when is it too late to start having children?

Answer 1

Medically you can no longer conceive naturally after menopause.

The age you begin building a family is left up to you, although there are many considerations to take into account,such as:

Your personal health and stamina

Your economic situation

The age you would be through the most challenging [physically and emotionally] years....such as the pre-teen and teens and what the potential effect on the child might be to have much older parents than their peers.

Any potential medical risks due to bearing children at a more advanced age.

Answer 2

In this modern age, it seems the answer to that is - never. However, I think mother nature has its own way of regulating the 'right' age. When you enter menopause, it is an indication that it is kind of late. But then again, having a child at 13 or whenever periods start these days is not exactly ideal. Some women have entered early menopause, and I think nature in that case needs a helping hand. However, having kids in your pension years might be pushing it a bit, purely looking at the long term implications on that child. If it was me, I personally wouldn't have kids after 45.

Answer 3

Hi, your fertility levels are supposed to drop after the age of 35 also the risks of downs syndrome increase at this stage and there after. I had my 1st two girls when I was in my teens then started again at 35 and another at 37, both babies are perfectly healthy and took no time at all to conceive, I'm sure it's safe to carry on into your forties. It all depends on the individual, it's not a case of being the oldest mummy at the school gates, it's a case of doing whats best for you and your child. I found having children when I was young a very hard and frustrating time but this time round I'm in a a better position to be a good mum, financially and mentally.

Answer 4

That's a broad question.

I'd say it's too late to start having children when the mother's health and general fitness have deteriated to the point that she cannot carry a healthy baby to term and/or expect to be an active part of that child's life. Depending on the woman, this could be anywhere from puberty to sixty.

Answer 5

There is no exact cut-off. Generally, women in their 40's will have an increased failure rate and/or children born with birth defects (Down's Syndrome). The world record was a 66-year-old woman who got pregnant through in vitro fertilization, but a lot of people in the medical community view such a practice as unethical.

Many men have fathered babies well into their 70's or even 80's. Tony Randall and Larry King are two examples.

Answer 6

I have a friend who had a WHOOPSIE baby when she was 42. She really didn't think she could get pregnant, her period had stopped years prior. She now has a 28 and 19 year old, and a healthy 6 year old, lol! Lots of women have kids in their mid to late 30s now. You go higher risk after 35 but that doesn't mean like 50/50.

Answer 7

45

Answer 8

Children are an incredible amount of work. If you've already had one, I would think you could resolve this for yourself. Whatever age you decide, probably something in your 40's, consider how old you will be by the time they finish college. Hopefully, you'll live that long.

Answer 9

I think your body will tell you when. Things like energy, memory, etc come into play. Imagine having a baby in their 40's. Some people do that and are so happy--do they really stop and think about having a teenager in their late 50's, early sixties? I know I certainly don't want to deal with teaching someone how to drive when my driving skill are probably about to start depleting. My mom is 45 now, and she often cares for my 2 year old nephew. She loves him to pieces, but she just can't mentally deal with him making messes and wanting to play basketball with her for hours on end.

Answer 10

Biologically speaking you may be still able to have children well after 50. But from my point of view i think that it is very unfair to your children to have an old mother. As children they may be embarassed in front of their friends and they may want to do activities with you that you can't physically do anymore. As they grow up they may lose you early on which can be very traumatic: no one to support them, no one to share their sadness and joy.
Thus, i believe that a woman having children after the age of 35 is plain and simply selfish!