Should women consider pregnancy in their 40s?

Yes

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by Nadia Ghanny

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My personal opinion on this subject is "yes." I do believe women in their 40's should have the opportunity to conceive if she wants to. Although I have concluded a "yes" to this question, it should be thoroughly evaluated before planning any pregnancy. It is important the woman is healthy and has a good health care provider who will monitor her and her fetus. It's also important to have the necessary medical tests completed to ensure a healthy baby. It is widely known over 40 pregnancies are at higher risk for medical complications. If all the necessary precautions are taken, there is a low probability for any such complications arising.

There are many advantages of having a child in your 40's, in most cases women are better established in their careers and have acquired their educational credentials. They have done the majority of things they wanted to do and is now better prepared to raise children. They have a lot to share with their children including experiences and knowledge. Most mothers over 40 is a lot more mature in their perspective of life, family and in some cases have a better understanding of raising children than some of their younger counterparts.

I made the choice years ago that my first priority before having children would be to complete my education and establish my profession. I was fortunate to have a spouse who supported me with this decision because we both wanted the same things from life. At this present stage of our lives we have some security in our life including accomplishing the goals I always dreamt of doing. I have now decided to start a family because I am mentally prepared to do so. I am 42 years old as I write this remember once you are mentally prepared everything else will follow through. I believe in mind over matter a philosophy I live by.

There are many personal experiences I have encountered with my decision to now start a family. There are so many people out there including experts who will try to dissuade the over 40 woman from conceiving. People would come up to me and relate their own experiences or someone else's, they would say things like; as an older mother you will not have the energy you had at 20 or what if you died before you see your child into adulthood; what if the child has a genetic deficit when born; children are a handful and they will suck all the energy out of you; my favourite one is, you will not have time to do anything else and your life will be totally taken up with a baby so forget about doing those martial arts classes, doing your PhD or taking that aromatherapy bath or going to the movies, and you can forget taking any vacations or getting the rest you're used to having. Anyone of the negative phrases above can apply to anyone regardless of age.

With all due respect to everyone out there who thinks this way I just want to say society has brainwashed us including how we're brought up (conditioned) has contributed to how our brains are "wired." What I am here to say about this is my personal opinion, my brain is not wired like most people and I rarely conform to other people's ideals or opinions. I intend to have the energy and determination to make my situation work the way I have visualized it to be. I have seen my grandmother who raised seven children including two adopted children and still had time to sit in her hammock and enjoy her time. My role models are responsible for the way my brain is wired and my positive thinking.

I recall one of my university Professors who had just arrived in Canada and was doing her doctorate while working as an Assistant Professor. During marking of papers she would nurse her child between grading and writing her lecture notes for her next class. Remember "where there is a will, there is a way."

Another point, what of the many other cultures in the world where older women conceive. They lack the luxuries and basic necessities of life we are privileged to have but they manage to survive while being a mother, wife, daughter, sister, aunt, and grandmother to not only her immediate family but to her extended relatives.

Instructio nal designs in technology has made it possible for older women to conceive whether it's natural childbirth or in a laboratory setting. It has also provided a better chance for us to have healthy babies with the advanced technological equipment and tests available to health care facilities. Health care providers have a lot more information and knowledge on pregnancies than they did 20 years ago. There is a higher success rate for older women than they were initially. This in itself tells me I am doing the right thing by having my children older in life. Age does not define how a person will care or love a child, in my field I continue to see how children born into extreme dysfunctional families including drug addicts. So my question is, should this group have children? Well they do and many of the addicts I know through my profession are a lot younger than 40 and continue to have children while being on welfare. There is no right or wrong answer as to whether someone should conceive over 40. It's a decision for the woman and her partner/spouse to make without the rest of society becoming involved.

In conclusion to this article, I would have to say that at the end of the day what ever decision you make it should be your own and not based on other people's opinion of you or society's definition of what we should do, how we should do it and when is the right time. The decision is yours and I would like to take this opportunity to wish all the over 40 mothers out there that you have the right to experience having a child. I wish all of you the best that life has to offer and remember don't allow anyone to dissuade you from having your dream of conceiving. They are not we and we are not they. My advise, stay healthy, positive thinking and become a sponge and absorb as much information as possible as you explore the world of motherhood.

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