Anonymous wrote:I had my first at 32, second and third at 34 and then my last pregnancy at 39, which was a Down Syndrome baby. I'm surprised to be the first to report this complication, which increases with AMA. I suspect those with complications are more reluctant to post.

I live in a major city and everyone I know who was pregnant over 35 did NIPT/CVS/amnio and terminated problematic pegnancies. I too had a chromosomally pregnancy in my late 30s that I terinated in the 14th week and went on to have a healthy child after that. Zero regrets.

I had #1 just before turning 37. Terminated a pregnancy at 39 for medical reasons. Successful pregnancy at 40. Got pregnant easily each time. Pregnancies were fine. Have young kids in my mid-40s has been fine. I enjoyed the freedom of my 20s/30s.

Two by IVF - one at 38 and one at 40. Got pregnant this year at 42. What a surprise. We'll see how good I feel towards the end. but so grateful for my kiddos

Anonymous wrote:#1 at 44 and #2 at 46 (9 weeks today) both DE babies. Extremely easy pregnancies and recoveries. I didn't get married until almost 40. My grandmother had twins in her 40's so I likely could have conceived with my own with a few more rounds of IVF but moved to de to speed up the process. Age doesn't guarantee anything. DH is 7 years younger and his parents are a good 15 years younger than my 80/85 year old parents and mine run circles around them! My parents were the "older" parents when they had me so I guess I don't see the age issue as a huge deal...

Thank you for this. 42 with a one year old. We met at 39 and waited just long enough to know we could parent together to start trying.

Its young moms who have Down syndrome babies now, because they are not tested. Many older moms quietly have a "miscarriage" and do not announce the reason.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Had mine both before 35. I'm comfortable financially. And so are many others. So there goes that theory.

Telling people they can easily have their first at 45 is giving them false hope. Sure, it happens for some. But for many it either doesn't happen past 40 or the child has developmental issues or other things previously mentioned. I know many post 40 who wanted a second who couldn't have one. So just bc you had one already doesn't automatically mean you will be able to have a second. I have a friend with two kids born post 40 and both diagnosed with special needs. It's tough for her.
Bottom line- don't wait.

45 is a totally different story that late 30s, IMO. I don't know a single person who had a child when she was between 35-41 that has had a child with special needs or developmental issues. In fact, the only person I know that had a Trisomy baby was 27 when she had her daughter.

No. Living in Bethesda, home of the granny mom, I know many many women with SN kids. Not Down so much because of testing, but other things.

OP I had mine in my 40s and you would be surprised that EVERY SINGLE WOMAN I know who had her kids in her 30s said she could "easily get pregnant again" no problem! 15- 18 years later!

^^ Our children are a joy, but the cost in every way, has been high.

I had twins at 45. The pregnancy was uneventful. Its not the pregnancy -- its raising them and being in your 60s when they are still in HS. We have stayed in touch with many of our college friends -- health is certainly not guaranteed past age 55. Some of the ones are surprising. But their kids are fully functioning adults. One other thing -- income tends to peak around that time -- but inflation does not stop. So while you were "comfortable" at 45 financially, the very high cost of everything related to children keeps rising, but your income does not match it. We would have been retired long ago. Instead we are just barely paying for college.

Anonymous wrote:I have two at age 31 and I'm a big law attorney with lots of money in the bank. Financial security and children at a young age feels like the best of all worlds. I plan to have #3 by 33 and then wait a bit and have #4 by 38.

You are going to have 4 kids and work at biglaw? You will not have enough time for them.

Anonymous wrote:I have two at age 31 and I'm a big law attorney with lots of money in the bank. Financial security and children at a young age feels like the best of all worlds. I plan to have #3 by 33 and then wait a bit and have #4 by 38.

Same exact situation here except I SAH and DH is a partner at his firm. I feel extremely blessed to have the kids and the financial security at a relatively young age. I wouldn't judge anyone on when they had their kids. It's neither here nor there.

I have two at age 31 and I'm a big law attorney with lots of money in the bank. Financial security and children at a young age feels like the best of all worlds. I plan to have #3 by 33 and then wait a bit and have #4 by 38.

#1 at 44 and #2 at 46 (9 weeks today) both DE babies. Extremely easy pregnancies and recoveries. I didn't get married until almost 40. My grandmother had twins in her 40's so I likely could have conceived with my own with a few more rounds of IVF but moved to de to speed up the process. Age doesn't guarantee anything. DH is 7 years younger and his parents are a good 15 years younger than my 80/85 year old parents and mine run circles around them! My parents were the "older" parents when they had me so I guess I don't see the age issue as a huge deal...

I had my kids at 36 and 39. Relatively easy pregnancies and deliveries.

I had my first at 32. I'm now 38 and TTC, hoping my second will be born before I'm 40. It wasn't what I had planned, but it's my life and my family and I wouldn't want any other. I don't care at all what anyone else might think about it.