Most people in their 40s are preparing to let their children fly the nest, but just because you didn’t have a baby earlier in life doesn’t mean it’s too late! You’ll experience certain benefits if you decide to have a baby in your 40s. There are also some negatives you should be aware of, too. Here, we’ll take a look at the potential advantages and disadvantages of being pregnant at this stage in your life.
The Pros and Cons of Having a Baby in Your 40s
It’s important not to rush into anything until you’ve weighed the pros and cons of having a baby in your 40s. For instance, maturity can be a benefit of having a child at this stage of life, as you may be more confident and wise in your parenting decisions, have more resources to offer them, etc. However, you’ll likely be more tired with age and may have less energy to raise a child. Let’s take a look at some other financial, health, and lifestyle considerations for pregnancy at this age:
Con: There’s a Higher Risk of Miscarriage
When you decide to have a baby in your 40s, you must understand that there’s a higher risk of miscarriage.1 The Mayo Clinic notes that there’s a 20% risk of miscarriage at age 35% versus a 33-40% risk at age 40 and a 57-80% risk at age 45.5 One research study found that if you’re healthy, this can boost your chances of success with pregnancy over the age of 40.6 So if you want a baby at this age, you should start trying to improve your health now. However, it’s still important to know that things could turn sour, as miscarriages aren’t preventable.7
Pro: You’ll Be More Financially Secure
If you have a child in your teens or 20s, it can be extremely tough to survive financially. You’ll be trying to raise a child while finishing school or crawling up the career ladder. In your 30s, your finances will likely be more secure. The same goes for your 40s — plus, you’ll likely have much more disposable income at this age. This can save you an enormous amount of stress in terms of financially providing for your child.8,9
Con: It Can Cause a Strain on Your Heart
Think about all the strain the body goes through when running a marathon. If you’re older, this will have a bigger impact on your body. The same can be said for anyone pregnant later in life. You’re at a slightly increased risk of suffering from complications like preeclampsia in your 40s, which can be brought on directly from pregnancy.2,3,4 A history of having preeclampsia during pregnancy increases your risk for cardiovascular disease later in life.4,10 But being as healthy as possible before you conceive can help with this.11
Pro: You’ll Make Lots of New Friends
If you have a baby later on in life, you’ll get to meet and be around other moms — mostly those who are younger than you. But this can actually be a benefit! You’ll get to make new friends and connect with people who are raising children at the same time as you, and you’ll likely have more wisdom to impart at an older age. You can join Mommy and Me classes and other activities to grow your community as a new mom. You could even look for online support groups with other moms who had children in their 40s or older. And if you can maintain relationships with your current friends, this only expands your support system in this new chapter of life!
Con: You’ll Have To Make Some Sacrifices
We’ve mentioned that you may have more disposable income in your 40s.9 However, if you have a baby at this age, most of that will probably go to your child. You’ll also be much more limited in what you can do in terms of your time and energy. You likely won’t have the same amount of time to devote to your own hobbies and activities. This doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be able to do exciting things like travel the world. Unfortunately, though, you probably can’t buy that fancy yacht you had your eye on. (But it’s not like you’ll care about that when your baby is in your arms!)
Pro: It Will Give You a New Lease on Life
Life can sometimes feel a little stale when you begin to age. But once you have a baby, you’ll experience all the joys of childhood again — this time with a little one of your own! Christmas, Easter, Halloween, and other holidays will become a hundred times more exciting when you have a child. You’ll also get to take your child to school and enjoy putting them in sports, music, or other extracurricular activities when they’re older. Of course, having a child doesn’t guarantee sunshine and roses. However, it can give you a new sense of purpose, responsibility, and fulfillment in your midlife.
Con: There’s an Increased Risk of Chromosomal Abnormalities
Research shows a strong link between advancing maternal age and a heightened risk of chromosomal abnormalities, especially in women 35 and older.13,15 As a woman’s eggs age, they’re more likely to undergo errors during cell division (meiosis), resulting in an abnormal chromosome count (or aneuploidy) in the fetus.13,15 This can lead to conditions like trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), trisomy 18 (Edwards syndrome), and trisomy 13 (Patau syndrome).13,14,15
Studies indicate a sharp increase in chromosomal abnormalities in pregnancies among women in their mid-to-late 30s. For instance, data from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) confirms that risks become significantly higher at age 35 and increase with age.13 With age, eggs lose efficiency in segregating chromosomes correctly, increasing the likelihood of aneuploidy.14,15 This heightened risk leads healthcare providers to recommend increased prenatal screenings for expecting mothers over 35, offering valuable information for pregnancy management.
There’s No Right or Wrong Answer
When you’re trying to decide whether or not to have a baby later in life, there isn’t one right or wrong answer. It’s an individual choice that you should discuss with your doctor. You’ll have to weigh the pros and cons of becoming pregnant in your 40s before coming to a final decision. But by taking the proper precautions, you don’t have to be afraid to try to get pregnant at this age!
