couples

The "right" time to start a family. Says science.

If that clock isn’t ticking loud enough, well… it’s about to.

So often women are bombarded with facts and figures explaining how infertile we are all becoming.

How putting off getting pregnant might be good for our careers, but isn’t good for our future family. Hashtag Guilt.

How if you don’t go home and have unprotected sex tonight, you’ll never get pregnant. Hasthtag Worry.

EVER. Hashtag Panic Attack.

Now, a new study out of the Netherlands from Live Science has found the optimum time to start trying for a family.

They have conveniently broken it down into what type of family you want. Only child? A pair? Three? (They didn't go beyond three, so if you are after more kids... well... you'll have to do your own research. Sorry.)

The researchers have estimated the latest age you should become pregnant in order to have "enough" time to fall pregnant with all the kids you have in your "life plan".

They've also estimated the latest age to become pregnant with the help of fertility treatments.

Now, I'm going to show you a very pretty infographic with all the results. But before I do, I want you to know to take it with a pinch of salt. Or a block of chocolate. Or a tub of Golden Gaytime ice-cream.

Because, we are all different.

How long should you wait until you start a family? Image via iStock.
ADVERTISEMENT

According to the infographic, falling pregnant with my first at 32 years old means I will only have one kid (unless I turn to fertility treatments before I even give birth to my first). While on my "life plan", I have two kids scrawled.

Am I devastated that I will never have a second child? No. Because while scientists are very smart people, they base their findings on facts, figures and maths. All very sensible.

But life, on the other hand, always has different plans. And is very rarely so sensible and straight-forward.

I know women who've fallen pregnant with their first in their early twenties and then struggled to have a second.

I know women who've had two babies in their very late thirties without any fertility treatments.

I know women who've never been able to fall pregnant.

Science knows stuff. Science is very smart. But it doesn't know what life has in store for you.

How old were you when you first fell pregnant and how many kids do you have?