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.

No

Massive no from me. Had 2 under 2, and toddlers at 40 was more than tough enough. 😅

No, the chances of you being dead whilst they are still young are through the roof.

No, purely because I’ve spent 18 years bringing kids up and also have 18 month old twins so another 16 years left of parenting. I know I’ll always parent but you know what I mean. Even if I hadn’t though 50 is too old.

I had a baby at 42, she’s now 10 and I’m 52. Zero regrets.

Wouldn’t consider another now, even if finances permitted, I simply wouldn’t have the energy!

No, you just don't have the energy to cope with sleeplessnes or young children at that age. And I can't imagine anything worse than dealing with teenagers in my 60's. You'd be paying for university at the time most people are retiring.

Good grief, no.

I had my only child on my 37th birthday after believing I couldn't have children. I have been a lone parent for 13 years and I'm now 51 and my daughter is 14. To cope with teenage hormones, menopausal symptoms and now my daughter has been diagnosed autistic at 14 years old, is tough on us both. I'm undiagnosed but on a five year adult autism assessment waiting list. I wish that in many respects I had been more prepared for the sometimes unbearable difficulties ahead. As an older parent I admit I fail my daughter in some ways that might have been avoidable if I had managed to have a child earlier in life.

I wouldn't, I feel exhausted just thinking about it (mid 40s now) but then I've already got kids. So maybe a woman who hasn't, feels more energetic and ready to face the challenge!
The chances of getting cancer and other illnesses increase so much past 50, I think it would be unfair. But I certainly wouldn't judge another woman for it.

This thread is making me really concerned about turning 50! How little energy do you have?!

No no no! What a nightmare! Being a grandparent is way more fun than being a parent anyway

How long is a piece of string?

Your energy levels will depend on a few things like health, diet and exercise.

But it certainly does decrease as we age, particularly when we hit the menopause.

I think it's pretty safe to say you'll have more energy if you're not feeding a baby during the night 😁

No way.

I had my 2 eldest in my 20’s then my youngest at 44 (yes I know, you read that right). So I would say probably not as it’s exhausting being an older mum and not fair on the child when they’re older having really old parents. Saying that, if you’re childless and have a chance then I would never judge. We waited a while for a youngest and feel very blessed to have them, most of the time!

No! I’d have loved another baby but it didn’t happen after my 3rd at age 39. I’m now 45 and last year decided that 44 was my cut off for trying. But you should do what is right for you.

Rather stick wasps up my arse.

Due to fertility issues I had my son in my early 40’s and my husband was 38. This was 10 years ago. As an active person who takes care of myself, I didn’t feel overly tired or much older than most of the other mums tbh.
Having a child when you are older could potentially have benefits. No money worries, able to get my son what he needed, able to look after my son for the first 3 years without needing to work, patient and less selfish compared to when I was younger etc

Also, being younger is no guarantee of time you are able to support your child to adulthood. . All my grandparents have lived to their late 80’s - I’m hoping for the same! Sadly a friend lost her life to cancer at 35 leaving behind a 3 year old.
My pregnancy was a breeze, but some of the younger mums had more problematic pregnancies. No age comes with any guarantees.

Women are made to feel guilty about everything around children. Having children too young, too old, not at all, having too many children, having an only child.

I think the most important thing is that the child is wanted and loved. As a person whose parents had me young and found themselves unable to cope emotionally and financially - I’d swap that legacy with having loving parents in a heartbeat - no matter what their age would be.

I wouldn’t want to do it all again at 50 though tbh. That’s just me though in my current circumstances.

I used to find the phrase ‘I’d rather shit in my hands and clap ‘ useful in certain situations but this phrase has replaced it 😂😂😂😂

No way! Twins at 37 was bad enough!

I do agree with this. I think sometimes people answer questions about older mums as if the question is “is it the optimum time to have a baby if you have free choice?” The fact is, most people don’t have free choice, and there are pros and cons to every timeline. We all have things that make us less than perfect parents - too old, too young, too poor, too busy, too sad etc etc- but they don’t stop us being good enough parents and perfect for our children.

I thought the same thing!

Absolutely no chance 😩 im
almost 50 and tired enough with teenagers!!

Reading about how many are much too tired at 50+ to raise a baby/child got me wondering. A uni friend of mine is from China. She was raised by her grandparents because her parents needed to work, she only saw her parents during holidays. Now her child in turn is being raised by her parents/the grandparents so that she and her husband can work. I realise the grandmother won't have recently gone through childbearing etc but it seems culturally if not normal then not entirely unusual to be raising small children at 50+ there (she's not the only one who was raised by her grandparents so that parents could work). Is it the fact of having raised kids already & working simultaneously whilst doing so that makes us here at 50+ so tired? Are we less healthy? Or are they knackered too but have to get on with it tired or not?

For me def not! Im 36 and pregnant, the tiredness and strain on my body compared to in my 20s is unreal! Alsoi lost my mother wen she was only 52 and me 29, and it sticks with me, id be terrified i didnt have time to raise my own child.

for me no my children are in their 30s at 50 my children turned 30m,28f,25f i have granchildren im doing what i want when i want and how i want im living life to the full. Also it would be embarassing having granchildren older than youre own at 50. Also i was physically and mentally fitter when i had my children not so much now.