Will not having kids keep me physically younger?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have 4 children and the body of a teenager. If you lose the weight immediately after the baby you'll be fine. And don't gain too much to begin with.

What utter bollocks!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I have 4 children and the body of a teenager. If you lose the weight immediately after the baby you'll be fine. And don't gain too much to begin with.

Also, if you lose weight NOT immediately, you'll be fine, too )))

[Anonymous]

Physically - the answer should be a resounding yes and I think that you're finding a healthy way to look for the positives in what sounds like a disappointment for you so kudos.

Based on my experiences with pregnancy and motherhood, I would expect that you will have:
1. a better pelvic floor
2. be better able to maintain your weight
3. less bags under your eyes and dark circles due to more sleep
4. less gray hair on your head and nethers brought on by stress
5. less chance of a hernia or diastis recti so your stomach and ab muscles would be in better shape
6. firmer breasts
7. same shoe size or smaller as you age but not larger as with pregnancy
8. slower rate of hair loss

[Anonymous]

It depends. Are you in a stressful career? That takes its toll. I know some big law women that look about 10 years older. But yes, motherhood can be stressful and stress can age you.

[Anonymous]

Let’s be honest.
Can you tell looking at random 75 year old women whether or not they’ve had a child?
How about 65? 55? 45?

[Anonymous]

No, it will do the exact opposite.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: If you are disappointed about not having children, I don't think this is the proper validation. Many of us mothers are in superior physcial shape shortly after having children and still decades later. And I don't want to sow further concern for you but in fact, there are many reasons that having children actually benefits women from a health standpoint, mostly because of hormonal changes. The exposure to higher levels of estrogen for a period of time offer greater protection from ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and heart disease. My identical twin, who was never pregnant, died from a rare type of uterine cancer, which, according to her specialists, almost never afflicts women who have been pregnant. I know you're looking for ways to be happier about not having children, but I don't think you should look to physical advantage. If it's any consolation, I am the mother of two teenagers right now, and I love them with all my heart, but it's a nightmare. I do think the mental toll is pretty serious.

Seriously ridiculous. If having children is supposed to be protective, then why is that all the women I know who have cancer also mothers?

This is, unfortunately, true. I never had bio children, buthave an adopted daughter and had ovarian cancer when she was very young. So I got all the sleep deprivation aging and the physical toll of cancer. PP, I’m so sorry about your twin. OP, I don’t think the increased risk for cancer is substantial enough to be an argument for having kids. Birth control pills can help. I’m sorry about losing your twin.

You do realize that ovarian cancer is very rare right?

[Anonymous]

Yes. Research says having a kid will biologically age you at least 8+years. Understandable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Let’s be honest.
Can you tell looking at random 75 year old women whether or not they’ve had a child?
How about 65? 55? 45?

This is a good point. Age catches up with all of us regardless. As a PP said, even your pelvic floor starts to go once you reach menopause, kids or not.

But to OPs point, I think 30s-40s would be easier on your looks if you never had kids.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP: If you are disappointed about not having children, I don't think this is the proper validation. Many of us mothers are in superior physcial shape shortly after having children and still decades later. And I don't want to sow further concern for you but in fact, there are many reasons that having children actually benefits women from a health standpoint, mostly because of hormonal changes. The exposure to higher levels of estrogen for a period of time offer greater protection from ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and heart disease. My identical twin, who was never pregnant, died from a rare type of uterine cancer, which, according to her specialists, almost never afflicts women who have been pregnant. I know you're looking for ways to be happier about not having children, but I don't think you should look to physical advantage. If it's any consolation, I am the mother of two teenagers right now, and I love them with all my heart, but it's a nightmare. I do think the mental toll is pretty serious.

Jeez. She wants to feel better about not having kids. I think the answer is yes, you will look better if you don’t have kids but ONLY if you work at it.

Agree. Still have to work at it and lead a healthy lifestyle as you age.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don’t think you’ll find much validation for this on what is primarily a mom’s board. Even if it’s true, people won’t want to admit it!

Ummm...read the responses. Parents have been very truthful and forthcoming throughout the thread.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s be honest.
Can you tell looking at random 75 year old women whether or not they’ve had a child?
How about 65? 55? 45?

This is a good point. Age catches up with all of us regardless. As a PP said, even your pelvic floor starts to go once you reach menopause, kids or not.

But to OPs point, I think 30s-40s would be easier on your looks if you never had kids.

And 50s.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:No, it will do the exact opposite.

Care to explain this statement?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes. Research says having a kid will biologically age you at least 8+years. Understandable.

I think the research is mixed though. Mothers having a live birth after age 40 (spontaneous pregnancies,not fertility treatment assisted live births) are significantly more likely to live to 90. Some of that may be that prior to births they are genetically inherently "younger" and some of it may also be a result of pregnancy and nursing. Having nursed a baby is correlated with lower breast cancer risk (and i think it is increasingly protective the more you do). Pregnancies are associated with lower ovarian cancer risks too I think (the breaks in ovulation decrease cancer risk). Motherhood absolutely has its deeper stressors. But it can be protective as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Let’s be honest.
Can you tell looking at random 75 year old women whether or not they’ve had a child?
How about 65? 55? 45?

This is a good point. Age catches up with all of us regardless. As a PP said, even your pelvic floor starts to go once you reach menopause, kids or not.

But to OPs point, I think 30s-40s would be easier on your looks if you never had kids.

And 50s.

Eh, once menopause kicks in your looks tank either way.