Did you have a baby/babies after you turned 40?

dandy-candy

I turned 40 last year and I've been feeling really broody. I already have 3 kids between 15 and 21, but I would love more.
Is it much more tiring being a mum when you are over 40? And is the pregnancy much harder?
Friends think I'm mad as I'm just "getting my life back to myself" and tell me to get a puppy instead, but that isn't quite the same thing!
Can I hear women's experience of being pregnant and having weeny ones when you're over 40?

peachyprice

Not quite 40's, but I did have my youngest at 37, eldest two at 30. The difference that 7 years made was HUGE, the pregnancy and birth were fine, but once she was born it was all so much more tiring and hard work. One incy wincy baby was much harder work at 37 than twins at 30. I would have quite liked another but no way would I have done it again.

meritaten

no - but having grandkids to stay is lovely overnight, and a few times I have had them for a week or more and been glad to give them back! as much as I love them - I AM getting older and physically not able to keep up with them. (I do have disability problems though, and if you are VERY fit and active this may not apply).
If you are feeling broody maybe its for 'grandkids'?

marisco_2

Totally agree with peachyprice. I had my two boys in my late 20s and early 30s. I am now nearly 41 and looked after my 2 month old niece for a few days last week, to give my sister and bil a much needed break. Serious sleep deprivation and coping with the demands of such a young baby almost had me on my knees. I never remember feeling so tired when my two were at that stage.

Metranil_Vavin

I'm 41 in April and have a 6 month old baby and a 3 year old.

Yes it's tiring but I imagine it is at any age.

CharlieRabbit01

My mom had me and my brother at 21 and 26, she is turning 50 in may and has soon who is 7yro next month.

She says its harder and tiring but she loves him all the same.

It was weird for me though being 21 and my mom calls to say "I'm pregnant" it almost should have been the other way but it was her choice. Plus she stopped pestering me about when I was going to give her grandchildren. :-)

Toomuchdebt

I had my youngest at 39 and although he was a great baby who slept a lot I am finding it really really difficult now he is 3.5.I just don't have the energy to deal with him sometimes, and need more sleep than I did when I was younger.

FBaby

My mum had my sister at 42 20 years after she had me and loved it. However by then my step dad was retired (14 years older than her) and he did most of the childcare especially night feeds whilst. My mum worked part time. They were financially well off. My husband and I tried for a baby for years but I decided that 42 was my deadline. We both work full time and we would be much affected if one gave up work We are also both much too tired to look after a baby whilst both working full time and look after the two eldest too. Not talking about the cost of childcare. I have now accepted that I just have to be patient and hope to enjoy being a grand mother!

jetplane

Cant speak from personal experience but my best friend had her third baby when she was 42, he is 10 now, her other two have left home, she works full time and she is completely exhausted, her husband took early retirement last year to become a house husband. The pregnancy and birth didn't seem to phase her but looking after the baby did and she found that she relied heavily on her older two to help entertain him, look after him etc. Now that she is 52 she says it is not just the baby years but the school years, after school clubs, holidays and she is always struggling to keep up .

What does your husband think? I'm sure there will be other 40 / 50 year olds who come on and tell you how much they have enjoyed having a child later in life.

zartub

my wife had our 2nd little boy at 48 :eek:

was tiring at first but after a couple of months we got adjusted. Now he has just turned 4 and things are as normal, you have more patience it seems when your older and my wife went back to work after 9 months & still starts work part time for 7am , whilst i take him to nursery then off i go.

I think personally that it wouldn't be no different at out age baby or not we would still feel just as tired.

Gillyx

From my experience of reading this board and real life, that for many women who have kids who've flown the nest, getting to an age where soon your fertility will no longer be there, can have a funny affect on the body and give you an overwhelming urge to again have a baby. It's like it's now or never sort of fight going on in your head.

I can't answer your question about dealing with pregnancy later though.