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• October 12, 2010 10:44 p.m.

  Fertility really depends individually on the woman. My mother could not get pregnant as much as she tried in her twenties and early thirties. It was not until her late thirties she began conceiving children. She had 4 children and her last at age 43. Statistics are only numbers. As long as you keep your blood pressure down a woman can concieve healthy babies well into her fourties.

  - Helen

• September 28, 2010 8:59 p.m.

  I read this article and I found the courage to smile. I am engaged to a wonderful man who is 46 and I am turning 35 this coming November. Financial circumstances have postposed "things" for us and suddenly I have been terrified if it is "too late" for me. In many ways it is hard for me to believe I am going to be 35. I have always looked young for my age. I am sure that it won't be until I am 36 or 37 until I do actually have a child. Well, this article has helped to put some of my titanic fears to rest. Well, at least into perspective. I know that maturity wise It is best that I have waited. I sure am more of a healthy, responsible and selfless person then I was in my 20's. Also, I would like to say that I have a first cousin who lives outside of London who gave birth the first time at 40 and the second time at 42. Both are beautiful little girls now. My cousin also, I should add had uneventful pregnancies. Nothing was abnormal. Again, thank you so much for this! It is giving me some hope and maybe I am not so "old" after all! :)

  - Ann

• August 15, 2010 5:36 a.m.

  I am 42 yrs old, married a man who is 20yrs older than me when I was just 21. He has other children before "us" and we have one together. He doesnt want another (I dont blame him really) but is it right that I sacrafice such a gift. Is it too late for me? I am the only one of all my family to just have 1 (and she is 17 and an amazing blessing to our family) I would have loved to have had a couple more really but I dont know it just always seemed "he didnt want anymore"... I am too passive, and now is it too late? I am an involved mom all the way, a very young 42 and have much more love to give <3 Any answers out there? PS. my mother had her last at 43 yrs old. what to do, what to do??

  - Private

• July 9, 2010 3:16 a.m.

  What happened to part 2 of this ?

  - Jane

• June 28, 2010 3:29 p.m.

  Well put, and encouraging. Didn't make it sound so negative like a lot of other site have done.

  - Nicole

• April 27, 2010 9:43 a.m.

  my name is angel and im pregent but i dont look like it do you have to have a bump

  - angel

• March 24, 2010 8:37 a.m.

  Women above 40 will find it difficult to conceive and could need help. Please go to http://www.menstrualproblems.org to view Dr Raelph's videos on the subject, Its right at the end of the page.

  - vijaya

• March 17, 2010 4:19 p.m.

  My daughter-in-law, a craftsman and artist, is 44 and shows no interest in having a child. My son (only chuld) on the other hand, has always wanted children--at least until after marrying her. Is it best that this couple NOT conceive, and does that mean I will never have the joy of being a grandma?

  - Mom-in-law

• March 14, 2010 8:47 p.m.

  I am so very happy to have found this article. I am 30 and marrying the man of my dreams this year. We want to have children very much, but would like to spend a few years establishing "us" and getting finances and my career a little more solid. I spoke with my 32 year old friend today who is pregnant with her 2nd child and told me about the risks of getting pregnant later on. It really worried me because until today I had not considered that I would already be in an advanced age brackett to have a baby. Thank you to all of the wonderful ladies that posted as well. We have to stick together and offer support!!!

  - Laura

• March 2, 2010 3:41 p.m.

  THANKS FOR THE POSITIVE COMMENTS. I AM 41 AND TRYING TO GET PREGNANT. I HAVE A 23 YEAR OLD SON, I GOT REMARRIED TO A 32 YR OLD MAN WITH NO CHILDREN. I SO DESPERATLY WANT 1 MORE CHILD. I WAS SO SCARED TO EVEN TRY DUE TO MY AGE.

  - ME

• February 25, 2010 1:14 p.m.

  I'm 49 & want encourage other mothers. I had my one and only son at 42. Married in 30s, no birth control or pg. for about 6 years. Found I had ovarian cysts that may have been interfering with pg but not really certain. Became pg at 39 & again 40 naturally, both miscarriages due to low progesterone. Pg again at 41 with successful pg. I did need progesterone vaginal cream for the first trimester. Son born at 42., very healthy. If I had my choice, I wouldn't have waited so long, but sometimes we don't have that choice. My dr. also had a baby at 42. She explained as some others have, even though statistically you have a chance of more potential problems in your 40's, you have an 80-85% chance of a perfectly normal pregnancy and baby. Now I am 49 and would love to have another (we did try for a few years), but I really do feel I'm too old at this point. I think as long as you are healthy and want one, you should go for it. Our mothers and grandmothers never heard that your shouldn't have children after 35 and they did just fine. I think our modern society has made the age of 35 some looming deadline that so many people feel fearful of passing. Don't get me wrong...the information we have today is awesome and it helps us make better decisions. But just because our circumstances don't fit in a nice little box doesn't mean all is hopeless. BTW, having our son has been the epitome of our lives! He's healthy, happy and has, in fact, kept us young at heart!

  - Joy

• February 19, 2010 12:24 a.m.

  I'm almost 33 and the only reason I've been waiting to have my first baby is to get my career figured out. Well actually I've been foolishly listening to my so called friends say how IMPORTANT it is to have the career thing figured out BEFORE having kids. Well in this economy and the fact that I'm in the midst of changing careers - this could take YEARS. So my husband and I are pretty well off financially. I think my career can wait and I'm not getting any younger. So I'm hoping to have kids soon.

  - Wendy

• February 16, 2010 1:53 p.m.

  Thanks for your honest writing. I have heard untrue statistics from people. I'm glad to hear you have a 99% chance of having a healthy baby. Thanks!

  - michelle

• February 9, 2010 8:43 a.m.

  Thank you so much for this. I am 33, married, but not in any position to have a child financially. The risk for having a child with autism when conceiving later in life is all over the news today. I would love to have a baby, but after working with adults with disabilities and the amazing families that care for them... I am terrified to have a child of my own now. Do you have any advice about these most recent findings?

  - tiffany

• January 25, 2010 12:47 p.m.

  I'm 38 years old and have five daughters. Yes, you read that right, FIVE DAUGHTERS. (Ages 18 - 2) We thought we were finished, but as my youngest reaches that 3rd birthday, I'm starting to hear that little voice saying that it's time again. Everybody already thinks we're insane, but I strongly feel that if you are healthy and you want a baby, you shouldn't care what other people think!! I don't think anybody should base their decision to have a child on what the rest of the world thinks. Each of my five daughters has brought joy beyond words!! Our oldest daughter has autism and many would think that in itself would warrent us NOT having more children, but for those people, I would try to explain to them just how much she has taught everyone around her. She is TRULY a blessing! Having a child with a disability is NOT the end of the world. It's just as much a blessing as having a "typical" child. So, I would urge others not to let those statistics be the deciding factor either. I am concerned about having another child at age 38 for health reasons, and that's what brought me to this site, but after discussing this with my doctor and doing a little research, I think we may try again. And I would LOVE to have another girl!!

  - Snalker

• January 21, 2010 11:30 p.m.

  I would like to know how many of you mothers over the age of 35 used fertility drugs. I am thirty four and have no kids, have never been married, and am not dating anyone. I cannot afford to freeze my eggs. Afriend told me that she would never have a baby after thirty five because of the risks. I trust her opinion since she is a married stay at home mom with an ideal family, (husband and two kids in a middle class neighborhood). I never expected my life to turn out this way and it is getting hard for me to keep tolerating people with families. I don't want to become a single parent like my mother was, I wanted a real family and I know this is going to cause a life crisis.

  - Bridget

• January 19, 2010 12:57 p.m.

  Thank you so much i am 32 and for years every one around me says i am to old to have kids.So its good to know there is a chance for me and my husband.

  - christina

• November 9, 2009 9:51 p.m.

  Thank you all so much! I'm turning 30 next month and was really starting to freak out about time running out. I've always wanted a family. My boyfriend and I have been dating about 8 months and he's younger and not in any hurry while I've been trying not to panic - I guess the number scared me more than I thought. Thank you all for sharing your stories and information. I'm going to do my best to relax and just see where things go. Hugs!

  - Katie

• November 8, 2009 8:00 p.m.

  I have not seen much on this issue, but if you are in your late 30's early 40's and still have regular monthly periods 28 days apart or so, are you still considered to be as fertile as when you were younger? Does this correlate to not having problems conceiving? If you know about this, I would love to hear from you.

  - Elizabeth

• November 8, 2009 7:57 p.m.

  Hi, I am just a few months away from my 40th birthday and the mother of 2 girls ages 11 and 6. My husband and I are planning on another child. I am having my IUD removed later this month. In the past I have been very fertile. I am so excited but yet nervous when I read of women having problems. You know my biggest fear...what others will think of me being so old having a baby. Not to mention both my mother in law and my own mom will be outraged. Amazing to think I am nearly 40 but still care what people think. I just pray for no miscarriages. My two prior pregnancies were very healthy and without any problems.

  - Elizabeth

• October 25, 2009 11:12 a.m.

  I’m 35. and I had my life planned with my 3 kids. But, life had other plans for me so now I’m pregnant. My pregnancy is going really well. And I’m not going to get an abortion just because some people think I’m old. Many celebrities have their babies even in their 40’s and nobody says anything about it. And they are just like everyone else, only famous!!!

  - Ivonne

• October 7, 2009 12:43 p.m.

  WOW!!! I am 39 and think I might be pregnant, I am 7 days late usually pretty much on schedule, I feel tenderness where I should not, a feel hungry all the time, and tired seems to soon but feels like the first time I was pregnant back in 1997, yes I have a 12 year old. I have been married for 4 years and I was trying to get pregnant 2 years ago since it did not happen I gave up on it... Right now I am terrified. I guess I had accepted the fact that I would not have another baby. Reading these comments has made me feel a lot better. I will wait until I am 10 days late before I take a test.

  - cyn

• September 25, 2009 5:04 p.m.

  Well,that didn't quite answer my question. but,you did tell me the stuff i needed to know! so,thanks.

  - Mrs.Goregous

• June 17, 2009 5:07 p.m.

  I was 32 when I had my first child...he is now 10 years old and not just "normal" but incredible! I also have multiple sclerosis and was told not to have any more children. I had my second son at age 39. My OBGYN advised me that the fetus could have all kinds od devestating disorders and syndromes...I was scared to death. Well, I fired her and found a very compassionate high risk OBGYN. I am sitting her at age 42 watching my blonde haired beautiful little 3 year old boy play with his cars and trucks. He also is not only normal but extraordinary! My husband and I want 1 more child. Doctors tell me I should not even consider it and have a tubal ligation. Both because I have MS and my age. I am in excellent shape, exercise daily, eat very well and feel great. Yes, I have had Ms for 18 years but my disease is mild and not progressive. We have just begun to try to get pregnant. We have gotten pregnant very easily in the past and hope we will again. We did briefly talk about an egg donor or a surrogate but my husband is adamont that they are my old eggs! Thank you for a positive place to blog. Some of us went to college, had years of graduate school and career, married late or are in second marriages and still want children...I love being an older, wiser, more patient mom!

  - Georgia Grace

• April 19, 2009 4:17 p.m.

  Ok... Now that I have read the comments; let me give you my true miracle pregnancy experience. At age 29, had my tubes tied; at age 44 in a half had them untired, at age 45 had my daughter; and she is now 14 months old, healthy and happy... Now, at age 46, I'm working on getting pregnant again... I love being an older mother! ~ My oldest daughter is 27 and my youngest, just 14 months... Of course, the doctors all told me it would be impossible and I was wasting my money on the surgery but ... as I told them, faith is better on my side than mans medical opinion... Doctors tried to scare me with the Downs risks and maternal age factors -- but, again, I just based my risks on my previous pregnancies and kept healthy -- and had a healthy baby from it all... Good luck to all of you who are trying to conceive!

  - Cathlin