Birth defects with middle-aged pregnancies ?

Question

Can the age at which a woman bears her child , contribute to the child's general health . I was told that babies born to older mothers ( Mothers in there early to mid-forties ) tend to have older -looking facial features and just age faster .

Answer 1

The age at which a women bears her child can carry elevated risks of birth defects, however as far as mature aged mothers bearing children who have poorer general health and older-looking facial features with accelerated ageing - never heard of that. It's not true.

Who told you this? Tell them they need to get educated!

Answer 2

It's harder on the woman's body if she's pregnant at an older age. My mom was 39 when she had me, and 42 when she had my brother. The babies are at higher risk for Down Syndrome. I've never heard about babies aging faster, but I have always looked a good bit older and I grew up at a little faster too. I don't really think it has anything to do with my mom's age though.

Answer 3

I'm no expert, but I really don't think that babies born to older women have older-looking facial features or age faster. My grandma had my Mom at 40, and my Mom looks great (even at 52!). My Mom has always been very beautiful, and I know other people like that as well.

I do know that the baby has higher chances of having certain conditions, such as down syndrome. Chances increase fairly rapidly after the age of 35.

Answer 4

My mother-in-law had my husbands little sister when she was like 40 and she doesn't have older looking facial features or age faster. I'm not sure where you heard that but its wrong. However, there are more risks for older women having children, like preeclampsia and such.

Answer 5

babies born to mother 35 yrs or older have a higher risk of having down syndrome

Answer 6

my auntie started having kids at 39 and quit at 45. she had one miscarriage and her kids do not look older then their age at all and haven't aged any different then other kids. They are now 10 -16 years old