Is 44 Too Old To Have a Baby?
Posted by Amber Robinson at 3:43 PM on March 25, 2009
That’s the water-cooler question of the day after last night’s season finale of Channel Seven’s Packed to the Rafters.
In the episode, Julie Rafter, 44 and with three adult children, discovers she is pregnant. Julie and her husband contact specialists to help them make the emotional decision of whether to continue the pregnancy or terminate.
The news is not reassuring. Julie is told that she is at much higher risk of miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities such as Down Syndrome. Her husband has mental images of hobbling after his teenager with a walking frame.
In the end, the Rafters decide to keep the baby after having an ultrasound and hearing the baby’s heartbeat.
It’s a decision more and more couples are facing as the age of women having their first child increases. The average age of women attending IVF clinics has risen to 35, and women are being further encouraged by older celebrities such as Madonna and Nicole Kidman having babies in their 40s.
Rebecca Gibney, who the actress who plays Julie Rafter has a baby herself at 39. She believes that informed risks aside, age is irrelevant.
“Look, you can have a child at any age – as long as you love them unconditionally. That’s all that matters.”
I had my first son at 31 and my second son at 41. I have loads of energy and they are my reason for living. I also believe I am a much better mother the second time around. I think so long as you are healthy age is not an issue.
Of course 44 is way TOO OLD to have a child I think that is just being really selfish I think having a child after 32 is wrong think of it you won’t even live long enough to see your child’s children grow up let alone your own child grow up come on people live realistically so many people are having babies older and then they wonder why they are born with disabilities, still born or misscarraige its your own fault and if anybody would purposely have a child at an old age and they end up having a disability well I think they should burn in hell. your careers isnt always going to be there it will fade as your age will and they will hirer some one younger as you get older so dont put your career first put your babies first. dont forget people out there who cant have babies they would do anything to have a child of their own and people are so lazy they think they can have a baby whenever they like come on. GET REAL. Jessica 21 years old and 16 weeks pregnant with first born over the moon, glowing and HEALTHY!