Is 33 a good age to have a first baby?

[Anonymous]

I was 32 and 34... (I'm 35 now). It was right for me. I got pregnant the first month both times. I also thought I wanted a third so had the first two as quickly as I could to buy myself some time to work my husband for #3... But now I'm not so sure myself....

Separately, I found bouncing back after #1 easy... after #2 has been a different story. I've lost the weight but still am soft in a lot of places. I older, more tired, metabolism slowing, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anecdotal, but I found out that my eggs were "old and crappy" when I was 30. I ultimately had success with IVF at 32 and 34. I don't know if I'd have had a hard time in my 20s as well, but it doesn't hurt to have a basic workup with an IF doctor so you can see if there are any easily knowable issues.

You should also think about your spacing with three kids. Your body needs some time to recover after each pregnancy, so I would think you would be at LEAST 37 with the last, and that could involve three day care payments for some period of time if the youngest isn't yet in school. There are trade-offs in every direction and just so much you can't control.

[Anonymous]

I started TTC right when I turned 30. It took 4 months to get pregnant. I miscarried. It took me 2 years to get pregnant again, even with some fertility treatments. I delivered my first baby at 33. I got pregnant again on the first try when she was a year old. I miscarried again.

As others have said, you might get pregnant immediately or it could take some time. There is no way to know until you start trying.

[Anonymous]

Haven't read other responses, but it's really going to vary, everybody is different. I got pregnant with my first at 36 after 2 months (and we weren't timing ovulation or anything like that). Perfectly healthy, happy baby.

[Anonymous]

I haven't read all the posts but I am sure everyone is giving their anecdotal stories that they couldn't get pregnant at 33 or did get pregnant at 43. I've seen both. Most people have no issues at 33. Some people have no issues in early 40s. But remember for all women fertility begins to fall after 35 quickly, so if you want 3, you are really pushing it to start at 33 even with great fertility. I recently saw this article (albeit in the daily news) that makes this point well. If you want 3 kids, it is a risk for any woman to wait till 33 (again, recognizing that there are lots of women that have no problems in late 30s/early 40s).

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3104023/NHS-chief-warns-women-not-wait-30-baby-country-faces-fertility-timebomb.html

My own story is that I could not get pregnant when I tried at 30 without medical help. By 34 when I tried for second my fertility was nearly dead. Took 8 IVFs (which most people cannot afford and which emotionally was horrible) and I am finally pregnant with #2 at 37. I wanted 3 but I have accepted it probably won't happen. I would NEVER advise waiting, or at least, go get a fertility workup to see where you stand.

[Anonymous]

I had my first at 33 and second at 36. No fertility issues with either. That said, I wish I had started at 31. for me, I really enjoy being a mom so not sure why I didn't start earlier. And I'll probably be pretty old when I'm a grandparent. My kids have great relationships with their relatively young and active grandparents and I hope I'm not going to be too old to be that kind of grandparent.

[Anonymous]

i started trying at 29, got pregnant at 33, and will have the baby when i am 34.

[Anonymous]

If you want a child, and you are over 30, start trying as soon as reasonably possible. Logistical reasons may present certain additional costs. But a spate of failed IVF cycles can be even more expensive. I went through 8 cycles before concluding that I am infertile.

[Anonymous]

I had 2 in my twenties (married high school boyfriend)
Decided as ship was sailing to try for a third at 33. I had two miscarriages and issues and decided to stop after realizing I was happy with what I had.
I am really glad I had them younger.
If you really want kids and feel you are ready, don't wait.
My dh was in grad school when we had ours and everything was fine. We worked with what we had financially
If I waited until 30s, I may have never been able to have children at all

[Anonymous]

Firmly ask your OB to check your AMH.

Track your cycles starting now, and note any unusual spotting.

If your AMH is fine and you are regular with nothing unusual going on, I don't think it's crazy to wait a year.

I myself had some unusual spotting and it turned out to be a uterine polyp preventing pregnancy. I was NTNP for about a year during this time, then when I went more active TTC I was educated enough about my cycle to press forward with being evaluated, got it removed, and conceived within 2 months. 1st kid born when I was 33, now pregnant with my 2nd and I'll be 35 at birth.

If you don't have trouble conceiving, I think it's a pretty great age for your 1st kid, but note that you will likely be AMA for your next ones.

[Anonymous]

I would go for it. If you feel secure in your marriage and are doing reasonably well, don't wait. I didn't feel completely ready for # 1, and I would have waited if a doctor hadn't strongly suggested to me during an annual check up that now is the time to try. Had first at 34. It wasn't easy because the baby didn't have an easy personality, but I'm so glad we went for it then.

[Anonymous]

We didn't conceive for two years so ended up with IVF for kid #1. Shady grove doc said unexplained reasons after months of trying. Two rounds of IVF. Gave birth at 35. Then we conceived #2 naturally after four or five random attempts. We were shocked to find out pregnancy at age 38. So being older at 38 didn't affect us.

Pregnancy is tough so get pregnant when you are ready, next summer. Being 32 v 33 v even 34 doesn't matter as much as not having other stressors (logistics, other child, job, whatever). Each pregnancy thereafter could be even harder because you are tired taking care of #1 on top of being pregnant. Huge difference. If you get a cold, expect it to last over three weeks. I am on week 5.

[Anonymous]

I found out I was pregnant a month before my 34th birthday, after 3 months of trying and 3 months off birth control. I am currently in my 5th month.

Like PP have said - there's just no way to know. I am healthy and had normal check-ups so my doctor didn't expect me to have issues. I know that as women we have to worry about our fertility, but I personally don't think you're in the danger zone.

I also want to point out that there's no "perfect time" to have a baby. Do you REALLY need to wait a year to try?

[Anonymous]

It is individual for each women. Statistically, it becomes more difficult as you advance into you 30's. I personally was unable to get pregnant naturally when I began trying at 33. It took two years of fertility treatments. My doctor was unable to pinpoint a reason.

Keep in mind that you also have a significantly increased chance of having multiples if you use fertility treatment, with that added health risks to mother and child that go along with multiple pregnancies.

[Anonymous]

This is just kind of a stupid question as everyone's responses are saying. Every woman is different. Never know what your fertility situation is. If you want 3 I'd start trying. There's never a perfect time to start and you never know what obstacles you'll face. Took me 16 months to get pregnant!