how is this controversial?

Question

how is pregnancy over the age of 45 controversial?

Answer 1

There are potentially more health risks to the mother and child over the age of 35. Every year after this age a woman's fertility goes down and more health risks can affect the baby - primarily chromosomal problems such as Downs Syndrome. A woman in this age bracket can miscarry more, have more birth defects and more chances of having a C Section.

Of course this isnt for every older woman trying to have a baby. But they need to seek medical advice i feel once they hit the age of 45 to guarantee they have a healthy pregnancy.

Answer 2

Maybe controversial isn't the right word. It would be better to say "there are some increased risks involved with having a baby over age 45" but that's all that can be said, because a baby is always a miracle and a mother should always be congratulated.

Answer 3

I didn't think it was,
the only reasons i can see, is it is much harder to get pregnant over 45 as the body is starting to prepare for menopause. there is a higher risk of the child having a birth defect or a genetic condition. when the child is young an older mother wont have the same energy to look after and play with the child as a mother in her 20's and there is more chance of you not being able to look after the child when they are in their teens because old age may play tricks on you and you physically are unable to care for your child.

say you have a child when you are 47, both my grandma's died in their early 60's so the child wouldn't even be in their 20's and they have lost their parent.
I used to work in Aged care, alot of the people their were in their 60's and when i worked in the dementia ward alot of them were also in their 60's. That alot for a teen to have to cope with along with all the other problems teens have to face

Hope that helped

Answer 4

it's not "controversial", it's more so a health hazard for the mother and the child if the mother is over 45. a woman's body is preparing itself for menopause-a very complex stage of life. it just puts a lot of strain on the woman's body and it isn't recommended, not to say that women can't nor haven't had full-term and healthy children when they were over 45.

Answer 5

A couple main issues... the risk of having a baby with Down Syndrome skyrockets with age. Also, if you're 45 when you conceive, you're probably 46 when they baby is born, and then 64 when the child is of age. So if you're over 45 when you conceive, you're going to be eligible for Medicare while still raising a child. That's a lot of stress for both the mother and the child. You get to the point where you could be old enough to die of age-related issues before the child comes of age... and that just doesn't seem fair to the child.

I'm all for everyone having kids... but I think it's worth considering adopting a child who is a little older rather than starting anew once you get to be about that age.

Answer 6

I don't know if its controversial. I personally don't agree with it. I think theres an element of selfishness on the parents part- why would you want to wait and have such a huge increase in the risk of your child being born with a disability? Not only that, I'm 23 at the moment and pregnant with my first - me and my partner plan to have our kids younger so we can enjoy our middle age without the restrictions of child rearing

Answer 7

Higher risk of genetic defects, low birth weight, and prematurity. Also, will the parents live long enough to see the child graduate high school? Will the young adult end-up being a care taker for an elderly parent?

Answer 8

There is a higher risk of birth defects. The only thing is when that child reaches 18 the mother would be 63. I personally think that if the woman is healthy and she wants to do it, then go for it.

Answer 9

Its controvesial mainly due to the health risks involved, both to mother and baby. Experts say that after a certain age women are more likely to have complications with their pregnancy and birth, and also with the baby. For example the babies are at a higher risk of having some kind of disease (mental or physical) or illness.

Answer 10

Some people think older people will not be alive or well enough to take care of a baby. Silly, but there you have it. I had my oldest at 20 and my youngest at 35. I have more patience and more time to be with my youngest that I did my oldest. I don't think there should be a controversey.