Pregnancy and age

[jundp 191]

I'm curious as to what people would consider "too old" to have a baby.

[Niels Bohr 72]

Any age above 99!

Edited March 10, 2008 by consolemaster

[Marlita 0]

too old would be.....

if your too old to take care of them, like your old and ill and really don't need the responsibility of another life.

if you are up in age that presents more birth defects to the fetus...such as having old eggs and old sperm...things like this increase chances of certain things like Downs.

[Jason-Sasha 1]

Interesting question. 50 years ago, 40 was too old. But I think the age limit can be stretched greatly, due to medical advancements and average family income. Being able to enjoy being a new parent over 45 or 50, now that's a different story. I think it varies from individual to individual. Children today really need an active, involved parent. You're only as old as you feel!

[jundp 191]

Do you think it matters if there's a big age difference between children?

I agree though that you should be able to provide for and enjoy being a parent. I wouldn't want to be attending soccer club games at 60....unless it was for my grandchild

[Marilyn. 340]

my parents had 3 children in their early 20's and then another 3 children around their 40's...

I am going to be 34 this year and I would like to have a child soon before I get too old.... I would like to be able to enjoy my grandchildren.....

[*JG* 2]

I think only you can really judge that for yourself with the helpful input of your gynocologist.

[doodlebugg 10]

I'm 42 and would like to have one more baby before I am 45. That is my cutoff age. Everyone's different though since you have to take into consideration your energy level, etc. I'm actually going in to get my tubal ligation reversed on April 21 and am so excited! I have two children ages 10 and 11 and while it is a big age gap it's no bigger than my mom's and her sister's.

[garya505 2]

I'm 56 and my son is 11 weeks old. When I was 40, if someone has asked me if that was too old to become a parent I probably would have said yes that it's too old. Now I'd say you just need to be able to take care of your child. I am fortunate to have excellent health and I'll probably live to 80+ (or even 90+) so I guess I'm OK on that.

I looked in my son's eyes this morning before I left for work. He smiled and laughed as we talked "baby talk" for a while. For that moment that was the only thing in the world that mattered ...

Edited March 10, 2008 by garya505

[Marilyn. 340]

my youngest sister was born when I was about 21....

[Sinergy 3]

hmmm well my mother in law had her second son 3 yrs ago and she was 42,

and there was a lady in romania who had a baby 2 yrs ago and she was 78

so i dunno, once you are not physically able to put down the walker and bend over to pick up the baby?

[garya505 2]

hmmm well my mother in law had her second son 3 yrs ago and she was 42,

and there was a lady in romania who had a baby 2 yrs ago and she was 78

so i dunno, once you are not physically able to put down the walker and bend over to pick up the baby?

78???

[Sinergy 3]

hmmm well my mother in law had her second son 3 yrs ago and she was 42,

and there was a lady in romania who had a baby 2 yrs ago and she was 78

so i dunno, once you are not physically able to put down the walker and bend over to pick up the baby?

78???

yea. it was creepy, and she had to have a c-section, she was artificially pregnanted, but she still had the baby.

[Sprailenes 47]

I think its good as long as your kids don't have to lay at your knees to breast feed.

[*JG* 2]

I think if you are getting pregnant with a little help from a fertility doctor, you should seriously look at the consequences beforehand. I can see being, oh, I don't know, 40-50 and wanting ONE child. But to seek treatments and end up with 3-4-5-6...kids would be just plain crazy.