too old for baby?

Funny you should ask that. I am 36 and pregnant with #6. My new doctor and his staff like to point out at every visit that I am over 35 and a high risk for a down syndrome baby. I have had 5 healthy babies over the past 11.5 years. If I do have a DS baby, I would be disappointed but I would still keep it, so I don't see how stressing me out about my age at every appt is going to help or change anything. I had just turned 25 when I had my first baby. I think age varies. This is my 6th pregnancy and I am definitely feeling the wear and tear on my body with this one. I am so done!!! I need to concentrate on raising the kiddoes now- especially since in a few years I will have teens. To me its not so much how old I am now, as how old will I be when the youngest is 18. Congrats on your baby! They grow so fast.

When you get older it is hard to get pregnant and to give birth. Modern medicine can deliver baby at any age. Lately there was a woman got pregnant by fertilization. She is too old to have a baby. No one is too old to take care of a baby for sure.

Here in sweden the age of getting the first one has hit the roof. Woman wait today, coz they first wanna make a carrier. I am 26 and not pregnant and no kids, however I have said to my bf that i do wanna have atleast one before i turn 30. I do not think that 39 is a bad age to have a baby, here the doctors say that over 40 is a bit of a risk,. but 35 is no danger at all - atleast not more than usual

I think under 40, it just depends on circumstances etc.. We didn't try for a child 'til we were 38, because we didn't feel ready, but then my wife and I (both now 42 with a 3 year old..) are quite youthful. Our child came 4 weeks early at 4lb 5oz, but she was very healthy and we have had no problems (except trying to sleep, ha ha). It's not easy when you are over 40 with a toddler, and I wouldn't neccesarily recommend it! But we do have some advantages over younger couples and we feel immensely blessed.

First of all let me congratulate u on your pregnancy..... I was amazed by your stamina.....managing 5 kids so well and another to come ....keep it up dear.....I have just one kid and I am always in a dielema that.... whether I am managing him well or not..... For me the cut off age would be 35 yrs.....but if the mothers have stamina like u then age is no bar....

To me the ideal age of cut-off as you call it is 30. To me the older you are the less of a chance you have with running around with your kids without getting worn out easily. Unless you are a full on health fanatic. But then again if you exercise regulary and eat right and that you should be fine. But still 30 is the cut off age for me. Buy then you would of settled down had the amount of kids you want and should be happy and back to work.

I didn't want anymore after the age of 30 because when they are grown and moved out, I want to be able to enjoy life a little. I was very young when I had my first so I never really had much of a childhood or any of the hanging out with firends that most teens do.

when your body tells you that you are to old

i would have to say 40 would be my limit on having kids. but i want to have all my kids before 35 thats for sure. as you say just more chances of defects. but spose all depends on the indiv person like if they are sick person etc.

my brother-in-law's wife gave birth about a month ago at age 47 to her fifth child. it was a complicated pregnancy and delivery. with her first four sons she had a normal delivery. with this one she had a c-section and her ovary had to be removed. nowadays, it seems that most women are getting pregnant at later age. it's also probably for the reason that they get married quite late.

I think that the older you get the more difficult it becomes, not just the baby part but as they grow. I have 4 "children" ranging in age from 31 - 15. The last I was 36 and all were perfectly healthy but I did notice that with each one deliveries got more and more difficult and now at 51 dealing with and keeping up with a teenager is very very difficult. I honestly think it depends on the situation and the individual but I personally would recommend have em when your in your 20s and enjoy them then look forward to the grandchildren... I actually told my oldest when he had his first "I finally figured out why I had kids, for the grandkids" I love the grandma thing and now have 5!

I DONT think there is ANY age too old. Now a days I hear people wait really late to have kids cause they want their careers first. I think my mom had my sister my second one when she was closer to 40. I think maybe mid to late 40's could be a bad age for it. But if the baby is fine then go for it! Guess it depends on each person!

I don't know if there should be a "cut off" per se, I think it really depends on each person and their family histories and things like that. I know a lot of people are waiting longer to have their first child even. I do know that as you get older, conceiving becomes more difficult, so I think that should be taken in to consideration. My plan has always been to be done with pregnancy and birth by the time I was 32, so that means only one more child for me as I'll be 30 this year (in a couple of months actually) and I don't want to have back to back kids to fit them in before my personal cut off date. The reason I decided to do that was because I wanted to be a young grandmother, and also I wanted to enjoy the time after my kids were gone, not be getting on being "golden".

My sister-in-law is still trying to get pregnant and she is already 39. I think it would seem unfair to put an age limit on having a baby specially if you are having a hard-time having one. Some poeple are truly lucky to get pregnant right away. However, I do understand the problems that could arise from having a late pregnancy but if a person is desperate enough to have a child, I think they have already thought of the pros and cons of having a child at this late age. I think what's important is if the couple are truly ready to have a child, financially and emotionally.

I think 40-42 is the cut off, but for me personally I wouldn't have wanted a baby at those ages. It was a personal thing. My mom had her last baby at 40 and it was rough as you say. And then you have to think of your age when the kid is only 10 and full of energy, you are slowing down at 50. You will be almost 60 by the time they graduate. I've seen women having babies at 50-60 in the news lately. To me this is just insane.

I'm 33 and my cut off is 35 years old..However, Now I have even more to think about..See, I have a son who will be 12 years old next month and I admit, I have gotten very relaxed because he is rather independent and the thought of going back to diapers and bottles actually scare me. Plus the age difference... I know after 35 with pregnancy, it's more risky and possibly could have complications which also scare me... I don't know, if I had a suprise and got pregnant now, I would be happy, but as far as planning a pregnancy, it's not something I really want to consider...

yes, i agree. 35 is the age when it is no longer as safe to have a baby because of the very reasons u said. i believe that there is no actual 'cut off' though because if a woman has carefully considered and made her decision based on the opinions of medical professionals then she could have a baby over 35.. like u did =)

Honestly, I think that it all comes down to what kind of condition you're in as to how old is too old. Look at Tony Blair's wife Cherie who got pregnant and gave birth when she was 45 years old. In saying that, I've seen women who get pregnant after IVF treatment when they reach their late 50's and as much as I might sound hypocritical, I think thats a little too old to be bringing a child into this world. Most people are looking forward to being grandparents in their late 50's, not parents.

well you see i am 34 and i know that from the age 35 it is harder but i do not think i can define it as being too old for having a baby..:)

I have heard of women and seen them, well into their forties, having babies for the first time. Personally, I think I would be too afraid of the risk to the child. I don't think I would want to be having babies in my forties.