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?

will be 29.5 when my first baby is born (currently 17 weeks pregnant) so bang on average then! Feels a good time, I am married but have enjoyed a couple of years of married life first. Don't have a mortgage yet but who can afford that in London suburbs?! DH is 35 so I may have waited longer but he didn't want to be 40+ when having our last child (ideally we want 2 with a reasonable gap).

20 I was working full time and in a long relationship olds wasn't planned but I wouldn't change it for the world. I'm now with someone new ds is now 12 and I'm expecting 2nd. I love my life as it is.
Also as I had ds young I had an early smear which diagnosed CIN3 pre cancer cells. If I hadn't have had early smear it would have been too late for me. Ds saved my life.

17 & no regrets

26 got married whilst pregnant (wedding booked before getting preggers). Been with DH since I was 16. (Now 35).

23 with 1st now 32 with 3rd. I'm a mw the average ago for 1st time mum where I work is 37 we have a lot of intervention and high risk pregnancies.

Whether we like it or not our bodies were designed to give birth in our younger years the research show there are more chances of complications the older you get. However not everyone has met their partner or wants kids in their 20's.

My mum remarried and had me at 37! My dad was 49 this was early 80's so not common and I often felt embarrassed of their age kids would tease and call them my grandparents.

27 and it was absolutely the right time for me.

I wish dh had talked me into it much earlier. We got married at 33 and started trying straight away. Took ages as you can see.

My body is ruined (not that it was so wonderful in the first place) and, despite not being 40 yet, I feel and look like an old lady.

I had a miscarriage early on in our relationship (I was 26ish) and I think if we'd had our dc then I would be healthier now. Though dh and I might not have lasted.

I agree we are designed to be young mums. Just mostly not mentally prepared for it.

I was 33 (34 later in the same month). It was the right time for me as I didn't want a child before this point - no maternal instinct at all.

Even if I had wanted one earlier, I suspect I wouldn't have had one due to financial constraints - while we were secure, there was little disposable income and maternity leave would have increased the monetary pressure. Although, where there is a will, there is a way, so who knows.

I was 22 when I had ds1 then 22 for dd1 and then 31 when I had my 3rd child ds2 and yes they all have the same dad lol ( I get asked that a lot due to age gaps).

39 for my first and it was the right age for me. I was not with the right man during my 20s & early 30s to have children. This is the right time for me.

31, which was almost five years ago. Younger than any of my friends/associates/DH's friends, other than one other woman. Most have had a baby mid-30s or older.

Unusually, younger than my own mother having her eldest, by two months!

39 just! No regrets. Had enjoyed good jobs, travelled, got a masters, met DH. Right time and many of my friends of similar age followed same pattern. Not unusually old at school gates either.

34

Hard enough then. Couldn't have done earlier.

I wouldn't expect MN users to match the research, though... The research shows that first time mothers NOW are averaging 30, whereas MN is full of mothers who had their kids x years ago when the average age of first time mothers was younger, iyswim. The age of MN users with pfb under 1 year old would be a fair comparison.

20. I'm 23 now and have 2.

Hate that I get judged for being young. DP and I are still together, he has a great paying job, I work part time. Nice house, nice car, don't claim benefits. (Not that there is anything wrong with claiming benefits, but it's the 'young mum stereotype')

25 - she was born five and a half weeks ago. Round here, I feel old for having my first! I'm the first of my friends though, and none of them are likely to have kids within the next five years. I'm pleased we didn't wait any longer.

30. Bang on the right age for us. Though dh is younger!!

31 - she's 9 now. But it took years to conceive her. I then went on to have a baby at 33 and 36.

28. Perfect for me. I don't think it's the age though, it's where you are with life. I met my future husband at 23, engaged at 26, married at 27 then first baby at 28.

Am currently a bit overdue but will be 26 still when it's born.

Me and my partner have been together for 5 years, have degrees, good jobs and are financially secure but have still had a few raised eyebrows from others about my age (he is older).

40

22

37
Would have preferred to be younger but the relationships weren't right and that was way more important thqn age

38