Is it wrong for women to have children when they're over 40?

Question

since it's a higher risk for the child? and they'll be so old when the child is growing up

Answer 1

It's not "wrong", but it definitely does put the baby at risk for more things.  

Answer 2

40 really isn't that old...I am almost 39 and 34 weeks pregnant with #2.  More and more families are waiting till they are older and established before thinking about children.

Answer 3

No it's not wrong.  There may be a higher risk for the child but I know some women who had babies in their 20's and they have disabilities.

My mother in law had a baby at 53 and both mother and child are perfectly healthy.  That little girl couldn't ask for better parents.

Answer 4

you do have more health risks and more tests the doctor has to perform (like amniocentesis) but if yo are healthy enough and your doctor thinks you are a able to carry then it shouldn't be a problem!  I was 17 when I had my first child and 22 when I had my third, I couldn't imagine having more kids at 40! All my kids will finally be done with high school by then!

Answer 5

I think its wrong after the age of 38, as the risk for diseases/other problems dramatically increases.

Answer 6

Its not wrong and the risks are for both the child and the mother.

Answer 7

No just more chance of birth defects.

Answer 8

I don't think it's wrong, and the parents will only be about 60 when the kid's leaving for college, and that's not old at all, and if you believe everything you read pretty much anything you do has possible negative consequences for an unborn child, so as long as the mom's responsible about the pregnancy (and I think this goes for all ages) I don't think it's wrong at all.

Plus, accidents and surprises happen... most women I know (or know of) who got pregnant over 40 didn't plan on it.  

Answer 9

the 40's are the new 20's!!! lots of people are having babies older these days as long as your healthy enough to carry a baby then it doesn't mater how old you are

Answer 10

No its not wrong to, it just all depends on the woman and when she decides she is ready to have children. I personally want to have all my kids before I am 30 for those reasons you mentioned. But everybody's different.  

Answer 11

It all depends on the woman.  40 isn't all that old any more.  I have a friend who had a set of twins at 41.  They are great little guys.  I felt old when I had my last at 37, but if I got pregnant again now, I wouldn't call it wrong, just a surprise!

Answer 12

Nope.

Don't get me wrong, there are risks when an older woman has a baby, but that doesn't mean that something is definitely going to happen.  Both the mother and father need to be prepared for possibility, but that can be said for any person of any age bracket having a baby.  

You can't really say that it is wrong for someone to get pregnant and have a baby because if you start in on one, then anyone who has baby can be bought into the spotlight.  What about teens?  What about women with diabetes?  What about older fathers?  What about lower income families?  Each has a less than desirable "risk" for the baby, even though not all the risks are necessarily health related.  

Answer 13

No, as long as the mom is healthy I don't see what the problem is.

I'm 34 and pregnant with my second child.

I had an aunt who was 40 when she had her last child and everything was fine.  

Answer 14

There are still the same risks as there have always been for having a child when you are older.  Just because we act younger and are often healthier, doesn't mean that our eggs don't age like they did in previous generations.  They still do.  But now we often can have quality medical care at our fingertips, and just having prenatal care can really help prevent problems or at least deal with them as they come up.  My aunt was 42 when she had a surprise baby, who came 10 years after her last one, and that baby was perfectly healthy.  As far as the parents being older, so what?  I don't think it matters too much.  

Answer 15

a risk for the child is either genetic, or destiny, it has nothing to do with the age of the women, since birth is a miracle and the formation of a child in the womb are beyond the control of a medicine and science and theory.  it has NOTHING TO DO WITH AGE, WEIGHT OR HEALTH OF A WOMAN. a woman of 40 with a genetic illness can have a miraculously healthy child or vice versa.  it is the divine power that splits the cells, forms the organs, and forms the bones and clothes them in flesh, and it i decreed in the womb, if a child will be healthy and happy, male or female and one other thing:) . it is the divine power that gives the soul to the cells that are split. and the childs destiny and happiness are not in your hands or due to your age.

Answer 16

If you don't mind, can I answer this with another question: Is it right to stop women over 40 having children if they're fit, healthy and can give the child love and a good childhood?

Obviously if the woman knows she has a chance of passing on anything unhealthy to the child, or she is not capable of bringing the child up due to illness or unfitness etc, then she should seriously think about having a baby, but otherwise I don't think it could be classified as wrong for all women over 40 to give birth. My mum had me when she was 38, and two years later when she had my sister she was pretty much the same - I am SO glad she didn't decided not to have us! Now she is still very fit and healthy and I think having children keeps her young - she is much younger at heart than other women of her age whose children are grown up :)

Answer 17

no its not that bad i guess my mom had my sister at 36. when i went with my mom to take her to school every one thought she was my child since alot of the mothers are my age instead of my mothers.

Answer 18

I don't think it's wrong. As long as the mom is financially, mentally and physically prepared for a child, who are we to say what the cut-off age for motherhood is?  

Answer 19

Hi, Both my parents were in there forty when I was born, and now they're fifty-four. But I have no mental disabilities, i'm in the 9th grade now, and I do very good in school even-thou I hate math more than anything in the world. I also have no health problems or anything of that sort. i'm not allergic to anything. But I was born a month and a half Premature. But that was not because of her age (my moms age not mine) it was because she was to stressed at that time from her job. but other than stress I would have been born on time. But my parents love me very much, I could care less about the age of them. And yes they will have to work a little bit longer to get me thru school, but I have a feeling that it will be worth it. If you have any questions for me you can email me at:    

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