How old is "too old" to conceive?

Question

Periods were regular now very irregular.I think I have hit the menopause. If I got pregnant who thinks we are too old? (Iam 48 yrs he is 52 yrs old)

Whoa ....... slow down everyone!!! I am only asking in case I get caught out.... I am not TRYING!!!! we already have a family!!

Answer 1

GirliNB - that is ridiculous!!! just because it wouldn't work for u doeasn't mean it wouldn't work for others!! Im 35 and 5 weeks pregnant with my first. my partner is 27. I have more wisdom, energy and experience then I did in my 20s. I can't wait to fool around with my baby, getting muddy and dirty, take it stomping all over the world having adventures. I am fit happy and cernianly NOT past it just because Im 35. Maybe it is your attitude to life which would prevent u enjoying it.

Anyway if u are fit and mentally prepared and able to, Id say go for it!!!

Answer 2

I think it depends and varies from person to person. Are you healthy, active and manage relatively well under pressure? Are you in a loving, healthy stable relationship and have made plans to financially care for the child whether you continue to be healthy, get incapacitated or one or both of you die? If so, these issues seem more important, in my opinion. There are 25 year old parents who could not bother to take their children to the park or to attend their recitals, or have any idea how they are going to provide for their children. Are they better suited parents just because of their age? I would say know. Nowadays, in the USA, you have many people of "advance age" (grandparents in their 50's and 60's ) stepping in and caring for young ones and doing a better job than many other parents... Now keep in mind that the older the parent, the higher risk for a birth defect, and can you handle that, is the big question?
I am 37 and have a 2 yr old. Wish I could have a second one but looks like my biological clock has other plans. All women in my family reach the menopause in their early to mid 30's, late 30's if you are lucky. Yet my neighbor is 43 and having her first baby in a few months... So, go figure... Good luck to you

Answer 3

I would have to agree with the medical community. 35 should be the cut off. I was 27 when my son was born and he's nearly wearing me out. Not only the fact of not being able to play with an active small child, but all sorts of things start happening to chromosomes in eggs as a woman ages, more risk of Down Syndrome and the like. I want another one, but I'm not going to try after 35. If something happens after that, oh well. If you hit menopause already and already having irregular periods, chances are you missed the window already.

Answer 4

As long as you are still having periods you will be able to conceive so unless you want a child you will need to use contraception. You can conceive during the menopause, and you will not have been through it generally until you have not had a period for 2 years. I went for 14 months without a period and then had one and had to start the 2 years over again.

My aunt conceived during the menopause and did not know she was pregnant until she went into labour, and gave birth to her second daughter 21 years after the first. Obviously, the older you are the more risks associated with pregrancy and if you are trying for a child perhaps you should consult your doctor.

Answer 5

Over 35 and you're starting to get a bit old. Over 40 is definitely too old. I'm sorry if that sounds harsh or anything, but there are a few reasons why you probably shouldn't be getting pregnant at your age:

1. There are very real possibilities of genetic defects as your eggs will have deteriorated.
2. You will be a lot older than your child. If a 16 year old child thinks 38 year old parents are out of date, what's a 16 year old kid going to think of 55 year old parents? Your understanding of society and social pressures will be so out of date it could make things very difficult.
3. Still on the being much older than your kid thing, your kid would probably get teased up school for having old parents. Not a major thing (as most kids will get teased anyway), but a mark against anyway.

Answer 6

You aren't too old to conceive biologically. I've heard of a woman in her 70s delivering a perfectly healthy baby.
My worries are for your baby to be. I think the chances of having a child with down syndrome and other problems are heightened after the age of like 37. Then your into danger zone.
I also wonder why you are thinking about doing this later in life at all? Why not just take in foster children and whatnot.
By the time your child reaches high school, you'll be a senior.
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It's all up to you and your husband. Can you handle this huge responsibility at this age and is this what you both want 100%?
It's such a huge huge huge job. I'm 25 and my little boy is 2. My husband and I are thinking that if we're going to have another it should be soon, because he is 32, and we want to be able to play with and enjoy our kids before we get too old.
Anyways, it's all up to you. I'd talk to your doctor about possible risks and whatnot, and start taking a prenatal vitamin right now. Start eating healthy if you don't already, drink plenty of milk. Oranges are good sources of folic acid.
Good luck with whatever you do!

Answer 7

In my opinion, and this is only an opinion mind you...you have to think about the child first. If you're both in good heath and active, and think you're going to be able to keep up with an infant, then fine. But you have to think like 10 - 15 years down the road. Will you be able to run around endlessly, playing with him/her outside? Play football/baseball etc.? Or will the child miss out on some basic childhood staples because you may not be physically up to it at that age? You've got to realize that you'll be 60+ in that time.

I'm certainly not saying you WON'T be up to it, it totally depends on you....everyone is different. Basically my only real point is, you need to think about the child first, and not be selfish about it (and I'm not saying you are....just that some folks that are having children at this age probably are!). Hope you don't take any of that the wrong way.

Answer 8

think it varies from person to person

there are obvious things that need to be taken into consideration by older people who wish to have a family
age they are when kids are teenagers what would happen if anything happened to the parents (not just death)

i am 37 (almost) i have 3 kids and no desire to start over again with a new baby i am too tired and lack the energy

though personally i would say that once a woman has gone through menopause (unless she does so very early) it is the bodys natural way of saying they are getting too old

Answer 9

Too old is after menopause... Ideal birthing age ranges from 19 to 35. After 35, it's not that you shouldn't have children, but the chances of having a baby with some kind of complication increases. After age 35 it's considered advanced maternal age. However, my mom had me when she was 42 and I'm doing very well for myself. I went to college and I'm in medical school right now. But just think of it this way, do you think that when you're 60 and he's 64 you'd want to be dealing with a 12 year old? Good luck in deciding... it's just that my parents had me late (i'm from a family of 5 children) and I think it's that they've been parenting for SOOOOO long and for sooooo late in their lives... cos they're in their 60s and they still have to help me out... If you can conceive, then conceive away... just remember that you'd be in for a long haul.

Answer 10

Anyone over the age of 35 should seriously consider NOT having kids. I am 35 with a 14 and 11 year olds. At this stage in my life, I wouldn't want any considering I'd be 55 at their graduation and would have no nest egg to live off of when retirement hits. Sorry, but younger is better when having children. Most people shouldn't have kids until after 25 - 27 and end the baby making days at 35 at max.