How old were you when you had your first child?

[MLR]

Got married at 34, delivered at 36.

Now at 38.5, really wished had started much earlier. Don't think can hv another, too old for it. I had an easy pregnancy, cos we were all prepared for a difficult time, but it was easy breezy. No morning sickness, no craving, no aches and pains that i normally had, easy delivery too. The only snag was that I had to be induced at 38 weeks, cos my BP was high. DH couldn't believed how smooth things went, he even suspect some of the things about pregnancy difficulties are just wives trying to get extra attention. :roll:

If I hv a 2nd chance, it would be had 1st child before 30 yrs old.

[pea]

I delivered at 38. Do I take the cake?


Pros :
1. Have some savings from the years of work so I can choose to be SAHM for a few years. Also, easy to return to work as I have many contacts who liked my work and experience and are still asking me when I’m returning to the workforce, not bad in these hard times.

2. Enjoyed about 4 years of married life without kids with my hubby. Even stayed in USA for about 1 year when my hubby was sent there for work, did a lot of backpacking which would have been difficult with a kid.

Cons :
1. Panting to keep up with active toddler.

2. Grandparents hitting 70, too old to help me look after kid.

[pea]

Something a bit funny. At my class reunion last year, My old friends were talking mostly about their kids' PSLE, GEP, even secondary schools etc. When they asked me, I whipped out my baby's photos to show them. They were like ... :shock: You still got energy meh?

[ChiefKiasu]

pea:

I delivered at 38. Do I take the cake?...

Hats off to you! You know what they say, better late than never.

[MLR]

My SIL had her 3rd child at 42, after a 6 yrs gap.


I do feel tired by 10pm, my collegue with 2 or 3 kids, are in their early 30s whom are burnt out as compared. They often remarked how do i managed to rush home cooked dinner and pick up DS from cc within 90 mins. I feel its about time management. I normally prep my cooking during weekends and cook more each time and freeze the extra portion for next week. that means i only need about 20mins to finish cooking/heating up dinner. I m also blessed with very understanding boss who never asks us to do OT, so I always leave on time. On bad days, its a 40 mins home, normal day its 20 mins.

Clean up a room a day after DS fall asleep. DH do his share too, i cook he cleans, i wash he hangs up laundry, i swipe he mops, take turn for ironings once a week, he send DS to cc i pick him up......

I guess being more matured parents also means we are more intune with each other about such things.

[jedamum]

Considering the above poll that most parents have their first kid at age >30s, does it mean that the older the parents, the more kiasu they are (and the deeper pockets for more enrichment due to the years of building up career and savings)? :?

[pea]

ChiefKiasu:

pea:

I delivered at 38. Do I take the cake?...

Hats off to you! You know what they say, better late than never.

Thanks Chief! Yep, you're right! So glad I was not influenced by people who said that I was too old.

I think that one's health and frame of mind is more important than just age per se. Though it's also true that higher age carries a greater risk of pregnancy complications, so need to think through properly before going ahead.

Hi MLR! Did your SIL have any problems delivering at 42? You sound like a very capable person, juggling work and family. Thought of having a 2nd child?

[MLR]

Hi Pea,


She didn’t had much complications, except for high BP that she had to monitor throughout the gestation period. She did got a hernia after her delivery.

I very much agree to your saying about: "I think that one’s health and frame of mind is more important than just age per se. Though it’s also true that higher age carries a greater risk of pregnancy complications, so need to think through properly before going ahead."

We do think about DS being lonely and what would happen to him being alone should something happen to us, would he be a selfish and self-centred when hes gets older, etc… My BP is on the high side now, and I m monitoring it. So that would be a very high risk pregnancy, should I get preg now.

We have a friend who had a child at age 65, hes already a grandad to teenage grandkids. We are all wondering what was he thinking!!!??? Hes now 67, but hes in better health than some of us, he rides his bicycle everywhere, he dives, he lives a very active lifestyle despite hving 2 hips replacement and 2 knees replacement. What your take on dat???

[ChiefKiasu]

MLR:

...We have a friend who had a child at age 65, hes already a grandad to teenage grandkids. We are all wondering what was he thinking!!!??? Hes now 67, but hes in better health than some of us, he rides his bicycle everywhere, he dives, he lives a very active lifestyle despite hving 2 hips replacement and 2 knees replacement. What your take on dat???

Hmm... we men seldom think very much when it comes to these things. Guess that comes from not having to carry the load

[pea]

Hi MLR!


That's the unfairness in this world. The man can have a kid at any age but have you heard of any woman having a baby at 65? Apart from some exceptions in recent news but that's through IVF, donor egg etc.

As Chief puts it, the guy doesn't need to carry the load for 9 months...

But he may not be around when his kid is taking the PSLE! That's for the child.

Btw, how old is this guy's wife? Or is it a 2nd wife :idea: