Age when you had your first child?

AggieNurse2B · Dec 5, 2005

First baby at 29--one month shy of my 30th birthday. :uhoh3:

Second baby at 31

They're 18 months apart.

sherichance · Dec 5, 2005

I was 22 when I had my son. I honestly think it was too soon for me. My husband and I just gotten married months before I wound up pregnant. It wasnt an accident but we always said if it happens thats great but if it doesnt thats ok too.

I really wish I would have waited and finished school to have a baby. I am still in the process of finishing off school and its just hard with a 3.5 year old and my husband is deployed over half of the year.

Everyone has their own preference when they would like a baby and I wish I would have waited a few years more. But I cant imagine life without Spencer right now. He keeps me going!!!

Atlanta Kellie · Dec 5, 2005

I think that's a great age to have started. Wish I would have waited.

nurse2be2007 · Dec 5, 2005

1# - 20 girl born with encephalocele

(made me and hubby grow up real fast)

2# - 24 girl born healthy

3# - 27 girl born healthy

4# - 32 girl born healthy

I dont believe that there is right time or age to have a baby. If you wait until you are financially stable, then you might not ever have any children because who is every financially ready to have a baby. If you wait until you are the right age, there is no right age although I do agree that 18-40 sounds like a nice range, then again you might not ever think you are ready age wise.

I had my first one at 20, she was born with an encephalocele and underwent brain surgery at 4 hours old. She endured many surgery's in her short life but never a day went by that she wasnt loved. I was blessed to have her in my life for 4 1/2 short years but she was the most happiest, joyous little girl anyone could ever ask for. Hubby and I are high school sweethearts, so there was no doubt in either of our minds what we wanted out of life. We wanted to be married for the rest of our lives and we wanted to have children. I wanted to start early because I wanted to enjoy my children and have my older years to enjoy my hubby. It didnt quite work out as planned as #4 was an ooopsie baby and yea you would think that after three kids and being 32/33 years old we would have known better but hey everyone makes mistakes at all ages LOL. Got caught up in the moment hehehe.

Yes we struggled, I was a stay at home mom and hubby worked. We went without new clothes but my children never went without a thing. We were never on welfare (not that I think there is anything wrong with it if you do) but we managed very well without it. We are better off now because hubby went through a 4 year apprenticeship for journeyman carpenter program and is making great money. I am still a stay at home mom and a full time pre-nursing, soon to be nursing student. I may have started my college career later in life but this is what was right for me. I probably wouldnt have went to college in my younger years. Having children grew me up real fast. It was the best thing for me.

Anyway, I will stop my rambling here. I just wanted to say that no matter what I wouldnt change anything in my life. If I had to do all over again I would do it exactly the same way. No regrets at all.

sugabuga · Dec 5, 2005

So you all agree that finishing school before starting a family is the best choice? (This is my own question, paper was a hit!!!)

HisTreasure, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2005

So you all agree that finishing school before starting a family is the best choice? (This is my own question, paper was a hit!!!)

I think school would be much easier without children, but it depends on the person. Personally, before I had children I had very little motivation but now my children are my motivation. I want to show my children that an education is important, and even if they make unconventional choices (such as getting married or having children before finishing college) their lives aren't over and that they can still reach their goals.

HisTreasure, BSN, RN · Dec 5, 2005

Your kids' ages match up with my first four and MY ages when I had them. I, too, was a stay-at-home mom and sometimes I felt like my head was spinning so hard it would fly into space. I loved my kids (and still do) to distraction, but those early years were a challenge. My husband is only a year older than I am, but, like yours, he was very supportive, helped with the kids, and was extremely in favor of my going back to school. We couldn't swing it until I was in my mid-thirties and even then, with a houseful of teens (we had two more after the first four), there were days when I thought my brain would turn to mush and leak out my ears.
The kids are all pretty well launched now. My husband and I are still together, and it's like we're the newlyweds we didn't have much time to be way back when. Having the kids close together has allowed them to be really good friends as well as siblings.
Feel free to PM me if you ever need a word of encouragement from someone who's been there and lived to tell about it.
You have my prayers for a safe and successful delivery. When is your due date?
Take care,

Thank you so much for the encouraging post. It is hard sometimes, but I am blessed and I know that soon enough they will grow out of these phases. :uhoh21: As for my due date, that is unknown. I am measuring large for nine weeks, I've gained five pounds, and I did not have a regular cycle in October so I need a dating ultrasound in the next month or so. My OB/GYN hasn't set a date for the ultrasound yet, but she does want to draw more blood tomorrow. Maybe for hCg levels? I don't know, but as it stands now my EDD is July 12, 2006.

TweetiePieRN · Dec 9, 2005

So you all agree that finishing school before starting a family is the best choice? (This is my own question, paper was a hit!!!)

For us, most definitely. Like I previously mentioned, I got all my schooling done and got the RN license before I pregnant. This enabled me to buy a home, buy a newer, safer family car...and be able to afford all the crazy expensive necessities that babies need!! Also, thanks to our nurse's union out here and a new law...I was able to stay on maternity leave for 6 months and got paid for most of it.

Kaseyrn2b · Dec 9, 2005

I was 24 w/ DD, 29 W/ ds and I'll be 32 w/ #3 ( I'm due in July :) I think being a young mommy has been great. I was finished w/ school and married and it helped, though we certainly have less financial resources than those who waited until 30s. My biggest reason for liking starting early is that MY parents and inlaws are still young enough to enjoy their grandkids. I don't think there's a perfect time, just what works best for you. Also, you never know whats around the bend, my best friend started really early, got married at 18 and started having kids at 19, all very planned. At 30 she had a total hysterectomy, and had many many probs that would have made being pg after about 28 impossible....just a thought!

Balder_LPN, LPN · Dec 9, 2005

I was a dad at age 18 #2 at age 22. (i was three generations in a row that we became a father at 18, that made my sons great-great-grandpa only 72 years old; my son broke that tradition, thank God) I gained two step kids at 31.

Waiting till I had some more maturity and financial stability would have been better. I was working as a security guard for $3.45 an hour in 1985! that was 10 cents over minimum wage, I thought I was doing well when I moved to a new job site that paid $4.25.

The upside is that I will be travel nursing with my wife and all our kids off to college or wherever at the ripe old age of 43 or so.

jprn05 · Dec 9, 2005

27

CCarlz · Dec 10, 2005

I am expecting my first child, who is due on or around the 7th of June next year. I am 28. I am just sqeaking by at 28, my birthday is in July.