Is it too risky to have a baby at 40?

[Rose129]

Hello my partner and I have one child (age 2) I had a difficult pregnancy but both me and little one fit and healthy now. My partner is older. I want to have a second baby to have a sibling for our child but worry is this too risky for the health of the baby ?

No it’s fine

To be honest its a roll of the dice whatever your age. I had my second (unassisted/naturally) at 45 (conceived whilst 44 if that makes a difference) and baby was fine and is now a healthy thriving toddler. A friend of mine having previously had healthy children, had her third at 34 but a rare genetic mutation caused global development delays - nothing they did, both parents led healthy lifestyles, it wasn't inherited it was just...bad luck. Risks are raised as you get older but by how much I don't know, I believe the odds are still that baby would be healthy so I would say no, not too risky. All the women I know who had babies at 40 or 40+ all had healthy babies.

No not too risky. Riskier than if you were 30 but not a reason not to do it, plenty of mums have healthy babies after 40.

No, my mum was forty when she had me.
Good Luck.

Riskier, but not risky!

Had first at 34 second at 39. I don't think 40 too old but I'd opt for an elective csection. I'm glad I did.

As long as you are healthy, you eat plenty of fruit & veg (or take pregnancy vitamins) and avoid alcohol, you should be fine. The risks are marginally higher but not much. Listen to your gp's advice.

I was 45 when I had ds. His dad was 56. DS is now 16, studying for three STEM A'levels. No issues so far.

Nope, had my 3rd at 40!

there were six of us in my prenatal class and half we over forty and all were first time mums. This was years ago. So no you're not too old.

There's no guarantees with any pregnancy. I had a baby at 40 and then did it again at 45. Easy pregnancies and births and both of them are thriving, happy children. Good luck.

I had my first at 37 and now days from having my second at 42.

The timing has been perfect for me, I didn't want children earlier/with first husband so definitely no regrets

Go for it if you really want it and are fit and healthy. I did and didn’t regret it. A healthy happy child and parent.

No, I did it and had a better pregnancy and birth than my first.

Have you been told by any doctors not to have anymore children?

If not then crack on.

I did know some who was told not to have more children but she gave birth at 49 to her 6th child with an 8 year age gap.