Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 3 Location: New Orleans
Thanks: 0
Thanked:0
Pregnancy At 40? Normal, Or Dangerous? Posted: 04-02-06 01:28am
Hi all. First time posting on these
forums, just completed registering.
I'm not a female, but my question is not
something i'm yet comfortable with
approaching my other female friends, so
this forum is a great resource for me.
Is it normal for a woman to get pregnant
at the age of 40? The woman I am with is
about 10 years older then me, and while
i'm crazy about her....I do wonder if by
the time i'm ready for marriage, if she'll
be healthy enough to even consider trying
to get pregnant.
Keep in mind, i'm not a female, so this
question might be ridiculous to some, but
i'm just trying to get answers. My lady
is in general good health, no fatal
diseases or bad health conditions to worry
about....Just her age.
I don't know if it's too dangerous for a
woman to try to get pregnant when she's
40......I'm not sure of the risks
involved.....If miscarriages are very
common at that age, or if it's dangerous
to the mothers health, or both....Scary
when I think about it.
We're certainly not looking at having kids
anytime soon, I need to finish up college
(atleast another 3 years), and thats where
the problem is for me....By the time I
graduate, i'm about 27, and she'll be
around the age of 36.
So really....Around the age of 37-40....Is
it normal for women to get pregnant around
this age?
Thank you all for the responses, I
appriciate any help you can offer.
|
HcoBrunette06
Especially EHEALTHy
Joined: 06 Dec 2005 Posts: 8003 Location: Missouri, United States
Thanks: 0
Thanked:0
Posted: 04-02-06 02:29am
Well I don't know much about it, but I
know a lot of older women that have gotten
pregnant late in life and their children
are just fine. Of course there could be
health risks, along with any other
pregnancy but as far as i'm concerned she
should be fine. Maybe if you don't get
the responce you wanted with this thread
you could ask it as a doctors question,
good luck :)
But seriously, if you're going to have
children with this woman, start trying now
as it could take a while for her to get
pregnant, and her being older could affect
her getting pregnant sooner aswell.
|
Malory
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 95 Location: York, England
Thanks: 0
Thanked:0
Posted: 04-02-06 03:07am
It depends on the woman. A 40-year-old
woman who is healthy and in good physical
condition will probably have a healthier
pregnancy than a 25-year-old who smokes
and drinks every day while spending all
day in front of the tv.
A 40-year-old woman may have more trouble
conceiving in the first place, though.
Although you hear stories about women
close to 50 who stop using birth control
because they thought they weren't able to
have kids anymore and then suddenly
they've find they've fallen pregnant. O
they think they are going through
menopause because they are moody, tired,
having hot flashes, etc., and it turns out
they are having those symptoms because
they are pregnant.
My mother conceived me when she was 38
years old, while she was using birth
control. I wasn't planned at all.
40 is extremely young for a woman to be
going through menopause. If a woman is
having menopausal symptoms at 40, she
needs to see a doctor because it means
there is something wrong with her
hormones.
I am 40 and trying to conceive (i got
married less than a year ago.) my doctor
said he didn't foresee any problems.
Another thing you might want to prepare
for is that older women are more likely to
have twins.
|
justacanadiangirl
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 19 Nov 2004 Posts: 1803
Thanks: 0
Thanked:0
Posted: 04-02-06 03:11am
I agree with what the other ladies are
telling u. It is risky to be pregnant
over 40, but all pregnancies have their
risks. I also agree that since it could
take a while, maybe start soon. So u have
a better shot at having kids. My bf's mom
got pregnant with him when she was 43 and
even though he was full term, I think born
a week or two before his due date, he was
only 3lbs something... And I know that
can have something to do with the woman's
age... So yeah, to make a long story
short, start trying soon so that u can
increase ur chances. Good luck!
|
PlasticPill
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 02 Apr 2006 Posts: 3 Location: New Orleans
Thanks: 0
Thanked:0
Posted: 04-02-06 04:02am
Thank you all for the responses, it's very
encouraging to hear.
As much as i'd like to try now, that isn't
an option. We're not even at the point of
marriage yet, and I still want to complete
college before even considering it.
While having a child might be a joy,
struggling just to raise it sure won't be.
I'd atleast to finacially secure a job to
support both my lady and a possible
child.
And thats why I asked about
menopause....At first I thought 40 was
average, but apparently I was way
off.....For general healthy women. I
know....There's exceptions to everything.
I'm not referring to the exceptions, like
the druken alcoholic who smokes 10 packs a
day. My lady doesn't do any of that.
Wow....Twins. I'd be happy with just
1....But twins.....Maybe I would start
believing in miracles if that happened.
Thanks again for the advice, I do
appriciate it.
|
ElsaSchultz
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 16 Mar 2006 Posts: 118
Thanks: 0
Thanked:0
Posted: 04-02-06 09:37am
Aww you sound like a sweet man. Good luck
with your "lady" and eventual family. :)
i understand not wanting to start a family
now, but I wouldn't wait until she was
forty, either, especially if this will be
her first child. Go ahead and start
trying just as soon as you are able to.
If she's 36-38, she shouldn't have a
problem (unless, of course, she or you are
pre-disposed to being infertile).
|
Malory
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 26 Dec 2005 Posts: 95 Location: York, England
Thanks: 0
Thanked:0
Posted: 04-02-06 14:15pm
Sorry if I am being a bit nosy, but have
you and she discussed the possibility of
having children?
If she doesn't have children already, it
could be because she doesn't want to have
any.
If she already has children from a
previous relationship, she may not want to
have anymore.
|
dandylion
New User, Becoming EHEALTHy
Joined: 15 Nov 2005 Posts: 48 Location: Canada
Thanks: 0
Thanked:0
Posted: 04-02-06 19:42pm
A lady I work with, her sister had her
first baby at 40 and her second at 42.
She did have a miscariage in between them,
but the two she has are perfectly healthy.
There are more risks with pregnancy the
older you get especially with down
syndrome but because of her age, the
doctors will probably check on her more
often. Someone in their twenties (low
risk) may only have a few blood tests and
maybe 1 or 2 ultrasounds where as a woman
in her 40ies will probably have an amnio
as well as frequent ultrasounds/blood
tests...If she's had kids in a previous
relationship that improves her changes of
having a healthy baby at 40.
|
diamondsz
Extremely EHEALTHy
Joined: 07 Oct 2005 Posts: 2843 Location: , Candyland-Canada
Thanks: 0
Thanked:0
Posted: 04-02-06 20:39pm
Anyone is at risk for miscarriage, 40 is
risky but it is alos risky under 18 I had
a normal pregnancy and a high risk one but
two healthy children just be positive and
im glad for you and your partner that you
are waiting till marriage!
|
rasuyoung
Experienced User , Rather EHEALTHy
Joined: 17 Jan 2006 Posts: 464 Location: Long Island, NY
Thanks: 0
Thanked:0
Posted: 04-02-06 21:59pm
Hey. If this is her first child (and i'm
assuming it is), it can take longer to
conceive and there are of course, more
risks after a woman turns 35. As for
having twins, I don't think it has much to
do with age - it has to do with family
history of twins and, in the case of older
women, the use of in vitro fertilization.
Many "older" women who have trouble
conceiving naturally use in vitro, and two
fertilized eggs are generally inserted so
that there's a better chance of one
implanting in the uterus. A lot of
times, both survive and voila - twins.
Good luck with everything.
Ps - my mom had my youngest sister at 43,
almost 44. She was full-term and 7
pounds, 13 oz. However, she'd had 6 kids
previously!
The site is not a replacement for professional medical opinion, examination, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your medical doctor or other qualified health professional before starting any new treatment or making any changes to existing treatment. Do not delay seeking or disregard medical advice based on information written by any author on this site. No health questions and information on eHealthForum is regulated or evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and therefore the information should not be used to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease without the supervision of a medical doctor. Posts made to these forums express the views and opinions of the author, and not the administrators, moderators, or editorial staff and hence eHealthForum and its principals will accept no liabilities or responsibilities for the statements made.
Schizophreniahealth
This page was last updated on April 1, 2008
