My mom was 45 when he was born

I'm the oldest of 8 children! I'm 28, and my brother just turned 6. My mom was almost 45 when he was born. Although she said it was her hardest delivery, it was her easiest pregnancy. (Start to finish her delivery was only 4 hours so...)

Although I'm nervous to have children after 35, it isn't the health issues that scare me - it's that they will out-run me when they are teenagers! I'd say GO FOR IT!!! :-)

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Just in case you need an encouraging word, you are not too old!! I am 48 years old, and have three sons: 10, 9, and 5. So, I was 43 when the youngest was born.

All three were high risk because of my age, and had scarey numbers, but we opted not to have amniocentesis done for any of them. The only thing wrong with any of them is that they are WILD, messy, bug-eating, noisy boys!! They were all born via C-section after unproductive labors; otherwise, everything was just fine.

If your age is your worry, I hope you'll think of this old geezer with YOUNG children, who are healthy enough to drive her crazy!!

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Child-bearing beyond age 50: pregnancy outcome in 59 cases "a concern?"

OBJECTIVE: To study maternal and perinatal outcomes in healthy women aged 50 years and older.

METHOD: This study was of 59 clinical pregnancies, of which 10 ended in first trimester spontaneous miscarriage (and were excluded from further studies) and 58 live births. This retrospective review of 58 live births in 49 essentially healthy women (mean [SE] age, [52+/-2.5] years; range 50-55 years), with no chronic medical conditions (of which 28 were primigravids). Pregnancy outcomes were ascertained by chart review and telephone follow-up.

RESULTS: Of the 58 live births, 41 were singletons, and 7 were twins, and 1 triplet, for which the mean+/-SE gestational age at delivery were 38.1 weeks +/-0.4, 36.2 weeks +/-0.1 and 34.1 weeks respectively. Birth weights (mean +/- SE) were 3,201 g+/-10, 2,252 g+/-4 and 1,998+/-95 g respectively.

Mean Apgar score +/- SE at 1 and 5 min were 9.2+/-0.8 and 8.8+/-0.6 respectively. Total cesarean deliveries were 73% (36/49). Of singletons 68% (28) were delivered by cesarean section as were all multiples. The incidence of pre-eclampsia was 30.6%: mild pre-eclampsia 20.4% (10/49), severe pre-eclampsia 10.2% (5/49). Gestational diabetes required insulin in all 19.5% of women. Anemia was noted in 6.5%.

CONCLUSIONS: Appropriately screened women, aged 50 years or older, can deliver successfully. During pregnancy, they appear to be at increased risk of pre-eclampsia and gestational diabetes. A significant majority can expect to deliver via cesarean.

PMID: 14716494 [PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE]

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I just discovered this website. It's wonderful! I am nearly 50 (in June) and trying for a baby. I already have two miracle children; a 21 year old daughter conceived with my almost infertile first husband, and a 4 year old daughter born when I was 45, and my second husband 48. Both were conceived without any assistance.

Most of my friends and all of my family think I should leave it at this, but inside I feel 'unfinished'. I still have hope, though in the last 3 1/2 years of trying I only got pregnant once, and miscarried at 10 weeks.

I started to feel really lonely when people became more pessimistic and negative. Even my doctor is now against us even trying (she says it could endanger my health, which I don't believe), so I don't mention it anymore. I hope to surprise her one day! I'm looking forward to reading everyone's stories. -- Rayna (in the UK)

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In 2005, there were more than 104,000 births in the United States to women ages 40 through 44, and over 6,500 to women 45 and older.

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Category: 1st, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55