What are my chances to have a child?

You’ve got plenty of time left. There are some heightened risk factors with primagravidas after 35, but many women have their first children in their late 30s or early 40s. The doctors just would watch you more and run more tests.

There is no ideal time. it all depends on you and what is going on in your life.

I’m 28 and have been wondering the same thing for a couple of years. Deciding if I want one at all, or two, or more. After giving it some thought, my serious answer is it is probably best to have a child in your early to mid 30’s.

If you are a 27 year old female, your chances of having a kid if you want one are pretty much 100% .. if having a kid is all you are interested in without how it turns out.

If you are a 27 year old male who is single and still watches xena princess warrior, your chances are significantly lower.

You’re still so young! Don’t worry about it. My mother had me at the ripe age of 44. Anything can happen, so hakuna matata!

I’d like to give you something to consider. First and foremost, realize that any pregnancy at age 35 and older is considered high risk. If you have never carried a baby to term and delivered a child, getting pregnant at 35 or older is an additional high risk factor in the equation.

You have a limited number of eggs. The longer you wait, the older the eggs become and the higher the potential for a non-viable egg and miscarriage, spontaneous abortion or Downs Syndrome or other issues. The longer you wait, the more potential for problems and the smaller the window for a viable pregnancy.

Let’s just say you are 30 years old. Suppose you try to get pregnant when you are 31 and it takes six months or longer to get pregnant. (The window each month to get pregnant is about 24 hours.) Suppose that three months into the pregnancy you lose the baby. Emotionally and physically you wait a few more months to try to get pregnant again. Now you are nearing 32. The cycle starts all over again with you trying to get pregnant.

If you discover you or your partner have fertility problems in this example; then this is another roadblock in the path to being a parent. I think it is important to realized these things I mentioned.

When, and if, you decide that you are ready to have a baby; have a physical and let your doctor know your plans. Most physicians will provide you with good advice on getting pregnant, what to eat and what to avoid and hopefull they will get you started on prenatal vitamins before you get pregnant.

After 35 your fertility begins to decline. Of course that is not a magic number for everyone, but that is the average. Right now, assuming you are healthy regarding fertility, you probably produce around 10–14 follicles every month in your ovaries, and a healthy egg is very likely to pop out when you ovulate. In your late 30’s maybe you have 8–12 follicles, and that keeps decreasing until your ovaries finally stop. You can have a healthy child up through your 40’s, but the likelihood of down syndrome and some other genetic diseases go up after 35. Most women over 35 are advised to get testing done to evaluate the fetus, and then you can decide whether to keep the pregnancy or not.

Many of the actresses you see on TV having babies in their 40’s had fertility help. Either IVF or a surrogate, or someone else’s eggs were used. Sure people get pregnant on their own into their mid 40’s but it is statistically unlikely.

If you cycle regularly, and the women in your family tend to go through menapause at a typical age like around the age of 50, probably your fertility will be fine for another 10 years easy. But, that is assuming nothing bad happens, God forbid, to affect your own natural fertility course.

I’m 27, with two kids, and I’m thinking I have another 10 year period in which to actively try. Everything after that will give me anxiety.

One thing in your favor, @Simone_De_Beauvoir, from a fertility standpoint, is the fact that you’ve had two healthy children. Granted, I’m just speaking to that fact. I know nothing about any other failed attempts you may or may not have had when trying to conceive.

But if you waited until you were well into your 20s or 30s and attempted for the first time to have children; that is where time is of the essence if it is found out that you have fertility problems. From a medical standpoint, any woman over 35 and pregnant for the first time – or not the first time – is considered a high risk pregnancy.

@bkcunningham I know. Also, I did have one miscarriage. Anywho, I wish the OP luck in their pursuits.

I’ve heard that there are studies showing that a women who has had previous miscarriages does not have a higher percentage of having a miscarriage than a mother who has had healthy births!

@Schroedes13 I’ve heard some studies for and against.

I would think at least 50% of women have had miscarriages? I have no idea the real number, but somewhere between 25–30% of pregnancies miscarry. 20% of known pregnancies. The numbers are very high.

Don’t feel pressure from anyone in your life including what your doctor says. Do what is right for you. By THE WAY MY MOM HAD ME WHEN SHE WAS 32 AND SHE ALMOST DIED. Not because she was too old but because even though she was supposed to have a c- section the doctor who was in charge completely did the wrong thing (vaginal delivery)and she ended up hemorrhaging and falling into a coma for a few days. I am not kidding you when I say this!

@emeraldisles What does that have to do with anything?

There is no right or wrong answer. The best time for you is when you can afford the medical and 18 year extended costs of providing for a child, and provide a loving home.

If you are concerned about the medical issues, consult a gynecologist that specializes in pregnancy.