Moms in 30+ range starting families? - Page 3

[Addie]

I had DS at 31. DH and I met at 18, started dating at 20, and got married at 25. I guess we like to take our time.

I'm honestly at peace with having DS when we did. Neither of us wanted a big family, we'd both be happy with two kids (though DS is 8 months and I'm in no hurry to have another right away). Like a PP said, I feel like I'm a much better mom now than I would have been in my 20s. DH and I both really value the time we got to spend together as a young couple without kids. We traveled around the country, lived abroad, got graduate degrees, and generally just had a heck of a time. I believe those experiences strengthened us as a couple and they help us navigate the realities of life with a baby. Plus, we had time to establish ourselves financially and settle in a city with a reasonable cost of living, allowing me to be a SAHM with little sacrifice.

Health-wise, I have been very fortunate. I got pregnant as soon as I went off BC and my pregnancy was a breeze. I've lost all of my pregnancy weight at this point (I didn't keep track exactly, but I gained at least 40 lbs). I definitely have more aches and pains than I remember having a few years ago, but it's nothing terrible.

[happysmileylady]

I am not "starting" my family in my 30s, but starting over in my 30s. I had my first dd when I was 18. I was a single mom for many years, and met DH when dd1 was 4, we got married when she was 6. We started ttc right away, but ended up needing 6 years and an IVF. My oldest just turned 13 when dd2 was born. And I am now pg again, without fertility treatments, at age 32, and dd1 will be 15 in December.

Having had one so young and doing it again more than a decade later, I have to say that I think physically speaking pregnancy and newborn phase is easier when you are younger. I absolutely had more energy, both through the pregnancy and the baby years. I totally felt that it was so much more draining being older this time around.

On the flip side, I feel like I am parenting more "on purpose" this time around. I have some clearer ideas of how I want to parent and what I want teach and do with my kids. And part of that is having that first time around and seeing how my teen is growing and maturing, but part is also having that decade to think on it.

[momct]

I had my son three weeks after I turned 46.He was conceived naturally , however we had gone through 4 years of unsuccessful fertility treatments.We had waited till I was 40to try to start to have a family and had two miscarriages before starting treatment.The doctors will constantly stress the drop off in fertility after 35. Also there is the increased risk for birth defects.Looking back, I would have done this so much sooner and not let some things be roadblocks.I would not assume you can control the spacing of your children ,because things do not always go as planned.If you really want more children ,I would be more focused on that rather than the difference in their ages.I had overwhelming regret when I did not become pregnant during fertility treatments and was told that there was no more hope. My son's conception and birth saved me from that ,but I was a rare exception.I met many women in the waiting room, much younger than I ,with unfufilled baby dreams.