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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:
Anone · 19/07/2014 22:05

mid thirties- a great age to have them as now I'm in my 40s with young children everyone seems to think I'm 30 as a lot of mothers with young children are around this age.

Although you do feel decrepit sometimes, having young children does keep you young (and very fit).

Koothrapanties · 19/07/2014 22:16

23, no regrets whatsoever.

HeyBungalowBill · 19/07/2014 23:29

19 - not a single regret and was the perfect time for me.
Being a good parent couldn't have less to do with age. I'd have literally been a better parent at 12 than a few women my mum knows who were 25 - 30 years old. And I mean literally!

ruthsmumkath · 19/07/2014 23:33

Geriatric at 32!

ClaimedByMe · 19/07/2014 23:41

Dd was born the day after my 21st birthday, she was 10 days late so I should have been 20, no regrets life is too short for regrets I had ds at 23 I am 32 now and the thought of having a baby at this age petrified me!

LovingSummer · 20/07/2014 00:55

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

TeaAddict235 · 20/07/2014 10:10

29, and I wouldn't have it any other way.

tellmesomething · 20/07/2014 10:59

27 I felt ok... Everyone else felt it was young

YouveCatToBeKittenMe · 20/07/2014 12:19

25 and I thought that was quite old in 1993!
I don't regret having them then although maybe should have traveled a bit more first.
However I DO regret not staying in part time work as it has been very hard to get back into work after so long as a SAHM

Taffeta · 20/07/2014 12:32
  1. (Second at 39)

Apart from a worrying time when I was selected "at random as an older mother" at my 12 week scan for some additional tests (and they found no nasal bone so I had CVS and a big old scare but turned out fine ) I wasn't treated differently in any other way.

If I'd started earlier I mightn't have had the miscarriages, but I hadn't met DH and I was told at 18 I probably couldn't have DC so wasn't that focused on it anyway.

So, if I had met DH earlier, I might have chosen to have children at maybe 32-33, but not much younger, really.

UnderEstherMate · 20/07/2014 12:35
  1. Worked out perfectly for me! The only issues I ever had came from the judgements of others.
UnderEstherMate · 20/07/2014 12:42

I also think it's a shame that young parents seem to justify their choices more than older parents. We shouldn't have to 'prove' ourselves worthy!

NoUseForAName · 20/07/2014 13:03

20 full time employment nvq2 qualified owned own home etc no regrets

dottyaboutstripes · 20/07/2014 13:36

I was 24 (but had lost 2 already)
I'd graduated, I'd partied hard, I'd lived abroad so I was ready to be settled. A few people were quite horrified I think, others were surprised (I hadn't ever been interested in having children) and I was the first of all friends to have children. I was the only under 30 at my antenatal group and they all thought I was SO young Grin though admittedly I did look younger than I was.
I wouldn't change it at all - that baby is now 20 and has 5 younger sibs, the youngest is 5 and was born when I was 39. I've had the best of both worlds - being a "younger" mum was fantastic but being an older one has been wonderful too

MoominKoalaAndMiniMoom · 20/07/2014 14:01

So true UnderEsther! It does sometimes feel like we constantly have to justify our lifestyles to prove that we were prepared to be parents.

Personally I was 19, totally not ready, did my second year of uni when pregnant, she'll be 5 months old when I have to put her in the uni nursery (which is admittedly amazing and modern and I wish I was 5 months old so I could be there) because I'm not taking time off and going straight into 3rd year. And I'm terrified of missing some of her big 'firsts' because I've got to do my dissertation.

I love her, wouldn't be without her, she's brought a whole new meaning to my life and I LOVE being a mum... but was I ready? Not at all Grin doesn't stop me being an amazing mum to her.

ArgyMargy · 20/07/2014 16:08

30 & 31. Now I'm 50 and when I say I have a 20 yr old son people gape at me. I thought it was about the right age for me to have a child although I might have waited longer if things in our lives had been different.

Delphiniumsblue · 20/07/2014 16:13

30- it was about the right age for me. It didn't seem old but then I also had one aged 40yrs.

FixItUpChappie · 20/07/2014 17:38

32 years. On average for my circle of friends

ThePortlyPinUp · 20/07/2014 17:52

19- I'd had all four dd's by the time I was 26, it was the perfect decision for me and I don't regret starting earlier than average.

Groovee · 20/07/2014 18:16
  1. Had got married and was planning about 9 years later. Dd had other ideas.

Most of my friends were about 25ish. But a few were in their 30's.

Pidgy · 20/07/2014 18:16

30, so bang on average.

I am the youngest in our NCT group which really surprised me. My mum was 22 when she had me, my grandma the same, so I always imagined if be 22 too. With uni, travelling, career and not meeting my DH until I was 27 that was never going to happen!

It was always important to me to have children so I didn't want to wait until older in case I had trouble conceiving. DS was conceived 1st month trying and we weren't even trying for DD but not being entirely 'careful' so it shouldn't have come as such a shock. I'm now 32 which in my mind still buys me a few years to make the decision on whether to try for no.3.

Allalonenow · 20/07/2014 18:43

21

Chaby · 20/07/2014 18:57
  1. Married at 22 but wanted financial / career security and to live a bit before having a baby.
Fillybuster · 20/07/2014 22:41

31

Catpawprint · 21/07/2014 06:13

35 and 3 months and 39 and 11 months. Feel very old and tired but very happy to have met the right person and had children at all.