Having a Baby in Your 40s – The Benefits of Late Motherhood
Maybe Your 40s is the Best Time to Have a Baby!
Having a baby in your 40s equals a longer life, say researchers. The benefits of late motherhood range from financial to physical, and include social and emotional.
But of course, there are pros and cons to having babies in any stage of life!
If you’re trying to get pregnant and feel hopeless, take this advice from writer Elizabeth Gilbert:
“The inability to open up to hope is what blocks trust, and blocked trust is the reason for blighted dreams.”
If you’re coping with infertility – don’t give up hope! Hope for your own pregnancy, hope for a family that may not develop the way you expect or plan, and hope that your dreams will come true.
If you’re trying to get pregnant in your 40s, read Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health — it’ll help you take charge of your fertility.
And if you’re looking at late motherhood and having a baby in your 40s, let this scientific research give you hope…
Having a Baby in Your 40s – The Benefits of Late Motherhood
According to the University of Utah, women how have babies naturally in the 40s or 50s tend to live longer than other women (it may be different for women coping with infertility and using in vitro fertilization or other solutions for infertility).
“If women in your family give birth at older ages, you may well have a chance of living longer than you would otherwise,” says the study’s lead author, Ken Smith, a professor of family and consumer studies at the University of Utah. “If you have a female relative who had children after age 45, then there may be some genetic benefit in your family that will enhance your longevity.”
Heredity – far more than environmental factors – plays a role in prolonged fertility and longer lifespans.
Having a baby after age 45?!
This study shows that women who had “late fertility” – a birth at age 45 or older – were 14 to 17% less likely to die during any year after age 50 than women who did not deliver a child after age 40. Smith says scientists believe genes account for up to 25% of differences in longevity.
Other studies found that late menopause also is associated with women having prolonged fertility and longevity. So the later your menopause is, the longer you may live! And the more chances you have to have a baby in your 40s.
Other Benefits of Late Motherhood
- Greater financial security
- Emotional and social stability
- Greater psychological well-being
- More stable marriage and other relationships
- Stable job or career
What do you think of these benefits of late motherhood, or having a baby in your 40s? I think I’d be a much, much better mom now when I was in my 20s or 30s! I’m 39, and trying in vitro fertilization (IVF) next month. As a 40 year old woman having a baby, I’m calmer, healthier, and more centered than I was even just a couple years ago. I’m a big fan of late motherhood.
If you’re hoping to get pregnant, read Fertility Help – 10 Tips for Getting Pregnant.
Source of this research about living longer if you have a baby in your 40s: Late Motherhood Boosts Family Lifespan from the University of Utah. May 4, 2009. This study will be published in the Journal of Gerontology: Biological Sciences.
Category: Faith & Perseverance, Health & Wellness, Infertility Hope & Acceptance, Life Goals, Pregnancy Tips
Hi beautiful ladies
Just back on this site reading all the comments (and I made one above!) about having had a home waterbirth at 46 years of age!
And to further inspire you all – I am 49 in 2 weeks and still breastfeeding my daughter who is 3 in October….yes it is possible..
dont give up hope…
xxx
Dear Maria,
Thank you for your comment! And CONGRATULATIONS on your pregnancy; I bet that baby will bring so many blessings and so much joy into your life
Blessings,
Laurie
I am 43 years old, I have a wonderful 23 year old daughter who recently moved out and living on her own. I was a single parent while raising her. I recently met a young man who is 28 years old, and began a sexual relationship with him, and now found out Im pregnant. Before reading your article, I have been fearing of what I should do. I’ve always said that I wanted more kids, but now that I’am, I feel confused because it was not planned in the way that I wanted it to happen. I wanted to be in a committed relationship. Reading all of these postings has helped my mind to be clear and focused. I will go through with this pregancy if God’s willing. Thank You!
Hello Dina,
I wish you all the best with your pregnancy and relationship…what an exciting, scary new chapter of your life!
Take it one day at a time, my friend. Let me know how it goes.
Take care,
Laurie
I am 45 and recently divorced. I have a 21yr old and a 17yr old. I met my soulmate who is 12 yrs younger than myself. He has no children. I just found out I was pregnant. The best gift I can give him is a child and our relationship is stable enough to handle one but we are only 1 1/2yrs together and I feel we still need more one on one time. Already being a parent, I know the stress it will add to our new relationship as well as all the financial stresses.I am also very nervous about the risks. We have not made a final
decision yet but after reading several posts, I feel a bit more positive about going thru with the pregnancy. Thank you
Wow, that is a surprise — getting pregnant and having your baby at age 41! I would be so happy
Thanks for your tips, Elise. It’s so great to hear you encourage people to enjoy their children regardless of how old they are when they get pregnant.
Enjoy being a grandmother!
I had my two sons when I was 24 and 26, and then had my daughter when I was 41 (it was a surprise pregnancy). Since I was both a very young mom and a older mom, I found many advantages and disadvantages in having kids in both a young age and older age…however the thing everyone should realize that all the children you have is a big blessing. It doesn’t matter how old you are when you have them, just enjoy every minute of them as it is too precious to waste. My daughter is almost 11 now and I just can’t believe how fast time flew, and I again have baby vibes, but at 52, I am certainly done having kids and very content with my family. Now I’m anxiously waiting for my grandchildren to arrive in the near future! (one of my sons is married and is talking on having kids soon)
Evelyn, thanks for your information about having a baby in your 40s! It’s great to know that women can have a healthy, happy pregnancy and baby in late motherhood. I think many new mothers experience fatigue and exhaustion, even if they’re in their 20s or 30s.
It sounds like you’ve already lived a rich, full, interesting life….which your daughter will benefit from. She’ll find you fascinating! There are many benefits to waiting until you’re older and more mature to have a child.
Blessings,
Laurie
I had a baby at 45…it also was basically a pretty easy pregnancy, and I had an extremely healthy, beautiful child. She is 3 now. I will admit I had problems with fatigue the first 2 years, as I got to the point that I couldn’t get back to sleep after I was woken up alot. But that is over now, as we sleep through the night.
She is my first and last and I am happy to have her I can’t say my life is very stable career wise or financaillly, that is still a work in progress, but I feel I will be able to get more on track with this as she gets older. I wish it was, but I was a free spirit alot of my life, and am late at everything I guess. Not very practical.
So I have my regrets…I would have liked to have had a child younger, but honestly I was getting over so much from my past it did not seem possible.
I am very happy to hear all these positlve stories!
I had my first baby at 22, my second at 26 and my third at 43. It was a great pregnancy and a very easy conception (1st try) and delivery. I want another baby, but just turned 44. I’m so nervous as every thing went so well last time that I might be pushing my luck. My husband is all for it. Any thoughts? I would love to have a sibling for my little girl to grow up with and of course I would be blessed to have another baby.
Hi Trish,
How exciting for you! Wow — women in their forties need to read this and have hope and faith that they CAN get pregnant, even if they’re past “prime childbearing age.”
My thoughts and prayers are with you, and I hope you come back and let me know how things go….
Blessings,
Laurie
The article and posts by other woman my age are inspiring. I, too found my wonderful man much later in life than I ever imagined. I’m 45 and have started the process at a great fertility practice for having a baby through egg donation. While this isn’t how I dreamed of having a child, it’s a wonderful option for us. We like this idea over adoption for a few reasons; the child will be genetically connected and I/we get to experience pregnancy and giving birth. One thing I read in the information from the fertility counselor which was very helpful for me emotionally is, that while our child won’t be genetically mine, it will be biologically mine. This is such a cool option for woman who may think their dream of having a child at this age will never happen.
We’re praying that I’ll be pregnant by my 46th bday in November. (BTW he’ll be 49 in Jan.) We’re a bit nervous about our energy levels and have made a pact to both get in better shape! Good thoughts for you all and your babies to be.
Angela,
Thanks for your comment — and happy 41st birthday!
That’s wonderful, that you’re thinking about having a baby now that you’re in your 40s. I hope you keep in touch, and let me know how it goes.
All good things,
Laurie
I’m turning 41 this weekend and recently allowing myself to be open to wanting to have a child. I am single, have a stable career, getting my finances in order, etc. I’ve not allowed myself to “want” for anything, I have represed my desires to save myself the hurt of wanting or being disappointed that I experienced so much as a child and young adult. I wanted children when I was younger and then as I aged, I told myself all kinds of things to deny my heart; my heart of creating a beautiful boy or girl and of being a mother. So, now I’m contemplating this. I am opening my heart, my life to the possibility. There are many things bringing me to this place – one of them is my age and having difficult periods and the option of getting an IUD. It just seems silly to go down that path right now in my life when I want to have a family – with or without a partner. Thank you for this article. I have so much love to give and manifest beauty whereever I am. Having a child would be a gift to myself as I have prepared myself to be a gift to her/him.
Thank you for this.
Congratulations, Mattie — I’m so happy to hear that you’re pregnant and having a baby in your 40s! That’s very exciting.
My thoughts and prayers are with you, that you have a healthy pregnancy and safe delivery.
If you have the time and energy, I’d love to know how things are going!
Blessings,
Laurie
I just find out that I am going to have a baby at the age of 46 I can not believe it and we was not trying I lose weight and like a blessing it happen,we did tried couple years ago and maybe a little last year I pray I can carry my little one
DC,
Thanks for your lovely message — it’s so great to hear from you! I will send positive healthy pregnancy vibes your way, and I sure hope you keep me updated…
Take care,
Laurie
You all have inspired me greatly!! Thank you. I am 45 year old single working mom. I have a beautiful 11 year old daughter who I adore. I am now in a relationship with a (younger) man and we have discussed the idea of having children. I ALWAYS wanted to have more children but the right guy had not come around…until now.
I spoke to my doctor and he basically said the exact same things you stated in your article Lawire PK. He said I am a young 45 year old; we live longer and yes there are risks and some challenges but there are plenty of women in my position today having children. Wow…I am so excited about the fact this may happen. Love to you all!! DC
Diane,
Thanks for your comment…I’m glad the article made you smile. And I think that a woman in her 40s would make a GREAT mom for lots of different reasons.
Laurie
Hi there,
I found this an extremely interesting read. I am 47. I have not had children. I know my biological clock has started to miss ticks here and there, but I can’t help thinking about what a great Mom I would be at this point in my life. The article actually made me smile. Thank you!
Thanks Laurie for your message…I think the biggest key to fertility for me and to be able to get pregnant naturally at 45 was being SUGAR FREE and being v strict with it..I was on the LOW GI diet for 4 1/2 years prior to this conception and lost 18 kilos after the births of my boys (when they were 4 and 7 I went on the diet) and never felt better! It helped balance out hormones, moods and general well being..also took herbs and exercised..my partner was 44 at the time and our daughter is his first….I also truly beleive that the bellydance and deep connection to femininty really helped..as well as being in love with my man!!
When I was 28-30 years I had PCOS and was told I would never conceive naturally..I have conceived 3 beautiful chn ( whilst I have been 33, 37 and 45 years of age) all natural births..these words (and NEVER is a life sentence and DR’s should not use it!) actually motivated me to get healthy (nutrition) give up smoking, drinking etc – I believe the language we use around infertility has to be POSITIVE bec the power of mind/belief in one s self is all connected…
love to you
xx
Maha,
Thanks for your comment. I don’t normally allow links in the comments section, but yours was too good to resist
Congratulations on giving birth to boys at 46 years old…wow! You must be very fit and healthy. You’re an inspiration!
Blessings,
Laurie
Hi Laurie
Just came upon your article…yah! some benefits to having a baby after 45!
I got pregnant naturally at 45 and gave birth NATURALLY AT HOME IN THE WATER to my beautiful baby girl (I already had two boys who were 8 and 11 at teh time) at the ripe young age AGE OF 46 YEARS!
I am glad I will live longer want to see my sweet pea growing up!
I am also the founder of Bellydance For Birth – The Al Musa Method…you can go to my website at
http://www.bellydanceforbirth.com
I relased a DVD one year after my daughter was born in september 2009, which has lots of great bellydance birth exercises as well as a film of my homebirth at 46…
Great to inspire older mums!
thanks
maha
Thanks for your feedback, hot-flash; you’re right, I hadn’t thought of the menopause and puberty issues.
I recently wrote an article tentatively titled “The Magic of Menopause” for Health magazine, about the benefits of menopause for some women. I don’t know what issue it’ll be in, but if you see it, I’d love your feedback!
Menopause, late motherhood, having a baby after age 40 is different for every woman, I think. The benefits of late motherhood that I listed are all true for me — except for “more stable job or career.” As a freelance writer, I’m less stable than ever! But, I’m married to a man with a stable career (more or less)…so that helps.
I’m so curious: did you deliberately wait until age 42 to have a baby? And, did it take you long to conceive?
Thanks again for your comment, and I hope I see you in cyberspace….
Laurie
I read that research and “older” literally meant over 45 as far as I could see. Not over 40, over 45.
Regardless, I had my first and only child at 42 with no assistance which is not unusual in my family.
Pregnancy in your 40′s brings with it lots of risk in terms of baby health as well as issues like gestational diabetes. Also the pressure to deliver by casaer is significant and even more so in the US.
I have to say I disagree with your listed benefits. Being older does not mean you have any of these things, let alone all of them.
I would concede that you are probably more confident about motherhood and more independent in your views about it.
One big thing that you are forgetting is that menopause is going to hit before your child has even reached puberty. You might be losing patience when you really really need it.
But of course it might be be better than late-30s mothers whose children are going thru puberty of course!
Or mid-30s dealing with teenagers.
I say early 30s or early 40s are the best timing for motherhood and menopause!
Good luck!