What, if any, should be the age limit for a woman to have a child?

Introduction:
The ideal age for giving birth is between 20 and 25 years. However, nowadays
women started delaying their pregnancies to the third and fourth decades of their life.
There are many reasons behind this phenomenon, which includes; late marriages,
more advanced education and career expectations (Verma, 2009, cited in Amarin,
2013). The risks of miscarriage and the pregnancy complications decrease, as
women get older. Some women at the age of 35 years or over may not be able to get
pregnant at all (Utting and Bewley 2011). Meanwhile, women younger than 35 years
have better ability in easy pregnancies and healthy children. But, young maternal age
of 21 years and under, at delivery, is related to the increased risk of short-term
obstacles after delivery (Aviram, Raban, Melamed, Hadar, Wiznitzer and Yogev
2013). In the other hand, elder mothers are more responsible and can manage to
raise their children and support them financially better than younger mothers. Many
different aspects affect each period of age.
Abstract:
A study on mice has found that middle aged and younger mothers, have children
with lower body weights and reproductive genitals, than the children of young adult
mothers (Young 2000). The increase in the risk of conflicting outcomes of pregnancy
occurs basically in young teenage mothers, this is apart from the risks of other social
and behavioural complications, which also affect the teenage pregnancy. Therefore,
to reduce the risk, improving the sociodemographic environment must be considered
for teenage mothers knowing that it cannot eliminate the risk of poor conflicting
outcomes (Alison, Fraser, John, Brockert and Ward 1995). However, older mothers
compared with young mothers, had significantly higher risk of low birth weight, very
preterm and gestational age with small size. Mothers older than 40-49 years have a
higher risk than those who are in their 40s in terms of all fetal mortality and also
morbidity indices (Salihu, Slay, Kirby and Alexander, 2003, cited in Harris and
Meacham, 2014).
There are many diseases, corresponding to age, that effect the mother and the child.
For example, the chance of Downs syndrome; in age 20 is one in 1500, in age 30 is
one in 900 and in age 40 is one in 100 (National Fetal Anomaly Screening
Programme, 2010, cited in BabyCentre, 2014). As the age of the mother increases,

the risk of having a Downs baby increase as well, but it was never proven that it is
linked to the fathers age (Patel 1995). Also, women giving their first birth in age 18
years and under, have one-third risk for breast cancer. While, women who delay their
first birth until the advanced age of 35 years and above (MacMahon, Cole, Lin, Lowe,
Mirra, Raynihar, Salber, Valaoras and Yuasa 1970). In regards of hypertension, it
was found that the incidence of pre-eclampsia and eclampsia were lower in pregnant
women aged in the range from 35 to 47 years - 1.4% and 0% - than the pregnant
women aged in the range from 20 to 25 years - 4.5% and 0.2% -. Meanwhile,
gestational non-proteinuric hypertension and essential hypertension were higher in
pregnant women aged in the range from 35 to 47 years - 2.7% and 11% - than the
pregnant women aged in the range from 20 to 25 years - 0.4% and 0% - (Amarin
2013).
Being a mother of 35 years and above has actually some physical advantages over
younger mothers. In this age women normally have better diets, exercise regularly
and are less likely to smoke during pregnancy than those in their 20s. the
responsibility of taking care of a baby 24 hours a day can be shocking at first,
mothers in their 30s can easily adjust this as they more likely have a comfortable
routine and independency in both their relationships and careers. Older mothers are
mostly in a better financial condition as well and of course more maturity and better
experience in life in order to raise the children properly and support them in every
way (BabyCentre 2014).
Conclusion:
It was found that pregnancy after the age of 50 years is related with the increased
risks of diabetes mellitus, hypertention, hospitalisation, low birth weight infants and
for the fetus (Salihu, Slay, Kirby and Alexander, 2003, cited in Harris and Meacham,
2014). Despite al the risks mentioned, the likelihood of an older mother having
healthy outcome is almost as good as the outcome of a younger mother, depending
on the mothers condition (BabyCentre 2014). Still, the preferable age for
accouchement is 20 to 35 years, but there is no such age limit for a woman to get
pregnant. The impact of age on pregnancy awareness and fertility graphs, in general
practice surgeries and at family planning clinics, must be raised for patients and the
public (Utting and Bewley 2011). In my opinion women should start families before
their 30s and have better health chances for them and their children as well.

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