What's the optimum age for a woman to have children?

Question

There's been a lot of talk about women having difficulty in conceiving as they get older, I wonder if this is a growing problem...?

Answer 1

while they are young enough to be fit enough but old enough to be sensible parents.

Answer 2

It becomes more difficult to have children as you grow older because you are born with all your eggs in place and they decline in quality and of course number as you get older. But that doesn't mean you won't be able to have kids when you're older. Just look at what women had to go through before birth control became available - they started having kids as soon as they married and just carried on until they were too old, or exhaustion/illness killed them. Thank God we don't have to suffer that way any more, but it proves that childbirth is possible up to age 50 and beyond. Purely personally, I'd say late 20s is the best time to have kids - you've got the partying out of your system and are mentally and physically ready, and still young enough to cope with sleepless nights and tantrums (and that's from your husband, lol!)

Answer 3

I think that this is different depending on the woman. I would not recommend chosing to have children at a younger age just because you may have difficulty later, because you may come to regret having them at that time.

I was 27 when I had my first, then 30, and 32. Physically I was still fine for my third. I wish that I would have waited at least a couple years and had more time alone with my husband first. Because I was 26 when we got married, I thought that I had to hurry because it was unusual for my family and friends to have even taken so long to marry, let alone have kids.

Don't worry about what societal pressures there are. Do what feels right for you.

Of course it easy for me to say because I was a freakin' fertile myrtle (pregnant within 2 weeks off of the pill all 3 times). Talk to your doctor if you are really concerned about your fertility, maybe they can have some ideas now about the future, I honestly don't know about that, but maybe she can ease your mind.

Good luck no matter what you decide. Prayers are with you..........

Answer 4

The answer is: when YOU are ready. There is no "age" when you "should" because EVERYONE'S DIFFERENT!!!

I'm 34 and having my first child. I'm a trained dancer and I'm slimmer and healthier than most of the 21 year olds I know. I do not drink any alcohol at all or smoke. I have absolutely NO health problems at all. I blood tested so low risk for downs syndrome that they didn't even bother with the amniocentesis. Baby is doing fine and so am I.

I didn't deliberately wait to have kids. I started trying for a baby in my 20s with my ex and I couldn't conceive so thats one theory out of the window (ie women over 30 have trouble conceiving but its easy when you're in your 20s).

It took me 18 months to conceive this time and that was with my partner (whos 23) having a low sperm count (nothing wrong with me at all).

I'm having a fantastic pregnancy - morning sickness hs been my only problem and anyone of any age can get that.

My mum had her two kids at 36 and 42. Got pregnant immediately. No problems (didn't even get morning sickness), easy pregnancies, easy labours, two big bouncing healthy babies.

My Grandmother had her 3 children at 36, 38 and 40, long before the days of scans and epidurals and advanced hospital care and things (in the days when all babies were born at home and only the strongest survived). She had no problems, had 3 healthy pregnancies, three big healthy babies.

But I can tell you of plenty of younger women who have had terrible pregnancies, found it hard to conceive, had several miscarriages, babies born with disabilities etc. My BF's mum started trying for a baby at 16 and couldn't conceive for 3 years. When she managed to get pregnant she had a terrible pregnancy and my BF was born so sick, tiny and prem that they didn't think he'd live. He had to have major surgery at 5 weeks old to save his life. And he was born to a 19 year old.

I also know a woman in her early 20s who had a downs syndrome baby and one 19 year old who spent weeks and weeks of her pregnancy in hospital with pre eclampsia.

The majority of problems encountered by "older" women having kids is when there is ALREADY a problem - ie she's overweight, unhealthy, is a heavy smoker or dirnker or has blood pressure problems, heart problems etc.

For a healthy woman in her 30s or even early 40s there is no real danger. there is a slightly higher risk of downs syndrome over 40 but its not a definite that an over 40 mother will have a downs baby. My mum had my brother at 42 and he was fine.

A lot of the "statistics" people cite about "risks" with older mothers are from 40-50 years ago when medical care was not as advanced as it it today. And people weren't generally as healthy as they are today.

Some day we will get out of the dark ages about all this "you must have kids in your 20s" crap. Many people in their 20s are not yet in settled relationships or don't have the time or money for a baby. Maybe 100 years ago people married and had kids younger but its 2006, people! Move into the 21st century!

The "optimal" age to have kids is when YOU are ready. Not when your mum did it or when your friends or sister did it or when someone on Yahoo Answers says you should. But when YOU are ready and you will know when you are ready.

In the meantime, look after yourself, eat well, don't smoke, take exercise and make sure you're healthy. It will make it easier when you do.

Answer 5

The average age that women have their first child is 25, but 25 is still quite immature (28 is the average for first marriages, go figure).

The optimum age is when you're ready and your doctor feels that you're in good condition to have a child. Don't let society pressure you.

Answer 6

I was 32 when I got pregnant. I had been on the pill since I was 21 and was only off it for 3 months when it happened. I am also overweight which they say makes it hard to fall pregnant.

If you are highly fertile there wont be a problem in getting pregnant no matter what your age.

I had a trouble free pregnancy and a quick and drug free birth.

Answer 7

Mid 20s to mid 30s.

Answer 8

I think before 29 is the best time. After this time fertility drops as the eggs that are stored in the woman`s body get older and are not quite as good as a younger lot of eggs. They reckon teenagers are the most fertile but I think mid twenties is the best time.

Answer 9

Your twenties are the best age to have a baby, however, my first child was born when i was only sixteen. It was a text book pregnancy and birth with no problems at all. Now at 24 years i am pregnant with my second child and have had a number of complications which i feel are due to my busy lifestyle, work etc. I think it depends on your health and lifestyle.

Answer 10

I think it varies between women. If you are generally in good health and not overweight I think you can have children later. Talking to other parents, I find that people who have children later appreciate them more and as a result spend more time with them and are better parents.

Answer 11

the best age is when u feel ready 2 have a baby. im 36 and pregnant with my first,i didnt want kids in my 20's cos i wouldnt have coped but now im with my partner i know we will cope with a baby. there are alot of women in their late 30's/40'2 havin babies,its wots right 4 u.