Should ''older women'' be able to have children?

Question

In your opinion, is it right for women in their late 40's and up to have children? If so, list the reasons!
Personally I think it is selfish for the children, it has nothing to do with the fact that the women can't be good mothers.. But the age gap isn't reasonable...

My bad: should they be allowed... I think that the two extremes (too young/too old) are very debatable and I don't agree with either one.

Check this out: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/5160142.stm?ls

-life expectency is the main concern and the mother's health throughout... I mean if the mom is 55.. at 75 the kid will be 20
...

Answer 1

Have you ever been to Canada?

Answer 2

Yes. Actually, the question is if they should be "able" to have children. Do you really mean if they should be allowed? Are you suggesting some form of forced sterilization? Or forced abortions? That's utterly offensive.

My mother was somewhat older when i was born. I never found the so-called 'age-gap' to be a great problem. Actually, I was the same age as my nieces and nephews, but what's the big deal. Why do you think everyone should grow up exactly the same way. That's a very arrogant attitude, too. Just because someone is raised differently, you jump to the conclusion that it's somehow wrong.

Frankly, I don't think there need to be any reasons why it is right. You should be obligated to list reasons why there's anything WRONG!!!

And, by the way, I'm perfectly willing to take the chance of having children who don't meet someone else's opinion of what it means to be perfect. All children are important and valued. The fact that someone may have so-called risk factors for autism or any other defect should not prevent them from raising children.

Answer 3

I would say that it depends greatly on how active and healthy the woman is. When it comes to pregnancy, the older a woman is when she is pregnant, the more chances there are for complications, for mother and/or child.

At first glance, it may seem extremely unfair to the offspring, just by doing a little math, by the time the child is graduating highschool, the mother could be pushing 70 if she gave birth in her late 40's. Of course, with life expectancy as high as it is now, births later and later in years becomes possible.

I think more tragic than having a child late is having one too early. Some women choose to have children late in life because they wanted to be ready for them, financially, emotionally, etc. Surely, at that age, the woman in question will be mature enough that she's well aware of the problems that her age might cause...not only the danger of complications, but the age difference and if she will be able to keep up with her child and be there for milestones in their life. I'm sure no one is more aware than them of these things, and that they factor heavily in their decision.

I will say that nothing in life is certain. I lost my father at the age of 6. Children lose their parents every day to things like war, drugs, alcoholism, neglect, and a million other things....in light of that, age suddenly seems like a very trivial thing.

Being loved is being loved. Would a new mother in her 40's love her children any less than a new mother in her 20's or 30's? I don't think so.

Answer 4

As with most situations, it totaly depends on the woman and her situation. I am a woman in my late 40s. By the way, I'm a 'young' 47. I'm in great shape, very active. I'm all with the botox thing, ect. I can easily pass for 10 years younger.
I have a grown daughter with two little boys, ages 1 & 3. They usually stay with me overnight, one day a week. My grandsons mean the world to me. It's amazing how much love you feel for your grandchildren. When they see me, their little faces light up....."Gamma! Gamma!"
But here's the kicker. When my daughter comes to pick them up the next day, I am exhausted. I have often said "Now I know why women have babies in their 20's."
So my feeling is, if the woman has help with the child, go for it. Little ones bring so much joy into your life. But there is alot of physical work involved. If you can afford a housekeeper and a trusted baby sitter (older daughter or a sister?) I don't think the age difference between you and the child accounts for anything.

Answer 5

Well I'm 36 and I have no children. Basically because I have not found the right man. I would love to have children when I meet that special person. It might happen when I am in my 40's. So what! It is better to wait than get married to the wrong person when your young and you end up with a couple of kids and divorced. That is my opinion. And I have seen older mothers (in there 40's) at my church have perfectly healthy babies. So being older does not matter if you take care of yourself.

Answer 6

As long as she's in good health, I see nothing wrong with it. Age gap has nothing to do with it, as long as you have the physical ability. As far as the life expectancy is concerned, you should have someone close to you who would be able to take over raising the child just in case something happened, but women today are much healthier at an older age than in the past. And even younger women have no guarantees of a long life.

Answer 7

Well, the thing is that women are born with all the eggs they are ever going to have. So by the time you're in your 40s (or older) those eggs have been sitting around for a *long* time, which drastically increases the likelihood that your child will be born with genetic abnormalities that can result in some serious disability that may not even be apparent until the child is older. That should be a consideration, although I do think they have the right...

Answer 8

Selfish? How so? My mother had my sister in her 40s. The only worry of the doctors was down syndome. She came out normal. The problem with the "age gap" is your mother getting mistaken for your grandmother. She has more life experinces than younger mothers. Sure, she is probably not as fun as the younger moms. Was your mom younger (under 39) or older? Are you a mother yourself? I'm not.

Answer 9

I think it's disgusting that anyone would think they had any choice in determining this for someone else. Age is nothing but a number. If a mother can take good care of her children (mentally, financially and emotionally), then she has every right to have children. Still, there are 25 yr old women having babies who definitely shouldn't be.

Answer 10

i think a woman in her 40 can be good mothers... look at the grandmothers taking care of their grandkids while the childrens parents are out living their lives or whatever...and a woman at that age is probably more settled and more responsible to say the least...i take care of my grandkids because their parents has got messed up with drugs and legal problems.. yes a woman in her 40s can and should have children if they want... i am 53 but i have not been able to have children since i was 30....but i love my grandchildren very much.. they can be your very life...

Answer 11

With so many young and immature people having children and then needing the older community (grandparents or the system) to raise them why not allow them to have their own children. True there is an age issue but the children also need stability. Finances and stability should be the issue and not age.