Tick-Tock goes our Biological Clock

Most woman have dreams of having their own children. Oftentimes those dreams are put on hold for a variety of reasons. Some delay Motherhood because they want to climb the corporate ladder. Some have difficulty getting pregnant. Then there are those that got married later in life and some who are still waiting for Mr. Right.

This week I came across a story in the Toronto Star, “Giving birth at 56”. Tessa’s story is a typical 21^st century story – she got married, had three children, got divorced but still wanted to have a fourth child. With the help of In Vitro fertilization (IVF), a sperm and egg donor, she became pregnant and had a son.

I’m not hating on woman who decide to become mothers at age 40 and beyond but let’s take a look at the bigger picture. There are so many risks that you and your baby may face if you decide to get pregnant in your 40’s and 50's. Here are the most common concerns:

1 You may experience a harder time getting pregnant with your own eggs and will most likely have to pay for an egg donor

2 You raise the risk of having multiple miscarriages or having a child who ends up with a birth defect

3 Many end up having high blood pressure and gestational diabetes

4 Many give birth prematurely or end up having a baby with a low birth weight

5 When all your friends are making plans for retirement, you’ll be making plans to send your child off to University or College

Of course there are pros to having a child later on in life -  the main one being financially stable.

If you're able to have children before you turn 40, jump on the opportunity. If you're unable to get pregnant or waiting to get married, I suggest you start accepting your situation and start moving on. For those that are purposefully delaying getting pregnant, think of all the milestones you may miss if you decide to get pregnant in your 40's or 50's. 

What is your view on those that decide to have children in their 40’s and beyond?

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Thanks for reading and keep smiling :)