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?

37 with first, 38 with 2nd and 41 with third.

I met dh at 27 and we started trying when I was 30, we started fertility treatment at 32 and then I had a molar pregnancy that became cancerous. By the time chemotherapy had finished and I was given the all clear to start again, I was 36.

We were very lucky to have 3 dcs in relatively quick succession, but I would have liked to have had them younger, especially as ds is disabled and I worry about being older as he grows up and is still dependent.

I was 25 when I had my first. I've just had my second at 28. I always said to DH that I didn't want any more children after 30. I felt like a teenage mum when I had dd1 in London. Most of the mums I met at baby groups were late thirties early forties.

I was 19, had a full time job and mortgage and have no regrets.

31 and glad I waited.

Clockwatching, you're right. Even the ONS don't make it clear! Argh! www.ons.gov.uk/ons/dcp171778_371129.pdf

34. I was 36 when I had my second, and I grumbled to my midwife that I supposed I was classed as an old mum given I was over 35, but she said that thigns have changed since those days. She said that she sees relatively few mums in their twenties - most are in their teens or in their thirties.

32 (and DC2 at 35)

I remember being shocked at being called 'elderly'!

I didn't have a choice. DH and I weren't ready to marry when we met, and I didn't want to have children before we got married. Me turning 30 was the trigger point for DH to propose. We were out for dinner to celebrate my birthday and I raised the subject of my age/babies - and then he proposed. He always says I forced him into it!

27 and 31for second child.

I was 23 when I had my first although I'm pretty sure that the average was about 27 a few years ago so I wasn't much under.

I had my last baby when I was 27. I wanted to have all my babies before 30 and I'm really glad I did.

Not unusual in my family or our area although we did move whilst I was pregnant and its very much frowned upon here. I had DC2 when I was 26 and all the mums at groups etc are my age or older and having their first.

Oly, thank you for that link.

So - I am very happy to be corrected by anyone who knows better, but I'm not sure that those stats are talking about age for first time motherhood. And I think perhaps whoever wrote the newspaper articles didn't know how to interpret the ONS report either. It depends on the definition of phrases like "age of mother". Any ideas, anyone?

It looks to me like perhaps they're saying "the average age of a mother giving birth is now 30. This increase is partly because of an increase in the age of first-time motherhood".
And we (and the newspapers) are interpreting this as "age at first-time motherhood is now 30".

But I've only skim-read TBH so please do correct me.

Ready to be judged, imagining those pants being hoiked right up.

16

Not married, still at school, living with parents. By the time DS was born I was living in a council flat with his dad. He didn't work either.

But I did breast feed DS.

26 for 1st DC, 29 for number 2. Managed to squeeze in a gap year, degree and career stable before hand. Glad I had them relatively early as feeling my age now and definitely would struggle with sleepless nights!

32. So a bit above average ... but in the Netherlands (currently living) they seem to think I'm a young Mum.

I was 34. I'm super happy I waited, I'm a better mother than I'd have been if I'd had them younger, I'd had a great young life with lots of travel. Being older worked for me.

If I'm half the mother my own mother was, then I'm doing fantastic. She was 18 when she had my sis and 23 when she had me. I'm definitely not an old bird who complains about young mums, I adore mine.

29 with first, 32 with second, 36 with third

32 first time. Then 35. Then 38.

Got a lecture off GP first time round for leaving it so late and got told I would be classed as a geriatric mother.

All my ante-natal group were the same age (ish) as me.

Two weeks short of my 39th birthday

I was 40, long time married and settled in our jobs

38 with the first, and 39 with my second.

I never had any comments about being too old. In fact, I was the one bringing it up and the midwifes just looked and said loads of women in their 40's have babies now, so 30 something wasn't old.

Perfect age imo. Had a blast in my 20's, lots of immature fun. No regrets, and I won't get to 40 and start feeling old. I'll have two under two to entertain me instead :D

40 then 43 & 11months.
Just a late starter but got my 2 v easily.

32 and perfect age for me. Hoping to have baby 2 at 35/36 if it all works out. Fingers crossed!

18