Reader's Ink discussion

Consider Dr. Swenson’s research in the Amazon. Should women of any age be able to have children? What are the benefits and the downsides?

My mother was 45 and my father 48 when my youngest brother was born. There were 11 years between him and the next sibling. Even now nearly 40 years ago, during our time and place, that was an age to be reckoned with. We've heard of others since older, but 63, that is quite old. When Annick had her child, knowing it had died, are the women's bodies truly healthy enough to continually give birth to child after child. Your question, "Should women of any age be able to have children." Not poking fun at any of you who have children or are through having children, I'll use Ashley as an example. I'll read a post of yours, and it will have been an extremely difficult time with an illness, cutting teeth, new pregnancy or whatever it might be. I'm of the opinion that younger women are more cutout to have children when they are younger. I could probably be a lot of the younger set's Mom in this group, and what an absolute delight it has been getting to know you and develop such interesting friendships, and to read of your talents and successes. But if I were a 63 year old woman having a child, would this old body give me the strength to raise it. I would have difficulties today. I've had lots of health challenges over the last 30 years, so if I were normal, perhaps, but don't think so as I am today. So I read about and love on the kids I have the privilege of associating with.

I'd LOVE to see fertility safely extended for another couple decades. There's a HUGE difference between a 45-year-old woman who is financially stable, etc. having a kid compared to a 70-year-old. Chris (my husband) was born to older parents--his mum was 42 or so, his dad in his 50s. It worked out. His folks were very stable, were retired and extremely involved by his high school years, and both have been fortunate to have very good health into their later years and enjoy their 3 uber cute granddaughters.

As someone who is current 25 weeks pregnant, I have no doubt pregnancy is easier on younger women. Pregnancy hugely compounds every illness, every body system is significantly changed, and your skeletal structure literally shifts and moves. My biggest concern would be raising needy newborns or high-energy young children while, well, old. Pregnancy isn't the hard part. Raising kids is!

That said, I've always hated the relatively narrow window biology gives women to WISELY reproduce. Sure, your body says 17 is the perfect time to have a kid, but we all know that you're likely dooming yourself to poverty, no career, etc. I'm 31 and FEEL too young to have a second child on the way, but I'm LITERALLY the oldest the pregnant woman in the waiting room at my OB's office. Seeing as how my OB-GYN had her kids in her late 30s and early 40s, I'd much rather be grouped in with the professional women who had kids they could afford rather than those who are broke and 23 with three young kids they put no forethought into providing for. At 31, I guess I'm right smack in the middle: old enough to have a job and stability, young enough to slide under the "advanced maternal age" label that OBs attached to women over 35.

Besides, I believe studies have pointed to child-bearing in the mid-30s being correlated with children's better overall health and well-being. The risks are slightly higher in pregnancy, but once the kiddos are born into the world, it looks like they might actually be better off. I suspect that's due to economics, and thus access to education, better nutrition, and health care, but who knows. Life's a trade off, no?

But extending fertility? Oh yes. I'm totally in favor of it.