Would you have a baby at 50?

[pumpkinpatch6]

Off the back of the "Do you regret having a baby at 40" thread, would you have a child at 50 assuming you can provide for it emotionally and financially? Obviously medical assistance would be needed.

@KimberleyClark I remember her. Most MNers defended her. She said later it was a mistake.

I am in my fifties. The idea of having a baby now is horrendous, but manageable. Having teenagers in your sixties is very unfair on the child.

You are not a spring chicken either whether you know it or not. Life expectancy is not guaranteed. Many of my friends in their 50s have had or are battling cancer. The point of having children so late in life is the awareness of the increased risk.
And whether you admit it or not you certainly do not have the stamina or energy of someone half your age.

I know a few friends who have stamina and energy in their fifties, they are the exception. And my friends generally are pretty sporty. I also know lots who have had cancer in their fifties.

Yes but you keep saying 'unless you can't have children of your own you wouldn't understand!'

And I haven't had children I've wanted and I still would rather be childless than do it at 50.

Please stop implying those of us who wanted kids would continue to pursue the idea without thought into our 50s like we're all so desperate we'd stop thinking about the implications of our actions.

Yes, without a doubt! I am actually thinking about it.
I am in good health, my energy levels are still the same as always been, I have a nice job, big house, husband in same situation and a very active life in general. My little one is still very young and life has been difficult with him, but I am not too scared of sleepless nights and anything related to that.
About feeling guilty as the baby will have old parents soon, life is not fair, but he would have a sibling and we are planning not to be a burden. My dad is 75 and his mother, my granny, is 98 and still very indipendent. Hope to follow their footsteps!

No. No no no no no. I'm 50 this year. I had a hip replaced at 48 and will probably need more work done. I missed several years of being able to easily spend time with my kids because of my physical limitations. My H had a stroke last Summer and can't work. There is no way I'd bring a child into this.

And chronic health issues are much more likely to occur when you are past 50.

Absolutely not.

While you might not be decrepit while they're little, you'll be heading that way by the time they're an adult. Definitely by the time they're hitting their 30s. Likelihood of you dying when they're still young is quite high too.

No, as I think 50 can still feel reasonably young and fit however I'm not sure the same could be said at 60 with a 9/10yo, or 66 with a 16yo doing their GCSEs etc. It's a lot of energy to bring a child up over the years, a lot of involvement and commitment and physical energy and it's not just about having a baby full stop, it's about being a hands-on parent until 18 at least and then providing advice and support (and dealing with young people's ups and downs) up to the early or mid 20s. It's a lot.

People on MN like to pretend age does not exist and we will all live into our nineties in good health.
They ignore that last year life expectancy was downgraded as the previous life expectancies published had been over optimistic and thought life expectancy would continue to rise at the same rate as previously. It has not. Life expectancy for men is now 79.

Exactly! My nurturing levels are in the toilet! Nothing left in the tank...

Nope, oxytocin levels at an all time low.

If you have a baby at 50 with another womans egg and donated sperm the child might be fine. But if you are your partner have a child the chances of disability are very high.

This in spades.

I had a baby at 41 and that was old enough imo. We were trying and decided if it didn't happen while I was 40, we'd stop. Ended up pg a few weeks before I turned 41. I'm almost 50 now and not a chance id even consider it.

I'm not implying that at all I'm saying some might continue to pursue that regardless if wether its wise
But its easy to say you would never pursue when you are in the fortunate position of already being a parent

Nope.

Couldn't anyway without IVF with donor eggs due to relatively early menopause, but even if I could, no way. Although weirdly I do keep dreaming about having a baby, maybe just because I can't now.

No.
I'm early 50's with a teen DD. I don't want to do it all again and I am too old. Not old, but too old to do another 20 years of raising another child.
It's a worry about how death would impact DD already.

Victoria Coren Mitchell,Naomi Campbell ,maybe they have the means to be able to care for /birth a new babe .In reality most women would find it difficult I think.When they are 20 you would be 70!

Fuck no.

adding to the resounding NO
I'm 53 so I've missed the ''opportunity'' ha ha
Like another poster who had her youngest at 36, I feel I could have had dc a bit younger. I had my first at 33 but really, I think 29 would have been better. My youngest STILL isn't an ''adult''. It's a long haul. Not advising anybody to start at 20 but well, not like I had all the choices to start earlier but the security I thought I had, I didn't have it.

I guess it depends on the circumstances. For me; no because I am fortunate enough to be able to have children naturally but for someone that has not been so fortunate, off course they would.

I knew I'd get that sort of pushback about what I said! And I did not choose to have my only baby in my mid-40s, that's the way it worked out. I know I would rather be in the position I am now, i.e. having my lovely son, than not. I know there are risks etc, not denying those. I was just saying I don't feel "knackered" yet, despite my job and my busy teenager, that's all! Maybe it's the HRT!

My DH is quite a bit younger than me, if that's any consolation!

Cooking thermometer 😂

There's a hell of a lot of ageism on this thread. My friend had a baby at 50, became pregnant accidentally and thought she was menopausal for the first 4 months.
The baby is healthy, loved and thriving.
There are also thousands of grandparents out there doing a great job, raising grandkids that they have parental responsibility for.
I have good news for all you 20 something's with no energy 😊 I also had no energy when I was 28, largely due to trying to establish myself in my career, but the amazing thing is, for lots of people you get more energy as you get older, not less. You also get more organised and experienced with life.