscle seperation, loose skin, saggy boobs and stretch marks to my ribs) but not had any real incontenence issues or anything like that, so very lucky.

I'm now incredibly worried about doing it again in my thirties. It feels a lifetime ago and I feel comparatively very old. Will it be much tougher? Am I going to need loads of intervention? Is a third degree tear and incontinence for life basically a given? I must admit that the many pro elective C-section posts on MN are influencing me a little.

Can't comment on having babies young but I had mine at 34 with no stitches, no intervention and no continence issues.

I gave birth at 21, 29, 31, 40 and 41.

21 was by far the hardest and most damaging both physically (3rd degree tear and episiotomy) and emotionally. It was also the pregnancy that caused all the stretch marks and pelvic floor issues.

The others have been fine. Felt best in pregnancy 4 aged 39/40, just bloomed. All the labours have been straightforward, although I've needed inductions but 1 was induced too, I just cook the long and big.

30 and 34- no stitches no lingering issues- first just had and air, second epidural - don’t consider myself an older mum at all, I don’t even think the nhs or society do either

I had mine at 33 (and now pregnant again at 34). I had just gas and air plus the pool for pain relief, only in labour 5ish hours total, did have a second degree tear and stitches but all healed fine. I'm certainly not incontinent!

More women then you seem to think have babies in their thirties. I work in obstetric theatres. If every woman over the age of 30 had a third/fourth degree tear every time they had a baby we'd never be able to go home.

On a personal note, I had my first at 33 and I'm currently pregnant with my second at 35. I had no intervention, and just a minor second degree tear. Absolutely zero incontinence issues. I am aiming to have a vaginal birth again with this one. As a PP says, early 30s is in the normal age range for pregnancy.

Gave birth at 20, 30 and 33. Definitely easier when you've done it before! I had absolutely no tearing after my second or third and pushed them out much faster, even though they were bigger. I don't think 34 is particularly old.

My labours were ridiculously long all three times but the pushing stage was shorter with the second two.

I had my first at 24 followed by two more kids at 31 and 32

All inductions (1st over due other two due to placenta failure) so maybe not a huge amount of help but birth 1 was the “hardest” because it took the longest and I had no idea what to expect. I was a bit worried with dc2 that I’d forgotten but once I was back in the delivery room it all came back

Also all my births apart from induction itself required no other interventions. Ds2 was very quick and appeared after 6 pushes DD after 2 😅

30 and 34, two quick births, gas and air only. Also no loose skin, stretch marks etc. Talk to your midwife but I don't think you need to be particularly worried about giving birth in your early 30s, I thought age starts to become a more significant risk factor closer to 40.

MN is very positive about c sections I've noticed. Each to their own but personally I'd prefer to avoid if possible.

I had mine at 36 & 39 - no issues. As is the way first one harder & longer, had an episiotomy but that healed fine.

DD at 39 I had within an hour of first contraction - made it to hospital and had her 4 mins later. All good.

Had babies in my early 30s with no issues. Body looks fine now. Don't know a single person who had a baby before the age of 27 and I'm not aware that even a significant minority of people had issues (and I've heard a lot of birth stories!). I get your other births seem a long time ago but think you're being a bit OTT to be honest. Fitness will make more of a difference than your age when comparing 32 and 22.

You had your first two babies quite young, 30 is more the norm nowadays. I wouldn't use mumsnet for all your information, speak to your midwife in the first instance. As for elective sections mumsnet is positive about many kinds of birth, I have only ever had sections due to complications with me and my babies and I found the recovery difficult so wouldn't have opted for them had I had a choice. Other women have had different experiences and would, there isn't a right or wrong!

I had my first aged 20, birth was fine, after i felt absolutely awful like id been hit by a bus and took weeks to recover.

2nd aged 25, all fine, after truly felt amazing.

Due in 5 weeks with third and now 31, am not expecting any issues. The benefit is that your body has birthed two babies before with no issues. Your hospital will strongly advise a vaginal birth and recovering from a C/S is way harder, especially if youve had a vaginal birth before and remember how you felt.

I was 26 and 33 when I had my two.
Second time was an easier birth, no tearing, knew what to expect, much shorter Labour, needed no intervention. 32 is a totally normal age to give birth.

I had a baby at 26 and one at 40. Zero difference in pregnancy or labour.