How old is too old for a woman to have a child?

Question

My sister showed me an article not long ago that mentioned some woman having a child at 52. We thought it was outrageously unfair to the poor kid, almost certain to become an orphan. I'd like to know what the readership here thinks.

Answer 1

Now come on. You said you didn't want kids, but don't put it down for anyone else, especially those wanting one at age 52. I thought you were open minded and said everyone has a right to their own preferences, but what you say and what you actually do are two very different things. So, inotherwords, you think you have a right to your own preferences, but no one else does....I see, so that's how it goes.

Personally, I'm the type of person I would never care how young or old my parents were as long as they both truly loved me with all their heart and soul and raised me good. That's all that's important. Think about all the children that are born to young parents who are crackheads. The dear lady that's 52 will love her child with all her heart and soul and it is a lucky child. Also, people live much longer now than they did 50 or 100 years ago. People now live into their 80s and 90s. That child will probably have their parents well into their 20s and 30s and maybe even their 40s. That doesn't sound like an orphan at all to me. You claimed you were over educated; doesn't sound like it to me. It's a good thing you DIDN'T have children.

Answer 2

It would be best if all children were born to parents that weren't older than about 35 to 38 or so, but it's physically possible for many women to have a child up to 45. It's very unusual for someone 52 years old to have a baby. I don't think that parents or selfish singles should have children past their mid to late 30s since it's just selfish and inconsiderate. I mean, what can you offer a child at 15 when you're already 60 and have no clue what the world is like for them, and don't have the energy or interest to be involved in their lives. It's just the "but I want a baby!" BS that so many women, and men, get sucked into.

Answer 3

There is a "normal child bearing age" range and when we either go above it or below it we see there are consequences with low birth weight, many different serious medical problems, health issues for the mother, etc. Women over 40 stand a higher chance of delivering a mentally challenged child. Women under 18 stand to deliver a child with low birth weight.

I think if you haven't had a child by 40, best to continue to enjoy life without one or adopt, or be a foster parent. Many kids out there would love to have a great home. Personally, I cannot imagine what is going through a womans mind that has a child at 52.

Answer 4

Today I saw a thing about a couple, both in their 60s! that used fertility help to have a baby. It makes me nuts, because that child will miss out on grandparents, most likely their parents soon, and the generation gap is much too large. Most kids I knew that had older parents were miserable or at least felt out of place. To me this is soooooo selfish with zip consideration for the child. I feel that 35 is getting near too old.
Just my opinion grown from nearly 50 years experience. By the way, I've been told I won't find a new man because I won't have more children. The world is going nuts.

Answer 5

I think when you hit menopause you are too old. That is your bodies way of saying, "Hey, I can't take having babies any more. It is time to shut down this baby making factory." I say if you want to get pregnant at an age above 35 then you should know the risks and accept that your baby may have downs syndrome or other things. I was 37 when I had my last one and I didn't care if my child did or not. I would love him just the same no matter what.

Answer 6

I think it's fine. People these days live until 80 years old usually. By then the child will be 28. I think the biggest thing to keep in mind when you have a child at that age is that you need to have a large support system. Younger friends, siblings, cousins, etc, so that when you are gone, the child will still have family around.

Answer 7

As a couple (37 and almost 36) dealing with infertility, I'm feeling a little old to be trying to pop out kids. That's why we haven't sought medical advice (married three years next month, never used birth control of any kind) and are considering adopting older kids. At 52, she should be focused on grandkids. If she doesn't have any, there are plenty of volunteer mentoring programs out there who would be happy to provide her with some surrogate ones!

Answer 8

my mother had my sister at 42 and my sister is now 17. My mom is tired and not the same disciplinarian she was when we were young. She tends to treat my sister like a grandchild instead a daughter. My sister is rebellious and talks back and my mother just does nothing and walks away. My sister has hit her and disrespects her. We would never have done such a thing because when my mother was younger ]she was tough as nails and disciplined us when we misbehaved. A parent should not have children if they are old enough to have grandchildren. that is what I think.

Answer 9

What the....Just because she's old, she's not gonna DIE in two years. A woman at 62 had a kid, so...if she lives to 80 like she's supposed to, the kid will be what, 18? An adult? Not an orphan...chill.

A person's never too old to have a kid, unless it's not physicially possible.

Answer 10

i think it does rob a kid of alot when a person chooses to have them at such an old age , and i think the latest in life you should have a child is 38 in order to be fair to the child , i mean when ur 50 or whatever you can't even handle kids the same way you could when you were 25 , your way less tolerant