Dr Oz: Having Babies After 40
Miraculous achievements have been made in science that allows women to conceive far beyond their latter years. On today’s Dr Oz Show, he asked, when are you too old to have a baby? For years, women have been told to take their time and build their careers, but was this good advice? Can women really have it all?
Studies show that 1 in 5 women postpone pregnancy until after the age 35, and this number is increasing.
Dr Oz Getting Pregnant Over 40
Some medical professionals (and women in general) argue that basic biology may prohibit you from successfully conceiving as we get older. Studies also indicated that there are increased health risks to the mother and child when you get pregnant at an older age. Does this mean you really can’t have it all?
Dr Oz: Fertility Drugs vs. Natural Conception
Dr. Jennifer Lahl joined Dr Oz to warn women about delaying pregnancy, stating it’s a reality that “it’s more difficult for women to become pregnant as we age.” Maternal age has an impact on a growing unborn baby. She argued that if a woman is over 40, she’s probably not having her own child and is using eggs from another (younger) woman. Dr. Lahl also argued that there was a risk in using fertility drugs because many of those drugs are new. Doctors were learning as they go. More evidence is showing that there is an increased risk of cancer and a risk to the unborn child when we take fertility drugs. Dr. Lahl suggested having your children earlier. She’s 53 and felt that an apology was owed to women for telling them it’s okay to have a baby later in life.
Dr. John Jain agreed that the opportunity to have a baby declines as you got older, however, thanks to modern medicine, the opportunity to have a child is still an option for the older woman. In fact, while most of his patients are in their early forties, the oldest women he treated with an egg donation was 56. The women he has treated using their own eggs was over 40.
Dr Oz: Fertility Survey Results
The Dr Oz Show took a survey to find out how women felt about having children later in life and here are the results:
Survey:
How old is too old to have a baby?
13% said 35 was too old
28% said 40
34% said 45
21% said 50
4% said never was too old
Nicole, an audience member, is 40-years-old and stated that she felt good and doesn’t feel like she’s 40. She felt as though she would not have any issues conceiving.
Arabella, another audience member, is 39 and currently pregnant. She spoke directly to Nicole and told her that it has been a long, tumultuous journey to get pregnant. She spent over $90,000 in treatment before getting pregnant. Arabella stated that even though you may not look and feel 40, your eggs are. (Good point!) Getting pregnant may be harder than you think. It was definitely an uphill battle for her, taking her 2 years with 3 IUI cycles, 3 IVFs and 1 pregnancy loss. The sad thing is, her experience is not unusual.
Dr. Evelyn Minaya stated that the truth was that women had that proverbial biological clock ticking. Face facts; as we get older, the chances of becoming pregnant goes way down.
Dr Oz: Pregnancy Chances
In your 20s- 50% chance
In your 30s- 20% chance
In your 40s- 5% chance
Dr. Minaya stated that you are 3 times more likely to have a miscarriage at age 40 than at 30. Women are 6 times more likely to have children with genetic issues when they become pregnant in their 40s, which is why women tend to go the expensive fertility route.
An audience member stood up and told Dr Oz that she just had this conversation with her college students. The social reality of this issue is that many women complained that they wanted to find Mr. Right before getting pregnant. (Good luck with that!) She felt the entire issue of fertility revolved around this social reality, and we can’t ignore that.
Dr Oz ended the segment by asking the question “Are we giving women false promises?” He held this show today because he wanted to give several options that could be processed in many ways, depending on the person. Some women may see the options as a waste of money, while others will consider it a viable resource.
What do you think? Have you or would you ever consider having fertility treatments in order to conceive? Leave a message and let me know.
Related Posts:
- Dr Oz: Why Do You Want a Baby? What Will You Sacrifice for a Baby?
- Dr Oz: FSH Shots, IVF, Artificial Insemination & Egg Donation
- Dr Oz January 27 2012: In Case You Missed It
- Dr Oz: Baby Animals & Animal Offspring with Julie Scardina
- Dr Oz: Fertility Treatment Health Risks: Down Syndrome
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in my opinion the ideal age is from 20 to 30. Over 40 the chances of mongolism is increasing.
Women having babies in their 50′s and later, are not miraculous but stupid. Did they ever think about the feelings of the child when his mother come to take him from school and his friends think it’s his grandmother!!! Did they think that they can die before the child grows up ? and who will take care of him ?
Sarah in the bible had a baby at the age of 90
Janine, the term “mongolism” is outdated and offensive. So is your thinking. I had my first child at 40. My sister had hers at 28. She died when that child was 6. I am still here. Everyone should think about who will care for their child if they should die. I don’t care if someone thinks I am my child’s grandma. Neither does my child. Maybe that is something that comes with maturity. Not caring what others think.
My child does not have “mongolism” either.
All these years, after having 2 healthy girls (ages 19 and 14), I still feel ready to have a child. I would give anything to experience this miracle with a caring man that I missed the first time around. I feel that my clock is ticking for the first time and would love to have another child. I am just over 40 and would never think that I am too old. Yes, your eggs are your number age but let a doctor decide if you are healthy enough to run this or not; not some individual whose opinion is jaded.
I also in my fourty’s I had a child die at age 20. Do I want another child yes I do. That child would be very well cared for and loved by all. And if I should die. He or she would always know they were wanted and very much loved. Because their father would always tell them.
I do believe 50 and 60 would be wrong and I would never do that. But kootoes to who can and have there child cared for. But I also believe in adoption. Which is also expensive and I think that puts a child in the system to long. They need a home and love. Not moved around until the money can be paid they just need a loving caring adult.
Hi, There is alot of talk about women over 40 but I have two things going on people tend to judge and just wonder what peoples opinions here are. First I am with the most amazing man we are getting married this year. Thing is, he many years older than I am (Not that I care what people think) but I, like one of the ladies above just feel that I want to have a child with the right person this time(I have a wonderful son from first relationship who is now 9) I feel I want this opportunity to do it right. We want to have another child. I am in the “healthy range” but he is 59. Opinions?
I am sure there will be a few,please be kind.. Thank you
If you are in a strong committed relationship and you and your partner agree that he will play an active part in that child’s life, even though he is a bit older, I would go for it. Good luck to you!!
I had a beautiful healthy baby boy at 42. My 1st. Life is good,