Is 38 too old to have a baby?

[TheFunk]

A bit of background...currently 38 and so is my current partner. Neither of us already have children, both of us would like to have them, if possible.

Is 38 too old to try and conceive or have a baby?

No - definitely not. But the risks mount as you know

No. Start asap though, go to GP sooner rather than later if it takes more than 6 months, prepare yourself for it maybe not to happen.

I had ds1 at 34 and ds2 at 40. With ds2 I worked almost until my due date, had a short uncomplicated labour, and he was an easier baby and toddler than ds1(your experience may vary )

I have no experience of having children in my 20s, but neither does a mother of 3 who was done and dusted by 30 have experience of having just one or 2 in her late 30s/40s. You just get on with it, do your best and love the children you get.

Good luck!

I think it's a bit old, yes.

Babies at 38 and 40. I probably am more knackered but on the plus side I am probably a lot wiser than I would have been had I had them much earlier. I feel aware of the fact I am the oldest mum among the DCs' friends but tbh if your health is otherwise OK, go for it

I'm 26 and adore my parents so I always view it from the point of, how old would the parents be when the 'child' is 26... So, you'd be 64/65 when your child is my age- that's absolutely fine in my book!

So, not too old at all.

Oh and I get what wtffgs said about being older- my son's friends Mum is 46 and always points out that she's old enough to be my Mum. So I think she finds it a little tough even though I don't view it that way.

I hope not because I had one, I got pregnant at the drop of a hat, easy birth and 7 years on I can't think of any problem. I'm one of the older Mothers in Dd class but there are parents of a similar age. Go for it.

No of course not, if you both want one go for it - better do it soon as it might take a while to conceive is all.

I had my youngest at 36 and I do feel knackered at 40, but I think that's because I have 3 young kids :o I expect I'd have been fine to have a pfb at 38... a 4th new baby at would have done me in though...

Which reminds me of course the incidence of twins even without a family history is higher in your late 30s and 40s than for younger mothers... so be prepared for that! :o

Whether you'll be an "older" mum in other people's eyes depends where you live too - I had DD in an affluent part of Surrey (the kind of place people seemed to have moved out of London to in order to buy a house, settle down and start a family) at 30 and expected to be one of the older first time mums at antenatal class, given the average in the UK for having a first baby is supposed to be 28... but there was only one woman younger than me in our very large NHS antenatal group (I think there were at least 20 women). In fact the average age must have been about 35, with plenty having their first baby at 38 -42.

I guess the school gates around there are now places where mums of 10 year olds tend to be in their mid to late 40s or early 50s... In other parts of the country people may well be settling down to start families 10 years earlier so you might feel out of place as your child grows... Though often you can't tell how old people are (I certainly know 50 year olds in better shape than me and 30 year olds in worse...)

29, 32, 42 - easiest pregnancy was the last.

I had mine at 37 and 40 (and a week) I am not the oldest mum I know

Nope! go for it!

I think relaxing and enjoying the sex makes you more receptive to conception, but that might just be me! ;)

It certainly isn't! I started having babies at 40. It meant I had over ten years old marriage first, we travelled the world, got our house the way we wanted it and built a strong and happy marriage that can withstand the toughest of challenges that children throw at us!

I wouldn't have had it any other way. My twins have just turned 10 and I'm still only 51 so hardly geriatric!

Great advice from all - if you want to go for it!

My mum had me at 39

I had my first days after turning 36. Currently pregnant with DC2 and will be 38 when it arrives.

I wouldn't wait any longer simply because it is said to be harder to fall pregnant the older you are so you never know how long it might take. If you are both willing and able then get cracking.

Not too old at at all! It took me until I was 36 to meet my DH, had DD when 38.

Positives: great well paid job so money not an issue. Had travelled world, partied hard, so less resentment at 'wings being clipped'. Most of all, I waited to find a man who was a good father and husband, which is pretty bloody important!

It is quite old but as you are already that age I would go for it. I wouldn't wait any longer though.

Of course it isn't too old!
You may or may not experience fertility issues, but you are well within normal / usual childbearing age and many of us started fit, healthy, energetic motherhood in our early 40s.

Go for it!

Thanks for the replies, given me loads to think about and lots of hope that it's possibly not too late.

Oh and just to add, I had read all the doom and gloom stories about fertility issues, was ready to wait a long time or not be successful.

Had coil removed, was pregnant 17 days later. Never even had a period!

Ifiwasabadger...amazing!

I agree with ifiwasabadger, I had dd2 at 43, conceived when I was 42 and a half, DH said "if we're going to have another we'd better get on with it" half an hour later job done.

Well I am 36 and DS is 8 months. We are planning another in about 2 years and, according to DH, at least one more after that. My mum was well into her 40s when she had me and I am an only child.