Any older moms out there?

[Anonymous]

Had my twins 3 days shy of my 45th b'day. I was significantly overweight and it was my first and only pregnancy.

Healthy pregnancy, well/easily managed late stage high blood pressure, god awful discomfort of about 1,000 different kinds throughout the pregnancy but I worked until the day I delivered and exercised until about 2 weeks before.

Carried the twins to 37 weeks and then scheduled a c-section. Two healthy babies, easy recovery from the surgery, and everyone continues to be well and healthy now as they're in elementary school.

I'm tired, a lot, but can't tell if that would be less if I were 10 or 20 years younger. I am sure my knees would be in better shape, and I'd be more energetic. But I'm also sure that my financial resources, strong marriage, and maturity are major assets I wouldn't have had 10 or 20 years ago.

I do not feel as conspicuously old when around the moms of their peers as I expected to. Sometime I am, sure, but more often than not there's a reasonable cohort of mothers who are within a few years of my age. It does make it more likely that I'll continue to dye my hair for a few years, but it may also mean that we retire just as they're applying for finanical aid for college and can therefore legitimately claim no income for the FAFSA forms.

Don't overthink it OP - you'll do great and you'll have tons of company in your age group. Congratulations!

[Anonymous]

welcome, but not sure if you are even in my club! had my first at 43, he's almost 19, and then twins at 46. after many years of infertility, of course. Many of my college friends are becoming grandparents, I'm happy to have my brood, and yes, I'll color my hair forever (but I can still wear the clothes I wore at age 25)

[Anonymous]

I had #2 at 42. No fertility treatment except acupuncture. We were very lucky. Kid is healthy and almost 2 now. There’s a reason most people have kids when they’re younger.

No part of my body bounced back this time. I went pretty quickly back to my pre pregnancy weight but my breasts are 3 sizes smaller and my hips are 2 sizes bigger. But maybe that would have happened anyway. After DC1 everything went back to normal size shape and location. I was 39 then.

Working full time with 2 kids under 5 is freaking exhausting. Is it more exhausting at 43 than at 33? How the hell do I know. My friends who are younger with kids in the same age group are exhausted too. Also one of my kids has never slept well, so I haven’t had a solid week of sleeping through the night since 2015. And I think that’s really true!

But I do think it’s harder in my 40s, the same way I can’t pull an all nighter for work (or fun) and still function the next day or drink a bottle (or even a full glass!) of wine without a headache like I could a decade ago.

My kids are amazing and the light of my life. Sometimes I wish I’d had them 10 years younger, but I’m betting in a few years I’ll join the women saying they keep me young! Rather than - they make me feel so old!