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MNHQ

Average age of first-time mothers is now 30 - how old were you?

540 replies

KateMumsnet · 17/07/2014 10:57

Hello all

Research published yesterday shows that the average British woman is now having her first child at the age of 30 - and we wondered whether this matches MNers' own experiences. So do share your thoughts - are you bang on average, or under, or over? Does it matter - and would you make the same decision again, given the chance?

OP posts:
puds11isNAUGHTYnotNAICE · 18/07/2014 10:27
  1. Went on to get a first class honours and an MSc. That was a big 'fuck you' to all the people who said I was ruining my life by having a baby young! It doesn't matter what age you are, people can be shit parents young or old!

I wouldn't change a thing about it. Having my DD before I had a career means I got to spend her first 2 years with her full-time. I will never regret that.

smugmumofboys · 18/07/2014 11:05

33 and 35.

Middleagedmotheroftwo · 18/07/2014 11:12

I was 34 and 36.

Has anyone collated all the responses on here to work out whether the averge MN age is the same as the average age nationally?

Jamdoughnutfiend · 18/07/2014 11:31

32 and 34 - right time for me - DH would have probably waited a few more years (younger) but we both agree that it has been good for us

wigglylines · 18/07/2014 11:40

34 and 38. I couldn't have done it any earlier as I didn't get together with DP till I was 33!

amyjayde · 18/07/2014 11:46

20 (yes it was planned and yes everything's worked out great Grin)

hugoagogo · 18/07/2014 11:47

26 which felt late at the time, but now seems exactly right for us.

I am so glad that we did it when we did.

Down side is that my career has suffered, but I suppose that's more down to my choice not to carry on working full time.

Ginfox · 18/07/2014 12:22
  1. Took us 2yrs of TTC, so would've preferred a bit earlier. But didn't meet my DH until I was 31, so couldn't have started much younger even if I'd wanted to.
ReallyFuckingFedUp · 18/07/2014 12:27

started trying at 24. Baby arrived at 27. Was practically geriatric compared to everyone else in my area!

LittleBallOfFur · 18/07/2014 12:28

27

Second this year aged 30 (almost 31)

RabidFairy · 18/07/2014 12:34

Had DD 5 years ago this month and I was 23, almost 24.

But I brought my motherhood plans forward when my mums health worsened dramatically the year before. I had always intended to start trying for a baby at 25 (same age as my mum was when she had me in '85) and as it happened I had DS at 26.

LotsaTuddles · 18/07/2014 12:52

Had DS nearlya year ago, I was 22 nearly 23 .

Was married, owned own home and both DH and I had good jobs, incidentally, DH got a pay rise just before I was due to go back to work so we decided that we'd try me being a SAHM, glad we did nite because I love being with DS all day and we're expecting DC2 on boxing day (I'll be 24 by then)

steppemum · 18/07/2014 13:02

35
would have liked to start a couple of years earlier, but only met dh at 32!

paddlenorapaddle · 18/07/2014 13:02

36

Eastpoint · 18/07/2014 13:06

30 & 1 month (2 wks late). Was planned & we were married.

HecatePropylaea · 18/07/2014 13:08

I think I was 24 when I had my first. And had my second 15 months later (mad fool that I am Grin )

It was fine. You just get on with it whatever your age, don't you?

HecatePropylaea · 18/07/2014 13:08

I say I think because I was either 24 or 25 and I can never remember which. I'd have to work backwards with a pen and paper.

I should probably have someone take a look at that... Grin

elvisola · 18/07/2014 13:14
  1. It was perfect timing for us, No 2 came along at 34
mrscumberbatch · 18/07/2014 13:19

I was 25 and thoroughly fed up of the drs and nurses commenting on how I was a 'young parent'. I felt like an unruly teenager.

morethanpotatoprints · 18/07/2014 14:02

I was 25 and considered old to be having first baby, it was normally around 21 or 22.
Our second I was 29 and considered ancient, by society and the medical profession.
However, our 3rd at 38 I wasn't considered old at all as people in their 40's were having their first, and I was treated normally. Grin

I think it depends on the average at the time how your age is viewed.

Varya · 18/07/2014 14:44

23 and was told by medic that I was geriatric !!

newpup · 18/07/2014 14:46

24 - I bucked the trend for middle class educated girls and got married at 23 and had our first daughter at 24. We had our second at 27 and are still happily married 16 years later. I am 40 this year and have a 15 and 12 year old. Was absolutely the right decision for us but I was made to feel young as all the other mothers in my antenatal class were mid to late thirties. However, I love feeling young compared to the other parents at parents eve now! Grin

juneau · 18/07/2014 15:20

I was 33 when DS1 was born.

Soozart · 18/07/2014 15:41

20...it was a learning curve...no2 at 23....then no.3 at 36 when I had to wait for my dp to catch up a bit, he is 10 yrs younger, but I knew I didn't want to leave it any later. I went to art college between no.2 and no.3, very happy and settled now.

SlightlyJadedJack · 18/07/2014 15:45

33 (almost 34) and 37 for number 2. It was the right time for us and I wouldn't change it looking back.

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