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Pregnancy choices

This topic is for sharing experiences of pregnancy choices; to debate the ethics of termination, visit our Politics or Chat forums.

Original poster

Is 37 too old to have another baby?...

92 replies

itscomplicatedlife · 09/03/2022 13:56

Hopefully parked this in the right area, but would you say 37 is a normal and ok age for a second baby, is that considered normal or not to you nowadays?

Had my first at 34 had a rough few years we still kind of are on the sleep front but I don't think I should leave it longer & wonder if I left it too late... thank you

OP posts:
BlueChampagne · 09/03/2022 13:59

Was 38 when I had my first Grin.

Bells3032 · 09/03/2022 14:01

Erm no. I have friends who had their first in their 40s.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 09/03/2022 14:01

Not too old. If I wasn’t pregnant by 39, that was my cut off age. I wanted to be through pregnancy and newborn stage by my 40th birthday.

Everybody will be different.

Allthesefolks · 09/03/2022 14:01

I had my first at 34 too and my second at 38, planned a slightly shorter gap but a MMC put paid to that. Sleep wise it’s been hard but that’s because both my children were terrible sleepers as babies and if anything I’ve copes better this time round.

JellyfishandShells · 09/03/2022 14:04

34 for first, 37 for second. Maybe a couple of years later than my peers at the time in the 90s.

My eldest is having her first now at 30 and is a real outlier amongst her friends - she was early to be married, too, at 27. Noone else even near it, only one other married of her wide friendship thus far.

CornishGem1975 · 09/03/2022 14:04

I was 40 when I had my third.

Cma1988 · 09/03/2022 14:04

My mum had me at 37 nearly 38 and that was over 30 years ago. I’ve never ever felt it was a problem to have an older mum and my mum was fit healthy and often more hands on than younger mums

Choppingonions · 09/03/2022 14:04

No of course it's not!

Original poster
itscomplicatedlife · 09/03/2022 14:20

Thank you all for the replies this is really reassuring! I should have put 38 (im shattered atm 😮‍💨) but i would be 38 by time I likely got pregnant it's so reassuring to read these comments 🙏😃

OP posts:
Sexnotgender · 09/03/2022 14:23

Totally fine. I’m 40 in about 6 weeks and I’m currently snuggling my 11 month old.

istandwithukraine · 09/03/2022 14:28

I had twins at 37 and would like another (my 4th) no older than age 40

It's totally normal and my IVF clinic said I was one of their "youngest" patients when I was undergoing treatment age 36

AbcdeforgetU · 09/03/2022 14:28

I’m 37 and 6 months pregnant with my second 😊

MrsMoastyToasty · 09/03/2022 14:31

I wax 39. My friend was 49.

MrsGHarrison87 · 09/03/2022 14:38

I think it's fine. Wouldn't be for me personally but I don't think it's old if it's what you want.

SirVixofVixHall · 09/03/2022 14:39

I had my first at 41, so no ! Smile

Original poster
itscomplicatedlife · 09/03/2022 14:41

Thanks a lot all, I don't personally think it is too old, my mum laid some doubt she had me at 22 and was so surprised I left it to 34, but then I think 22 is quite young esp nowadays. It seems to be the norm where I am for most my age to have the 1st after 30, some have before then but around 27, but most were after 30 I just wasn't sure around 37/38 how common it is but it seems it is so reassuring! 😃

OP posts:
Frazzlerock · 09/03/2022 14:42

Had my third at 41. But I pregnant at 36 and lost that one (MMC), then lost three more after over nearly 5 years. All tests came back clear and 'just bad luck' but I am sure it was to do with my age, so I would expect a long road ahead if you leave it too much longer. Hopefully not though!

weegiemum · 09/03/2022 14:45

I was menopausal by then, so it would have been too late for me. I hope you can have another baby if you want. I thought I was early at 29, 31 and 32 but now I'm really glad as I reckon I was in peri by 35 (family history, my paternal grandmother and aunt were through meno by 50 and I'm pretty sure I'm there at 51. Not my mum but it can be influenced by paternal family too).

SoyMarina · 09/03/2022 14:47

It is old and people will tell you non stop that they had theirs over 35. But their experience doesn't change biology.
It's old but more and more common.

simbobs · 09/03/2022 14:49

Not too old at all. I had mine at 37 and 39 and never regretted it. As long as you are healthy, of course.

SapphosRock · 09/03/2022 14:57

It depends on a lot of things. Your amh levels (egg reserves) whether you are regularly ovulating, whether your luteal phase (the time between ovulation and implantation) is long enough to support a pregnancy. Your general health and stress levels.

Every woman is different but I would say don't assume you will fall pregnant quickly or sail through the pregnancy in late 30s - although it is certainly possible.

Only you can say if you can cope with sleep deprivation and nappies into your 40s!

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 09/03/2022 14:59

Mum had me at 38, back in 1958. To be fair she and her gp assumed I was early menopause for about 5 months. But it doesn't seem to have done me any harm.

madmumofteens · 09/03/2022 17:35

Had my first at 36 second at 38 😘 not so good was parenting teens through menopause 🥺

TacoCats · 09/03/2022 17:37

It's old but you had your first one a few years ago so go for it you know how much hard work it is. Good luck.

TopCatsTopHat · 09/03/2022 17:40

Had my first at 24 and second at 36...just I was almost 37. It was totally fine and seems very common. Mine are 9 and 11 now and mum's my age are ten a penny at the school gate. I'm glad I didn't have mine sooner as personally I wouldn't have had the patience. Now I'm past 45 I'm glad I didn't have them after 40, I'm fine with them the ages they are but I think I'd be feeling it if they were around 5. That's just me, others my age would feel differently, but I don't think it's unusual. But 38,39,40.. All good imo.