Elizabeth Adeney the 66yr old having a baby. The Sun Telegraph want to know what Mumsnetters think

[carriemumsnet]

Hi all

The Sun Tel are doing an article on older mothers based on this story

They're interested to know what folks think the 'cut off' should be in terms of age, or whether there should be no cut off, if you can fund the treatment yourself. And what about men - there's no cut off for them, so should women have the same rights?

They're keen to have feedback in the next hour or so, so let us know what you think

Thanks

MNHQ

The grandchildren aspect is just one of many arguments. Of course nobody can predict the future - neither is that an argument in favour of post-menopause pregnancies.

I read it online.

I thought it was a put down of the Telegraph saying it had gone the same way as the Sun.

baby at 66 imo its not right

to people that think shes too old. what age do you draw the line then?

you dont tell a 14 year old child that they are not allowed to have a child, so why tell a 66 year old female who is healthy and successful not to have a child? I bet shes been trying to have a child for a long time. And now this is her time....to be a mom. Wake up people ethical issues? None whatsoever. Undo your panties that are in bunches and realize your arguing about nothing. Ask your own mom about it.

If you read it all Jean you would see that most people put a line at 50yrs.
After being on mumsnet for some time I realise that I am very lucky in that I have an excellent relationship with my parents-it sticks out that a lot of people disagree with their parents on just about everything! I wouldn't risk having a DC at that age because I would have to justify my decision to my DC. They are babies for a very short time and then they have opinions-you would be very lucky if they thought the same. I would have felt like dying of embarrassment if I had an 80yr old mother when I was 14 yrs old-I just wanted to be like everyone else and not to stick out in any way.

I would be very, very unhappy if my 14 yr old had a DC, sayuri56-he was a DC himself and it would have been very unfair on the DC-he was too immature to bring up a DC.

you dont give a 14 yr old fertility treatment...

fostering maybe?

But she doesn't want to foster, SallyJ.

Who care about the age. It should be about your health. If your in good health then what is the problem. I am 22 and I can not see my self with a child because I way to young and need to grow up a little more. Yes, 66 is a little out their but long the child is love and have back up family I don't see a problem. Their are children at their and the are young and the mother died in the 20's,30'3,40's their is not a age on death. So 66 is the age she wants to be to have her first child let her. Nothing wrong with it. Only god can tell what going to happen and what will happen.
Hallie

I think the cut off should be 60.

Hmm, I'm not sure it's very good for a woman to be having babies in her fifties or sixties just because it seems like so much stress on their body. But that said, everyone is different so I'm not a big fan of setting down hard and fast rules.

My mother died in her early forties and for most of my life, my grandparents brought me up. My grandmother is fabulous. She's in her late seventies, studying very successfully for a masters degree at university and thinking about doing a PhD or getting a new career!

We're still very close and she's been an amazing mother figure to me.

The downside to an older mother though is that there is less fallback - when your parents die, you're less likely to have siblings, grandparents etc. around so you're rather on your own. I'm somewhat in this position now - my grandmother is my only family outside of my husband and children and I dread the day she's not around.

I'll be waiting for a thread entitled "AIBU to expect people to not assume my DS/DD is my grandchild" in about a years time...
Its not ideal, but each to their own.
But it does say alot that she had to go abroad to have the treatment.
I wish her luck.
Oh and im sure if you ask her child in 18 years time if they resent her for having them at such an age they would reply rather indignantly that they love her regardless of her age.