50 Year Olds Having Babies
If you are one of those women over 50 who think their time for experiencing motherhood has past, think again, because there are many more 50 year olds having babies than you might think.
According to the experts, the number of women over fifty who are giving birth actually rose by almost 400% within the last decade. While the challenges of giving birth over 50 cannot be understated, this task no longer falls within the realms of the impossible.
If you are looking to give birth at this stage of your life, here are a few facts that just might surprise you about becoming a mother after the age of 50.
Not Your Eggs
There is a major concern among many people when it comes to 50 year olds having babies with regards to the risk of Down syndrome, particularly because this risks skyrockets once a woman reaches her 50s.
The good news, however, is that women now have the option of either having their embryos frozen when they are younger with the hopes of using them later in life, or using donor eggs. By choosing these options, the eggs themselves are young and healthy enough that they do not pose as high a risk for Down syndrome.
It Isn’t as Tough
While you might assume that 50 year olds having babies find the entire experience of raising a child at this stage of their lives even more difficult when compared with someone who is younger and possibly fitter than them, this is not necessarily the case.
According to a recent study, older mothers tended to experience much lower levels of parental stress. When it came to fatigue levels, 50-year-old mothers scored the same as those in their 30s and 40s.
More Financially Stable
Many women choose not to have babies in their 20s, 30s or even 40s because they are focusing on their careers, and it has now come to light that those in their 50s tend to be in a much more financially stable position when having babies at this age.
Basically this means that once they have their children, they are able to dedicate more time to them because they are not as focused on building their careers or trying to save money, and this is a big plus for those choosing to having kids later in life.
You Could Live Longer
A surprising study has shown that 50 year olds having babies could actually increase their life spans. According to recent research, those who gave birth after 40 stood a 400% chance of living to 100 when compared with those who did not. This alone might be reason enough to start considering having children at 50.
If you are making the decision to have children in your fifties, it is important that you understand the risks and benefits involved before making a decision. The good news is that in the 21st century, there might finally be many more benefits to having babies at fifty, than risks.
My Parents where 40 when I was born in 1973 and at the time this would have been viewed as old.At the school gate my Mum was more like a grandmother as most of the Mum,s where in their 20,s.My Parents did not enjoy good health and I was left alone at 22 when they both died.Having chidden young does not mean you will be around longer but the child will have a Mother and a Father for longer that I did.I am married now and had 3 children before I was 30……..they will have each other when my husband and I are gone…….
I don’t have children, but my sister had hers later in life (although not as late as 50), and without a stable partner, it can be difficult. Many of my friends have been through several husbands by now, and finally found one that they’re willing to stay with for the long term, and that could be another factor in choosing later pregnancy. I recently read about several women around age 65 giving birth. It’s not for me, but I can see it happening more and more, especially since many women in their 50s are financially stable, and date younger men.
I’m re-reading this because I’ve been hearing about this more frequently, as well as women in their 60’s giving birth. I know of many women in their 50’s who are healthy and active, and if they’re financially stable and able, I’m certainly not going to stop them from having one or more child.
One thing I do think needs to be taken into consideration, though, is succession planning. Many of my aunts and uncles didn’t live to my current age, so that is something that would make me pause before considering this. I think it’s important for any potential parent, but especially for those who are older, to be certain they have someone willing and able to take over parenting duties in the event that something tragic occurs. I was always willing to do this for my nieces, in the event that it became necessary, but not everyone has family members willing to do so. In such cases, the potential parent-figure could be a close friend, extended family member, or another trusted person. Having this type of plan in place can give the parents peace of mind, and can also enable parents to create an ongoing relationship with this person or persons and the child/children, so there will be a sense of familiarity and comfort, in the event that they do need to step in as parents at some point.
While I understand why someone might want to give birth to their “own” child in their 50s or later, and while the ability to do so does exist, I still have to wonder about the wisdom in doing so. My vital and healthy grandparents had a great deal to do with my bringing-up, so I am not suggesting that it is not possible to be an energetic and “with-it” parent at 50 or 60, I must say that becoming a grandparent in my 50s certainly demonstrated for me that I am limited in the physical abilities and energy stores that I possessed in my 20s, 30s or 40s, and in our household with two active sons, those stores were needed to pursue a dynamic lifestyle with them. My parents passed away when I was in my late 50s. I feel so very privileged to have had a long, earthly relationship with them, to be mentored and to know that their grandchildren had happy relationships with them into their own adulthoods.
I certainly would not do anything to stand in the way of 50-60+-year old women birthing children, I would, however, like to suggest that there is are 15 Million google links to “Volunteer Grandparent” programs for people 55 and over desiring to do some active parenting-like support with children 3 – 14. I do not know of anyone (in my circle, which includes 1000s of acquaintances in Social Media) personally who has had a child after their 40s, but I do know of many women who have not had children and who have developed lovely, caring relationships with children and families who lack ‘grandparent resources..’