Have another baby at 38! The good bad and ugly please.

[Kmc2303]

For months, I've been on the fence. I feel my family isn't complete. I have three amazing boys: 21, 12, and 11. But I just feel I have one more baby in me. I'm putting it out here as my friends think I'm mad. I've got my life back; I work full-time, and we enjoy holidays abroad. My husband is the most amazing man in the world; he's 100% happy with the idea, but are we crazy? I imagine a broken, middle-aged woman rocking this newborn, going crazy! 🤣🤣🤣🤣 some days I feel 30 other days I feel 50! Personal stories please 🥰🥰😍

I had dc1 aged 20 and dc2 aged 38. It's been pretty easy really, no issues with miscarriages and pg and childbirth were straightforward. Had an NIPT so I was reassured about risks of abnormalities and I have been very happy to continue parenting. I don't feel any more tired and the only issue I have is looking older than other mums of primary aged dcs - but there are all sorts of tweakments around to fudge that!

I am 47 and have no perimenopause symptoms, though obviously they will come at some point during dc's childhood. But there are lots of options for improving symptoms.

I don’t think it’s your age that would bother me in your situation.. it’s that you have 3 older kids and a nice calm life and you’re about to throw a bomb into it.

I had my 3rd and last at 39 with a big age gap to the older 2. I had a MC while trying and did consider giving up, but very glad we did give it another go.
As the older ones were able to get themselves to and from school independently and were quite self sufficient I was able to give a lot of time and attention to youngest. I feel like I've cherished every moment of DD being little because I know how quickly it goes.
They all have their own rooms and no-one had to move or change rooms, which was important to me.
My career is a few years behind where it would have been, but I probably still have nearly 20 years to retirement and it's getting back on track. Childcare for 1 seems very cheap when you've previously done it for 2 at the same time and the older ones sometimes help a bit.
I still have menopause and DD's teenage years to go, so things might change, but so far it's mainly been joyful and I have no regrets.

I’m 36 and thinking about having my second next year. This thread has made me so depressed…is late 30s really so ‘old’ to have a child???

No, not at all. I literally don't know anyone who had any kids before 30, I had my first 2 and 32 and 36 and I'm one of the younger mums at school.

No it really isn't. I had my second at 38 and midwives kept telling me they'll see me in a couple of years for the next one! Plenty of reception mums at Dds school are mid 40s

Had my first at 21, second at 25 and the third happy accident at 34. The first born is like a second mother, they have an amazing bond. The second child (boy) did resent her for a while as he was 9. Our third is an absolute sweetheart, I am a better parent now, than I was with the elder two. She does use my age as an excuse when she’d not being doing well at school. Just completed GCSE’s and is on to the next chapter. I say if you want and are able, do it. I have just turned 50.

Had my second at 39, leaving us with two under two! I love life with mine, I have tonnes of energy and absolutely love running around soft play and trampoline parks, had an easy pregnancy and delivery. I’d most definitely have a third if my partner was onboard!