Am I too junior to have a baby? Found out I was pregnant yesterday and am in shock. I’m 32 and a 7y associate at a boutique firm (I’m considered a mid level-it usual takes people 12ish years to make partner). I feel like I generally know what I’m doing but still have so much to learn…is this a bad time to have a baby? Am I going to regret this? Should note that my hubs and I were ttc but didn’t expect it to happen so quickly. Just freaking out generally rn. Should I be worried??

What?! First of all, congratulations! Second, I had my first baby at a boutique firm in my 3rd year. I was senior enough that the firm wanted to keep me around and made accommodations for me (first 12 weeks fully paid, next 2.5 months fully remote and part-time, first year of baby’s life full-time hybrid 2 days in office). I was 33. I absolutely would not say you are too junior. I think you would regret more waiting too long and not being able to get pregnant…

Congratulations!! 7th year isn’t even remotely junior, most women who have kids do so earlier IME. And if you want a baby have a baby! If you genuinely want to be a mom it has to be at least as important but really more important than your career. So don’t worry about it.

Not too junior at all. And never plan your family around work. It is never worth it, and in reality, for high quality attorneys, I’ve never seen it impact their trajectory. If you wanted kids, you’ll never regret leaning into the excitement, but I’ve met plenty of women who regret planning a family around work and assumptions around what would or would not happen if they had a baby or more than one baby. FWIW, I got pregnant as a fifth year, going into sixth year, was back from maternity leave for four months and found out I was pregnant (very unexpectedly) again, and I made partner in my eighth year while on maternity leave with my second. I had a lot of fears at the time, but I’m now in my 6th year as partner, third year as an equity partner (we start at non equity) and it is all but a blip. Even if it added a year or so, I wouldn’t regret it, but I would have reconsidered staying at my firm because I don’t think it negatively impacted my readiness to make partner on my regular timeline in any way. This will be a test for your firm too and if it’s the right place to succeed while also having a family. Congrats!!

Thank you so much everybody, this really blames me feel much better, which I never thought I would say after reading an internet thread!!!

First, congratulations!!! Not to be dismissive or anything but I chuckled a bit when I saw your question. One, because I had my first when I was a second year, and my second during my fourth year. Being a 7th year and thinking you’re too junior to have a baby is nuts to me. Two, because (echoing what everyone else has been saying ) you should not plan family around work! I know it’s easier said than done. I was literally just talking to the partner I work mostly with about my track to partnership and how I should go about if I were to become pregnant again and literally not even missing a beat, the response was “do it when you feel you want to. Do NOT try to accommodate your life around work.”

I have practiced almost 38 years. When I began, we were dressing like the men, had our hair put up, and wearing panty hose every day. Women waited to have their children until after they made partner because they had to or they would have never made partner (yes, against the law then, too). There was no remote work, and if a woman left work early for a child's event, she was looked down upon.

Congratulations! Be a parent and enjoy it when you can (I refer to those times when you have had sufficient sleep!). Take off early for recitals and soccer games. The parents who missed these things during my time regret it. I have never wanted children but have watched friends and coworkers go through this. If you are prevented from making partner at this firm, transfer. You can make partner elsewhere.

I do think women can have it all, but perhaps not all at the same time. I wish you well!

Girl, no! Congratulations!!! I had my first baby as a third year and it was more than fine.

I got pregnant my 7th year (was also 32) and found out I made partner while on mat leave, for what that’s worth! Congratulations- and I think it’s great you’re doing this when you are.

I’m a 7th year, and I have two kids!

Congratulations!!! You're in a great place to have a baby. You can afford to take your focus off work to the extent you need to for a safe, happy, healthy pregnancy and postpartum.

Signed,
Associate who joined a firm as a first year 16 weeks pregnant, asked for and received a maternity leave before I was entitled to it by policy, and still managed to maintain a good trajectory

lol I found out I was pregnant the day before I started at my first firm. I was fine. You’ll be fine. Congratulations!

Congratulations! Yes, never plan your happiness and family around work! Enjoy the journey and you got this (and everything that will follow)!
FWIW, I took the bar while pregnant, joined the firm while 7 months pregnant and so only worked 2 months and then took the full maternity leave. I am now a mom of 3 as a 7yr associate.

*makes me feel better

Adding further support here! Congratulations!!!! You’re not too junior and you should be nothing but excited. TTC journeys are so difficult for so many—your pregnancy is a blessing!

I went on maternity leave my fourth year. Unexpectedly got pregnant again six months PP (don’t let anyone tell you breastfeeding is a form of birth control!). During that time, my team moved to a new firm and asked me to join them. I disclosed that I was pregnant and they were totally fine with it and they let me take maternity leave at the new firm. Even had a conversation with the male practice area lead before joining and he could not have been kinder.

The reality is that our bodies come with a biological clock and you shouldn’t put off starting a family for just another one, two, three years building your career, if you ultimately want a family. Most normal human beings understand that we have lives and will support you! We have to work our tails off to do it all but it can be done. Highly recommend seeking out strong female mentors for this next stage. Congrats again!

Def not too junior. This is the exact right moment. Although it is tough trying to make partner with small kids and so some do wait for that reason.

If you want a baby, have the baby. You don’t know what life will bring to you and age will not make it easier in the future. Congratulations.

Men never ask these questions, there's an associate in my group who had their first baby in his first full year at the firm (2021) and is about to go out with baby #3.

First, congrats! Second, I understand your concern but I think as women we need to zoom out a bit and remember that we have lives outside of work that are so much bigger. This is amazing. Third, I had a baby during my 2nd year and 4th year and my firm (two diff firms might I add) made accommodations for me and practically begged me to come back after maternity leave. They did not want me to leave. — you’ve got this. It will be a challenge but you can overcome. The reward is so much bigger

Thank you everyone! Your words really are encouraging me!!!!

It’s totally normal to be freaking out even if you were TTC. As far as timing, there’s never a “perfect time” to have a baby. I assume if you were TTC, you and hubs already had a conversation about being ready to grow your family. I wouldn’t base that decision on your job. I was promoted to partner not long after having a baby if that helps.