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

[KateMumsnet]

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?

42 - (and no such comments about 'elderly prima gravida' - that was over ten years ago I really don't think the medical profession use that expression any more).

Yes, I find it very hard but in all honestly I think I would find being a parent hard at any age - it is certainly the hardest and most challenging thing I have ever done in my life (and no way would I have had another ).

I am glad I have the memories of a successful career and enjoyable time in my 20s and 30s to look back on.

29 - however had things gone to plan I would have been 26/27

27. Younger would have been OK for me, 24 or 25 maybe, but I've no major regrets about 27.

29 (3 days before my 30th) and had 2nd at 31

Would have loved to be young mum. My mum was 20 then 22 when she had us and had her social life and career back on track when she was 40 and we had moved out!

I was 18, living in my own home and working full time.

It is an extremely young age to have children and while I don't regret it, I would advise against it.

However I am an amazing parent! Not my own words but those of my first borns paediatric specialist nurse. In her words, I have coped much better with DS's medical issues than most other parents irrespective of age. I've always been willing to learn treatment regimes and as a result I'm one of only two families trained to do certain medical procedures, when the hospital covers thirty families.

However. whilst my children's needs are covered, I am aware that whilst I haven't missed any experiences (have an education, house and travelled with DC's), I am acutely aware that I've never had a time in my life where I've only had to look after myself. That is something I have missed out on, and now they are older and I now have more time to myself I notice it more.

There is no universal best age but I would say that late twenties/early thirties is probably the recommend age- but I know life doesn't work like that for anyone.

had been trying for 8 years

Bastard miscarriages and unexplained infertility.

29 started trying at 26/27

Next child I was 32 and I was 33 for the last one

I had a miscarriage after baby number 1 so maybe I would have stopped at 2...or kept going til we got the 4 we originally planned

42 - don't get what the fuss is about older Mums - just get on with it!

30 which is just about right! Not too young not too old.

voitured "don't get what all the fuss is about older Mums"

yes, I agree, so there's only 14 years between say a 28 year old younger Mum and a 42 yr old older Mum.

We don't make this much fuss about men getting older, thinking of them as old when they're only 40. Something very strange going on AKA sexism!

People saying they don't want to be too old to run around after their own kids when most people have plenty of energy in say their fifties, or worrying that they won't get to spend much time with their DGC's -
as others have said good or bad fortune regarding our health will make much more difference here than the odd 5 or even 10 years.

I think fertility and miscarriage are much more important things to consider if possible than the "I won't have enough energy when they're teenagers/ I don't want to be an older Mum" thing.
I think fertility and risk of miscarriage are things it would be good if more women were aware of before they decide to try for children, so as part of girls/people's general PSHE education

I had 20 just 2 months before the birth of my 1st child he was planned and it's the best decision I have ever made to have my kids young

I had just turned 20*

I was 22 and 25. Married and settled. Thinking back I think I woild wait 2-3 year more before having my first and grown myself as a person first.

23, had been together for 6 yrs and married for 1.

Am 16 weeks along with %231 and all going well I'll be 35+9months.

Would love to have had my family younger, and I always longed for a big family of 4-5 but DH and I married when I was 32 and I've had 3 miscarriages before this pregnancy.

Feeling blessed to be this far along but I wish I had more time on my side to leave a bigger gap before hopefully ttc %232 and %233.

I was 22 with my first 25 with the second and 28 the third.

I was 32.

The timing felt just right for me; career in a good place, done with all the partying, with a stable partner, but still young enough not to have too many fertility worries or "shit, let's get on with it!" panics. I still felt I had plenty of time ahead to have additional children (and I did...).

Any worries about being an older mum were immediately dispelled when I started NCT classes; five out of the six of us were also 32.

If I were 42 when I'd had my first, I might have struggled to have any more - I had my last period at 46 and seem to have gone through the menopause already.

40 & 41.At 39 I told new dp that we should get on with ttc as news stories saying it could take years. ..was pregnant within 2 weeks

I think it's interesting to compare my experience with my two best friends at school.

I had my first at 29, so about average for now but later than average for the time, 21 years ago. One of my friends had her first at 21 (and is now a grandmother), and the other had her first and only child at 44.

We were all born within six months of each other, but there is an age range of 23 years between the eldest child and the youngest.

Moomin DD was more or less the same age as yours when she started nursery. If it was 'wrong' to leave them that young, it wouldn't be an option!

The self justification thing is sad. I spent so long saying "But I am still doing this and that!" that I became absorbed with proving myself. It sucked so much of the joy from early motherhood. Then there's that thing when people say "But you're not like those teen parents. You're different." as if it's a compliment. Which teen parents are they talking about? The ones in the Daily Mail? Because I'm yet to meet one of those!

28. It wasn't planned but I felt ready, if still like a bit of a kid :) I'm glad it wasn't much earlier - anytime after 26 would have been fine for me personally, but 28 was pretty perfect. I've just turned 31 and am pregnant with DC2. I don't want to do it again after this and I hope that's not famous last words!

30 on the dot!

Esther I'm also yet to meet a teen parent who is anything like the stereotypes!

The nursery is incredible and I know she'll be so happy there, she's so sociable and loves seeing other babies. It's my own guilt I'm trying to fight against, because people have said I'm putting her there to forget I've had a baby and get on with my life... when actually I'm trying to build a better life for her!