There might not be any risks for the mother other than the usual ones that mothers experience, but there definitely are many risks for the baby born to first cousins. The risk of genetic defects is higher: a 4-6 percent chance of having a defect, whereas with a non-related couple, there is only a 2-3 percent chance.

If there is a defect that runs in the family, it is more likely to gain dominance by intermarriage.

There is definately a greater risk for genetic defects in babies born to first cousins and even greater in brothers and sisters. The reason is that rare recessive genes would repeat when in normal couples they wouldnt.

i know someone who had 2 kids with their first cousin and the kids came out fine.

Not all babies by first cousins will come out with something wrong. Most will comeo ut perfectly healthy but the chances that something will be wrong is higher.

Yeah you're right manuftw.

ok number 1 thats gross

number 2 why would you even take the risk knowing they could have severe birth defects?

number 3 thats so gross.

I agree
lol Suzy you are too funny

Ick Icky and yes a greater chance for defects. Yuck!

lol Some people may not even know they are related. I just read a story about twins separated at birth who grew up and married each other and then found out after that they were twins. And in the olden days wealthy people (mostly royalty) used to marry their siblings to keep everything in their family line. They also had a high rate of Hemophilia.

Yeah my husband told me about that story yesterday. They had to get an annulment. What a crazy thing.

I know in the Catholic Church (at least by tradition) the bans of marriage were/are read three times and posted in all the places those who were to be married had lived so that if someone knew a reason for the couple not to get married, they could speak up. This included getting married to a second cousin or closer to prevent stuff like that happening and genetic defects. That was a really good idea!

yeah i read that story too just now on aol

I am sorry. Not posting any statistic... but IMO something is wrong in the head to fall in love with/have intercourse with a sibling or first cousin. or anyone within the family for that case.

i dont have statistics but i know in mass they use to have to do a blood test before you got married to be sure you werent related

~alicia~

My best friend and stephen didnt know till they were in there early 20's that they were cousins and we all went to the same high school and everything!!

Some families just arnt as close as others i guess!!!

Yeah, I agree that it's really gross...but there are times when say, like I don't know my biological father, nor do I know any of his relatives, but many of them live nearby me. I don't even know names!! Pretty f'd up, but anyway, I live in a small community so I'd probably find out before anything like that happened, but there are possibilities in a situation like that.