Hot Topic (3/24): How old is too old to become a mother?

[Cafe GroupAdmin]

Last year, a 70-yead old woman in India gave birth to a baby after receiving treatment for infertility.   Now, she says she'd like to have one more baby.

Sure, that's extreme, but it does raise the question:  How old is too old to become a mother? 

[wheresthewayout]

45 should be the limit. I hate to see teens with people that look like grandparents but are parents...Makes for an awkward moment when you see "joe" at a basketball game and say "HI JOE this must be your grandma"?? and you find out it's his 68 yr old mom

[Ciuplys]

I agree!!

Quoting wheresthewayout:

45 should be the limit. I hate to see teens with people that look like grandparents but are parents...Makes for an awkward moment when you see "joe" at a basketball game and say "HI JOE this must be your grandma"?? and you find out it's his 68 yr old mom

[hsteele]

I don't think we can judge how good a parent can be by their age. If this woman has provisions in place for when she passes so that her kids can be cared for then who cares how old she is. I mean there are people in their 20s who can't care for kids. If this woman is otherwise healthy, which if she can carry a child at 70 she must be in pretty good shape why can't she care for her kids?

[Brandie_xo]

As long as a woman is healthy enough to take care of the child then who cares how old they are? It in no way affects anyone but them.

There are WAY too many kids that are having babies, that arnt even old enough to sign their legal documents, or pick up certain medicines for them at the pharmacy.

[PamR]

Seventy? That's crazy. If the mother could possibly pass away due to age-related issues before the child reaches adulthood, it's too old.

[Brandie_xo]

Quoting PamR:

Seventy? That's crazy. If the mother could possibly pass away due to age-related issues before the child reaches adulthood, it's too old.

Lots of mothers are going to pass away before their children reach adult hood. Some of terminal diseases, others unexpctedly, and some of old age.

That's like saying someone who has Huntingtons (or whatever else disease, that was the only one that comes to mind) shouldn't be permitted to experiance the joy of pregnancy, birth, and motherhood.

[texanmommy]

First, how can you judge? If you know the woman you can have an opinion. If not I think it is no one else's business. Just like the teen mom, don't judge her either. If you are incapable of caring for the child, that is all that should be considered on either end of the stick. If you are left feeling awkward, maybe you should open your mind a little more.

Second, how about if we all agreed that blue eyed women should not have children. That the odds of their children not having vision problems precluded them from motherhood????  

[BlessednHoly]

I think it depends on the woman. My oldest sister is 50 and she has a 2 1/2 yr old ( adopted)

I have been out with her and some people do think she is my niece's grandma, my sister just smiles at the peope that make comments. I asked her if it bothers her, she says no. She says she remembers when people use to think her oldest son ( my nehew) was her little brother.

She is a great mom and can keep up better with her little one that I do with my two. I think it depends if your mentally and physically conditioned to take care of the chid. But 70 seems pretty extreme to me. Hope the lady lives long enough to see her child grown.

[heyiitsang84]

I think that 40 is a time to stop. I mean by the time the child is done with school the mother is almost 60!!!  

[chesiretuff]

After you hit menopause, you're too old.

If they really want to be around kids, there's plenty of volunteer stuff they always need people for.  Maybe they can volunteer to take care of Octomom's babies.