Does anyone over 50 here still suffer from being broody?

After having three children , I had a hysterectomy in my 30 s . I had always wanted another child but decided that as I was a teacher , my career would take its place . When I was made redundant at 56 , I was also plunged into the menopause . All the feelings of loss that I hadn’t faced more than 20 years previously suddenly hit me . Hormones can be incredibly powerful but grief also needs time .

I guess this is mother nature having a last gasp go at you overwhichhill I a sure you will find more babies to cuddle and love as I did because are you really sure you would want to go through the reality again?

No, No, No and No

YES - I am in my fifties and absolutely love babies. For a while I even was a childminder who would only look after babies aged under 6 mths, so I could get my 'fix'. I have always been the same. I had full hysterectomy at age 25 yrs lucky really otherwise I would have about 20 kids by now as I love the baby stage. My daughter has given me a beautiful GD now 3 yrs and is expecting a son any day now, so once again I can get my baby fix but know she will not have anymore and I am already dreading being without a baby cuddle after that. My maternal instincts are so very strong, overpowering, I cannot bear to hear a baby cry in public, I just want to cuddle it. Blinkin' hormones eh!!!

I’m 64 and the desire to have another baby has never left me! I have two grown daughters and a flame haired little beauty of a granddaughter... I can’t keep away from peeking at babies in prams and the supermarket though I always ask first if I may have a look!

I lost 4 babies after my 2nd live child and had no more. Sometimes I feel a deep longing for the missing 3rd child. A void. If I could I would - but 55 now and can't - but my 2 year old grand daughter filled my heart with so much love it has helped - xx

Maybe it's the HRT causing the broodiness?

I always wanted a big family but it took 14 years and countless losses before I managed my two.I would have kept trying if I hadn't been told it would kill me to have another pregnancy.I have never had a house without at least one child living here even part time.My son was just 14 when my first GS was born and I had him 5 afternoons a week I still have one GD at least 2 daysand nights a week and I wouldn't be without her

Nope
Have to say it has been a long time since I was broody.

Just think of that lovely baby as a stroppy 15 year old, might help.

Good God no!!!

I am not broody for a baby of my own but I do wish I could be provided with more grandchildren. My three are all at school and growing up and I miss the afternoons spent cooking, painting and cuddling up with a book. I know there won’t be any more.

No Way other than when looking at puppies.

I often dream that I am pregnant or have a new baby. I don't think this will ever stop now.
When I was young I always wanted children and I think some women just have this broodiness. It didn't mean I really wanted a large family. I did think more of the practicalities.

I am 55 and 4 years in to the menopause. I still dream that either my children are babies or that I am pregnant.
I felt no loss as I reached the menopause but our first and so far only grandchild was born as I was 51.
I really believe her birth made me realise how I had gone full circle, seeing our daughter parent is a joy.
We get to look after our granddaughter frequently and she has stayed with us for a week or more while her parents are away. It is fabulous to have her but exhausting, it’s a younger persons game!

Definitely not !

A new GC yes (never going to happen) who dosen't love to cuddle a new born but you can give those back

No but I’d like to rewind the clock for just a little while and spend more time with my beautiful three as babies. I’ve been lucky and been allowed to be a very hands on Nanna so that has filled the maternal void. There’s nothing like a baby is there? Some of us are just programmed to want to nurture.

Gosh- no!
How about being a foster parent?

I can understand. I'm sure I didn't do a very good job with the ones I had, and I'd love to have another one to love. I dearly love my 43 and 39 year olds - but yes I can sympathise with the feelings of wishing you had another chance.

Not for me. I had my third baby at 32 and never felt the urge for another. I felt my family was complete.

I am so sorry to hear of your many miscarriages; each one must have been an anguish for you. Perhaps you are meant to cuddle more babies in your life, whether as a volunteer at a hospital or daycare, or even a foster mother.

No, never broody. I have had two children and do not see the need to have more than the replacement for DH and I.

I would always be up for another pregnancy, till my dying day I expect. So no, OP, the menopause made no difference.
I was totally with the 63 year old woman who acted as a surrogate for her daughter.

It was my intensely practical nature that stopped me from having a big family.

And some things that went wrong in life too.

I always wanted a 4th baby but DD2 was 5 weeks early and had cord round her neck so her heart rate kept going down as she was born and there was a resuscitation team outside the room. DH was as white as a sheet as I was on oxygen so couldn't put him through that again. DD2 split from abusive partner when DGS2 was 9 weeks so we have been like his 2nd parent for a year which has been lovely but exhausting and I feel at 62 my body would say no to having my own!

I was told, after my 2nd DD was born, very severely jaundiced due to an extreme blood group incompatibility, that I could go ahead with another pregnancy safely, because they would do a complete blood change in utero if necessary. This was enough to totally put me off the idea of another pregnancy. However when I was menopausal in my mid 50s, I was suddenly plagued with broodiness and so sorry that there could never be another baby. Thankfully, this feeling disappeared when menopause was complete and I was happy to wait for the Grandchildren to arrive.

I presume that it is your hormones being all over the place that causes this surge of maternal longing.

Yes me and at this point I have accepted that it will never go away.

I realised that even if I had had more kids, I would still be broody, so that reconciles it for me a bit.

Babies dont cure broodeyness. Not for me. Each baby I did have just made me more broody