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.

Fuck no!!

Nope, pregnancy at 38 was hard enough physically, let alone chasing a toddler.

Pregnancy at 50 would just hurt, dealing with newborn lack of sleeping, hell no, chasing a toddler/preschooler at 53, just no way!

I think a lot of people making these 'are you crazy' type comments do not understand the pain of being childless not by choice.

I'm mid-30's and in the throws of fertility treatment for my first. Been going a few years now and it's extremely painful. I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

I cannot predict how I will feel at 50 if I still don't have a child.

I would hope that I would have grieved and moved on by then, but I can completely understand that some people might not have.

There are of course all sorts of things to think about with having a child at such a late stage in life. You would be almost 70 by the time they reach adulthood, and potentially in ill health when they are quite young. That's a lot for a young adult to have to deal with. They also likely will not know their grandparents.

I think/ hope that even if I got to that age and still wanted a child, my considerations for the child's wellbeing would outweigh it. I don't think it would be a great experience for a child to have such an old mother.

No. A baby at 50 seems doable enough, I suppose but the thought of being 71 by the time they finish uni is crazy.

I was talking to a MW recently who told me that they’ve currently got a 52 year old naturally pregnant with twins. Couldn’t think of anything worse.

No!

I had my second child at nearly 48. It was a surprise but a rather nice one, all things taken into account. You can't plan everything in life, especially the occasional baby.

No, I would not. Having hormone injections at that age increases the risk of female cancers, it would also mean I would be almost 60 when my child was at primary school. It would also mean that my child was much more likely to lose their mum early. So, no. I don't think its beneficial to anyone whatsoever and the risks are too great.

Not a chance. I felt ancient having a child at 32 🤣. It takes so much energy having a small child. At 50 I'd like to be relaxing and travelling.

Hell no!

Yes I would

I'd like to go into fostering when my children are a bit older. I'm 45 and my youngest is 8. I'd like my DC to be fairly independent and settled into what they're doing at school/college before I bring more children into our home. I know it's not the same as having a baby myself, (and I'm not sure I would be approved to adopt at 50+?) but I think I've still got more to give and have the energy for more kids.

Having a GC at 50 I would say a v v hard no to having a child!
I love having her overnight but I also love her going home and then I can have a nap!

Physically I couldn't do it but if someone is in the right place physically/ Emotionally / Financially then why not!

Personally, no.
I already have children - I can see it would be different for someone who desperately wanted a child and didn't yet have one.
Honestly though, having my last at 41 has exhausted me. I would have done it a lot sooner if I knew what I know now.

Absolutely not. It would be so unfair on the child and also existing children to potentially burden them with the change in family dynamics and also the responsibility could fall on them further down the line. Also financially who wants to be paying nursery fees when you should be trying to fund your retirement.

Grandchildren at 50 fine, child at 50 no!

Roll my eyes at the feel ancient at 32 comment. 🙄

If I was already pregnant I would keep the baby. Personally I’d never want to have a termination. But I would not try to get pregnant at 50. My current plan is to finish having biological children by 35 to minimise risks as much as possible (I’m 25 with one child at the moment). However I would love to foster/adopt when my children are older. So I possibly would have another child at 50 but it would likely be an older child rather than a baby.

No! 41 was late enough. I'd like to retire.... one day.

God no. I’m 41 and I just don’t have energy for it. If you have a child at 50 by the time 5 they’re 21 you will be 71. The average women in the UK only lives to 80 so that would mean your child would just becoming an adult and would be dealing with elderly parents. Not to mention the increased risks to a child born from older parents.

I've made sure there won't be any accidents and no babies anywhere close to 50. I have four already and have no desire to have my sleep trashed again! I'd sooner take a long walk off a short cliff. When I am 50, my eldest will be 26.

Nope! I'd not love having one at 40 either. I can already feel how much tireder i am and my hormones have clearly already gone off the boil.

Ive got primary age DC and honestly i feel biologically I'd have been better having them 5 years earlier. My sister did and had so much more energy when hers were little. We are all leaving this stuff way too late.

No, my parents had more kids in their 50s after we were adults and left home. They don’t have any energy for them. It is completely selfish IMO

It's all relative though isn't it. Some have had children mid teens, early twenties. If you have had several by then you will feel drained by 32!

Absolutely not.