How Old Is “Too” Old?
We see incredible articles every day about moms who have done everything they can to conceive but sadly only some are blessed with children. Recently, I’ve noticed a trend where older–and I say this delicately–women are having children.
Doing a quick web search, I found that women as old as 70 have gone through fertility treatments for various reasons to have children. I don’t mean to write this entry to judge any woman: having a child is a personal decision and I believe it should stay that way.
I find myself wondering about the whole thing though. How does a 70 year old woman physically deal with a pregnancy? I am 39 years old and I’m pregnant. I had my first child when I was 24. I notice a HUGE difference in my body and in my stamina levels. I simply can’t imagine what it must be like to have a child at 70! I mean, how does a 70 year old handle the tiredness that seems to accompany the first trimester? When I was 23 and pregnant, I was tired, but not like I am now!
I wonder how a 70 year old woman and her 77 year old partner can handle getting up during the evening hours to take care of an infant who needs to be fed. I asked my 80 plus year old grandmother this question. She jokingly responded that she doesn’t sleep much anyway because her arthritis hurts so much. Getting up with a baby wouldn’t make so much of a difference because she doesn’t sleep anyway! I hadn’t thought of that angle.
I don’t personally think I’d be able to handle having a child at 70. Perhaps I shouldn’t say that, because I don’t know what I’ll be like at 70, but I think it’s true. Having a child at my age is enough of a challenge.
What about you? Do you think you’d be able to have the stamina at 70 to handle the demands of a pregnancy? What about taking care of an infant at that age?
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marji says...
Well, I did not go through a pregnancy, but T 49 years old I got a call to foster a 2 week old premature infant. That was two and a half years ago and since then my husband and I adopted our son and I must say I have been blessed with more than enough energy to take care of him. In fact, I would say in many ways I have more energy now than when I had my daughter nearly thirty years ago! I think this is because as I have aged I know more of where I want to place my time and strength than I did then. I am also at a better financial place and I know how fast time goes by so those sleepless nights were something I knew would pass quickly. Yes, I do have more aches but keeping up with a two and a half year old keeps me moving and I know I get my weight bearing exercises daily! My son also has autism so there is an early intervention program we have been involved with for close to a year now and I hope my age is an asset with the patience I feel I have acquired through my life experiences. We received the call to get our son at 11am and he came at 5pm that same day, so labor and delivery was very quick for me…but the love we have with our son is priceless and ageless!
Joanna says...
Let’s see..she has a baby at 70 (aren’t there enough childless kids in the world one could ADOPT?) and then dies at 80ish. Now the kid has no mother. Hmmm. This is the HEIGHT of selfishness and ego