Should women over 40 be allowed to reproduce?
By Force_Fed
@Force_Fed (745)
United States
9 responses
@classicaljazz (1628)
• United States
12 Oct 06
I don't think it's our place to decide who should be allowed to create life.
1 person likes this
@classicaljazz (1628)
• United States
17 Oct 06
I dont think they are at risk for producing a dissabled child. High risk simply means that you are at high risk for losing the child or having complications. I was high risk with my last child, and because of that I am labelled as high risk with this current pregnancy but all is well so far. The label just means you have to have more tests and be watched more closely.
@Force_Fed (745)
• United States
17 Oct 06
Thankyou but they do have significant other problems associated with late pregnancy.
This is taken from the March of Dimes website....
http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/681_1155.asp
At age 25, a woman has about a 1-in-1,250 chance of having a baby with Down syndrome; at age 30, a 1-in-1,000 chance; at age 35, a 1-in-400 chance; at age 40, a 1-in-100 chance; and at 45, a 1-in-30 chance."
Force
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@Force_Fed (745)
• United States
17 Oct 06
Even if they have a high chance of producing a retarded/deformed child?
Force
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@Force_Fed (745)
• United States
17 Oct 06
Well, the government often uses their power to tell people what decisions to make. If wonmen over 40 have a higher chance of birth problems and problems with fetus development, should they be allowed to take that chance with their baby's life?
Force
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@Force_Fed (745)
• United States
21 Oct 06
Thank you for your input Deena.
Force
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@Sm00tH (2037)
• Belgium
21 Oct 06
i don't think that much women over 40 still want to give birth. they feel they are getting older, but ofcourse to everything there are exceptions, for instance childless couples keep trying.
to realy answer the question: don't think it should be disallowed
1 person likes this
@cuddlebug79705 (2003)
• United States
12 Oct 06
I don't think it is always right, but I certianly don't think any of us have the right to tell another woman what to do with her body. It is a risk I personally wouldn't want to take, but some people are ok and accept their chances. It's not my place to dictate their lives to them.
@Force_Fed (745)
• United States
21 Oct 06
I appreciate your response. I have trouble accepting the whole " it's a woman's body" argument. I look at it more as a baby issue than a woman issue. She only carries the baby for none months, the baby may have to live with problems it's whole life.
Force
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@cuddlebug79705 (2003)
• United States
22 Oct 06
True, but she is the one who will have to provide and care for it.
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@lovespecialangel (3632)
• United States
29 Oct 06
I think this really depends on the women. How healthy she is. How active she is. And so on. Now, my personal opinion is no. Women over 40 should not reproduce. Personally, If you have a child when you're 40+, you'll be at least 58 when the child turns 18. Now lets say your child waits until they are 30 to have their first child? Now you are at least 70. You don't really have the ability to enjoy your children and grandchildren the way you would want to because you have no energy to play with them or to spend hours conversating with them. But that's just my opinion.
1 person likes this
@mauldinmama (1501)
• United States
29 Oct 06
I am 41 and I sometimes think it would be great to have another child, I think I would be a better parent this time because I am older, settled and have not got some of the money problems I had when I was younger. The biggest reason I dont want to have a child at this age is because I dont want to be retiring when they graduate from high school or college. I do realize that older women when having children have a bigger chance of having children with birth defects but I also know they have more advanced medical testing that would prepare you if that was the case. So to answer your question I say"yes" older women should have the choice.
