It really depends on how YOU feel personally. Do you feel energetic? do you feel young?

I am 35 and love the idea of having a fourth. But honestly, I feel a lot older. I am always tired and stressed out..and I am already starting to feel aches and pains. So, the thought of having another one is out of my mind now.

But if you are 41 and full of life and energy...I'd say go for it!

Anonymous wrote:I had DS when I was 42. No issues at all. DS is 5. Today we were at Target and a man asked if he was my grandson! I told him I was his mother! Poor guy was embarrassed and said he didn't mean anything by it.... Lol! Guess I look my age and I certainly wouldn't mind being DS's grandma rather than the mom. Better than being asked if I am his nanny which happened all the time when he was a baby/toddler.

Ouch, where do you live? Was he from out of town?

I had twins at 50! Go for it!!

Not too old! I say "go for it!"

Anonymous wrote:I had my kids at 37, 39, and 40, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I spent my twenties traveling the world, working in my very low-paid dream career (which I eventually gave up so I could pay a mortgage--but I'd outgrown it anyway), and living a very active social life. Got literally everything out of my system before I settled down. I have friends who were married straight out of college, and I know, for me, if I were in their shoes I'd eternally be asking "What if...?"

My only issue is that perimenopause and young kids don't mix well...I wish my hormones weren't so insane right now. But overall, if you're able, I think late 30s/early 40s is a great time to have a child.

"What if..." what?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The rate for Downs is really big -- do you want a downs baby op or would you be ok with an abortion?

This scared me so I did not try when I was older.

The risk of DS is elevated. It is not "really big".

Age 25- 1 in 1200
Age 40- 1 in 100
Age 45- 1 in 30
(approx)

I'm 41 and pregnant. When I just went through the nuchal screening my chances were WAY better than that. I also know many women between 38 and 45 who have all had 100% healthy kids. You are being inflammatory.

I am not the one who posted the stats. But I actually have two friends who did have babies with Downs in their early 40s. I would just say to be prepared and know how you would handle this situation if it happened to you.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would love to have a second but I just feel that 41 is too old. Maybe not now but I bet I'll really feel it in my mid-50s. To those who have the life experience, what are your thoughts?

Just remember that you will die while your child is relatively young.

There is no guarantee about that regardless of parental age. I've known friends who had their kids in their 40's who are still going strong in their 70's and unlikely to pass any time soon except by accident. I had one friend, age 50, in good health (a former marine working for NASA) who dropped dead completely unexpectedly of a heart attack at work one day. His daughter was 12 at the time. I had another pair of friends in their mid 50's who died when a drunken jackass cross the median of a divided highway and hit their car head-on and kill them both. Their daughter was orphaned at age 14. I've had a friend die of cancer in their 50's leaving three children under the age of 15 behind. And my parents, age 80 and 87 and my mother-in-law 81 are all around to see and enjoy our 2 year old twins because we had our children in our 40's and we are both the youngest children in our respective families.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The rate for Downs is really big -- do you want a downs baby op or would you be ok with an abortion?

This scared me so I did not try when I was older.

The risk of DS is elevated. It is not "really big".

Age 25- 1 in 1200
Age 40- 1 in 100
Age 45- 1 in 30
(approx)

I'm 41 and pregnant. When I just went through the nuchal screening my chances were WAY better than that. I also know many women between 38 and 45 who have all had 100% healthy kids. You are being inflammatory.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The rate for Downs is really big -- do you want a downs baby op or would you be ok with an abortion?

This scared me so I did not try when I was older.

The risk of DS is elevated. It is not "really big".

Age 25- 1 in 1200
Age 40- 1 in 100
Age 45- 1 in 30
(approx)

With my first at 38, I had the triple screen, and my chances were something like 1/600. They weren't even concerned with my second, which I had at 42. Both are completely healthy kids.

Research is good; I can't say that it's not beneficial. But when a young friend, who was pregnant with her first in her early 30s, was told to abort b/c her child had Down, according to tests, she freaked out but refused the "offer."

And guess what? totally healthy baby . . .

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The rate for Downs is really big -- do you want a downs baby op or would you be ok with an abortion?

This scared me so I did not try when I was older.

The risk of DS is elevated. It is not "really big".

Age 25- 1 in 1200
Age 40- 1 in 100
Age 45- 1 in 30
(approx)

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The rate for Downs is really big -- do you want a downs baby op or would you be ok with an abortion?

This scared me so I did not try when I was older.

The risk of DS is elevated. It is not "really big".

Anonymous wrote:The rate for Downs is really big -- do you want a downs baby op or would you be ok with an abortion?

This scared me so I did not try when I was older.

A baby is a miracle and gift whenever it arrives, age of parent is irrelevant. As long as it is wanted and loved.

No. I had my twins at 54. Go for it.

I had my kids at 37, 39, and 40, and I wouldn't have it any other way. I spent my twenties traveling the world, working in my very low-paid dream career (which I eventually gave up so I could pay a mortgage--but I'd outgrown it anyway), and living a very active social life. Got literally everything out of my system before I settled down. I have friends who were married straight out of college, and I know, for me, if I were in their shoes I'd eternally be asking "What if...?"

My only issue is that perimenopause and young kids don't mix well...I wish my hormones weren't so insane right now. But overall, if you're able, I think late 30s/early 40s is a great time to have a child.