Getting Pregnant Over 40 - Are You Too Old to Have a Baby?

At 47 years olds, actress Kelly Preston, wife of 58 year old actor, John Travolta, recently announced she was pregnant with their third child. Also sharing her joyful pregnancy news is 42 year old Canadian songbird, Celine Dion, who is pregnant with twins.

Pregnancy at 40 and beyond seems to becoming commonplace among the celebrities as more and more of them give birth for the first time at 40-something and older. Actresses Holly Hunter and Geena Davis both had twins at ages 47 and 48, respectively. Beverly D'Angelo gave birth to twins at age 49, Susan Sarandon's two youngest children were born when she was ages 43 and 46 and 80's supermodel, Cheryl Tiegs had her twins at the age of 52.

With the exception of Celine Dion, who has openly discussed having Invitro fertilization to conceive her children, these other late blooming moms have been mum on whether science has lent them a helping hand. But, considering the statistics on fertility at age 40 and older, chances are most of them did.

Statistics on Fertility After 40

Having conceived and given birth to a child in my early 40's without the help of modern medicine, I can personally attest to the fact that it can be done. However, statistically speaking, the chances of conception occurring naturally after the age of 40 are only approximately 5%, at best.

Considering that many women are beginning to enter perimenopause and in some cases are fully menopausal by the age of 40, the necessary hormonal balance to facilitate fertility is just not there for most women.

In addition, anovulatory menstrual cycles - menstrual cycles that occur without ovulation - are common for women who are in perimenopause. Which, simply put, means: no ovulation, no fertility.

Add to this tenuous fertility environment the fact that a woman's eggs are aging and diminishing in quality as she ages and it's not hard to see how difficult it is to conceive naturally when you are over the age of 40.

Greater Chance of Miscarriage & Preterm Labor After 40

If you are fortunate enough to transcend the statistical hurdles and are able to conceive naturally after the age of 40, the next big challenge you face is whether you can actually carry the child to term.

A woman in her early to mid-40's has about a 50% chance of miscarriage in the first trimester, in addition to an approximate 20% chance of pre-term labor. Couple this with the fact that the ability to actually conceive with your own eggs past the age of 43 is approximately 1% , and the probability of conceiving and carrying a pregnancy to term well into your 40's is not real high.

Which suggests that though our Hollywood starlets are boasting of their fertile wombs at 45 years of age and older, while not completely out of the question, most likely had help with both donor eggs and/or IVF or as in Sarah Jessica Parker's case, a surrogate mother.

Special Challenges of Pregnancy and Birth Over 40

The aging process slows us all down. While many women continue to be fit and strong well into her 40's 50's and beyond, the reality is that we are not as strong and fit in our 40s or older, as we were in our 20's and 30's. Add in the overwhelming fatigue that pregnancy brings at any age and you've got yourself a double-dose of tired if you are pregnant in your 40s.

Certainly, eating well, exercising moderately and getting all the necessary rest while pregnant will help in carrying the child. But, the fact is, pregnancy and giving birth in your 40s is an utterly exhausting proposition.

Because of the age of a woman's eggs in her 40's, chances of chromosomal abnormalities such as Down's syndrome also increase. Though statistically, only 1 in 100 births beyond the age of 40 results in chromosomal defects, it is still a much greater chance than a woman in her 20s who has only a 1 in 1,250 births, chance. While not a huge concern, statistically, it is still a very real possibility.

Parenting Over 40: The Good, the Bad & the Just Plain Wonderful

Once the physical challenges and negative statistics of pregnancy over 40 have been overcome and you successfully bring your child into the world, parenting over 40 brings with it a special set of challenges, but also a special set of joys as well.

One of the biggest downsides to parenting young children when you are older is the physical demands which can leave you drained, fatigued and harried at the end of the day. You may find that you need to nap more often so that you can keep up with your new bundle of joy. Without a doubt, older mothers cannot burn the candle at both ends and expect to have the stamina needed to meet the demands of parenthood. So, get your rest!

Outside of the fatigue factor, middle age brings a definite "been there - done that" quality to life that young mothers often lack. As a result, we don't have any wild oats left to sow, so to speak, and are not only quite happy to settle into the 24 hour a day demands that parenting a young child can bring, but enjoy it immensely as well.

Generally speaking, older mothers, particularly if they had a tough time conceiving their children, are so thankful and appreciative to have a child, that they tend to view the responsibility of parenting as a gift and a joy rather than a burden.

Not to mention, being more relaxed, tolerant and patient gives the older mother a leg up, especially when it comes to parenting a rough and tumble toddler. A sense of humor and knowing that "this too shall pass" is fundamental to surviving the toddler years. Older mothers, with more life experience under their belt, seem better able to laugh and roll with the punches when dealing with a rowdy 2-year-old.

In addition, older mothers tend to be more financially stable, comfortable and able to provide well for their child. The stress and strain of trying to make ends meet or advance in a career, for example, is just not there for older moms.

Should You Have a Child in Your 40s?

Whether you should or shouldn't have a child in your 40s is a deeply personal decision. All of the pros and cons should be carefully weighed and the potential risks understood. But, if you are healthy and strong and are ready to take on the challenges of pregnancy, child birth and parenting in your 40s, there is really no reason why you shouldn't.

As a 53 year old mom who is now parenting a 10 year old, it is a decision I have never regretted. Parenting later in life certainly brings special challenges, but parenting at any time always brings joy and richness to life that only children and family can bring.

Sources:

Associated Content
Southern California Center for Reproductive Medicine
Mother's Over 40.com
The Genetic Tech.org
ABC News.com
Baby Hopes.com
Marchofdimes.org
Women's Health Topics