I don't think you are too old to have a baby at all. What I would worry about is what your 18 year old might think about it. I'm only 20 so I think I might be able to give you some perspective on that (if you want to hear it that is). I got pregnant when I was 18, and my mom had me when she was 20, so she was only 38 when I got pregnant. I think it would be really weird if my mom had another baby now because she already has a grandson. Think about your 18 year old having a child within the next few years (hopefully at least a few years away!) and you still having a baby at home, would that be weird for you?

I am not trying to judgmental by any means and it is completely your decision, not the decision of your 18 year old child, but still, something to think about. I guess this post just caught my eye mostly because you are about the same age as my mom, and I already have a child of my own.

38 is a perfect age to have a baby, especially since you have older children who can help out, including the 18 year old.

Many women are postponing having children until they are in their 30s and 40s and as long as you're healthy you should be fine. You have 2 y/os already so 2 years doesn't make too much difference in your age range.

Good luck!

I say go for it!!!! I also wish you luck. I agree with the previous post that some women are having babies later. I had my son the day before I turned 18. He is now 15 yrs old & I'm pregnant for the first time since having him. I'm 33 & thrilled to be having a baby, regardless of the age difference between both of my kids. My dear friend has 3 children & their ages range from 20 to 7. My friend is 40 yrs old & 7 wks pregnant. She had tried for years to get pregnant & is beyond happy. Her children(including the 20 yr old, which will be 21 when the baby is born) are soooo excited. Whatever makes you happy & of you feel you're ready, go for it!!!

I don't think you're too old but I also worry about your 18 year old child and how they would feel about your having another baby. When I was 17 my parents took in a second cousin of mine as a foster child. She was one month old and they later adopted her. I won't lie, I spent my last two years of high school leaving half-way through the day so I could come home and take care of the baby. I sacrificed my summers to take care of her, I wasn't able to go to an out of state college and I had to re-arrange my college schedule around her. It was very difficult and I ended up sacrificing a lot to help my parents with this. They were of course a lot older than you are and in a few years they did become grandparents. My now 10 year old sister feels she has to compete with the grandbabies and acts/talks like a baby despite being highly intelligent and despite how many times we explain to her we prefer her to be the young lady she is than pretend to be a baby. At a time in your first child's life when they are getting ready to graduate and go off to college, I am sure they will want your focus, attention and guidance and that will be hard for you to give them if you are trying to have a baby.

I also wonder if this isn't your reaction to your oldest child becoming an adult. I've always felt that my mother's choice to adopt another baby my senior year was her reaction to not wanting an empty nest. ( I was her youngest). I have at a lot of times resented my younger sister because of the things I had to give up for her and how unrecognized it went. Parents don't often realize that when they have a child who is much older than the rest that they put a lot of burden on that child to take on the responsibility to help raise the baby.

I just want you to seriously consider what your motives are for having another child when you have been blessed with 4 beautiful children already and whether or not you are doing what is best for your whole family before making such a life-changing decision. Children are a blessing but there is a time when you have to accept what has been given and stop wanting more than what you have. My parents choice to adopt a child in their 50s changed their life forever. They will never be able to retire. If you were to conceive now youd be in your late 50s by the time your youngest was ready to graduate. Its a tough path being an older parent. And while many women are waiting until they are older to have children, the truth is those women are celebrities who can afford au pairs to care for their children and help them raise them. You and your husband would be on your own unless your oldest feels obligated to sacrifice starting their life to help you with raising a 5th child. And I would be weary of accepting that from your oldest child because it would be unfair and cruel to do that to them.

In the end it is a decision you should make with your whole family and it is something you will need all of their support on. But I hope you weigh heavily on your reasons for wanting another child and whether it is what is best for your whole family or if it is simply what you want.

Unanticipated, I could not have said it better, being that young age myself, had I been in your situation I probably would have just said goodbye and left anyway. Raising a baby should never fall in the hands of the baby's siblings...but it always seems to anyway. I gave up the last of my youth for my own child, but I never would have done it for my parents child.

I agree that taking your older children into consideration is so important. Sure you may want to have more kids, but do you want to push away the older ones and make them resent you for it, probably not. Its a lot to consider. Especially knowing grandchildren could be right around the corner.

You are defininately not too old to have a baby.
I know every family and experience is different. Go with your heart and what's best for your family.
Here's my brood -
25 year old married daughter, grandsons 6, 5 and 5 mos
21 yr old daughter
17 month old son

Everyone was thrilled that they were having another sibling.
We are actually planning another.
My 21 year old is still at home and living the life of a 21 yr old, I don't put any of the responsibilities of her brother on her.



Best of luck.

My mom was just a few months away from 40 when she had me. I was the 4th child. My siblings were 16, 12 and 7 when I was born. I was planned that way... not a surprise. Anyway, my oldest sister said it was a little bit hard for her because she felt like my mom was more into having a new baby than having a difficult teen (which she was). My mom IS better with babies than teens though... that's just how she is. That being said... it's not like you don't have little ones in the house. You have two 2 year olds :) You teen should be used to having little ones around the house, I would think.

I love having older siblings. We are such good friends and our age doesn't seem to matter. My oldest sister has 4 of her own now. Her oldest is 20 (I'm 28) so that is cool too! I have gotten to be great friends with the "next" generation of "kids"

Go for it!! My mom swears that if she could do it again, she wouldn't change a thing about of spacing. She has always said I keep her young :)

You are definitely not too old. I just delivered a baby girl on 2/22/12 at the age of 43. The only real issue I had during pregnancy was gestational diabetes, and it was well controlled. If it's what you want, go for it!

Feel free to message me anytime.

I dont think your ever to old to help the world out with another little bundle, my mom was 38 when she had my little sister and at that her other kids were 20, 13, and 12. So if your up to it go for it.