Having a Child at 50

Risks Still Significant For Mother

• There are fundamental risks in being an older mother. Mothers 40 years of age and older are more likely to encounter such difficulties as premature delivery, high blood pressure, the need for cesarean delivery, gestational diabetes and problems with the form or function of the placenta. This is especially true when using donated eggs, according to the Columbia University Medical Center study. So, while women at 50 years of age don't typically face higher risks when using donated eggs than younger women, they do face the same significant risks that they do.

Potential Risks For Infant Also

• When a baby is born prematurely, there are a number of health risks involved, according to the March of Dimes. Breathing problems are common, particularly among babies born very early, and can include respiratory distress syndrome and broncho-pulmonary dysplasia, often resulting from immature lungs. They can suffer from bleeding in the brain and intestinal problems. Premature babies have a higher risk of cerebral palsy, autism, and a variety of physical and mental disabilities. Some face months in the hospital and multiple surgeries. Gestational diabetes risks for babies include low glucose levels, potential breathing troubles, and obesity.

Concerns Remain With Healthy Birth

• Children of older parents have a higher chance of dealing with the serious illness or death of one or both parents much earlier than children of younger parents. A woman having a baby at 50 years of age may have to work hard to fund her retirement and a child's college costs, which will likely be taking place at the same time. Children of older parents may lack a strong support network when they have their own children, as their kids may not have living grandparents. Couples older than 50 considering a baby should have a back-up plan for the raising of their children, just in case, advises the American Fertility Association.

Wanted, Loved and Successful Children

• There are some major advantages to being a child of an older mother. The language, math and reading scores of children of older mothers tend to be higher and, according to a study led by the fertility clinic at the University of Iowa's Brad Van Voorhis cited in ̶0;New York Magazine,̶1; the higher the age of the mother, the better the scores of the children. Van Voorhis attributes this to how wanted these children were. Their parents put forth a lot of expense and physical effort to get pregnant and bear them. Parenting, for many, was a pleasure to be relished. These parents were less inclined to hire nannies, preferring to parent themselves, striving to raise happy and successful children.