If drug addicts and alcoholics can reproduce knowing their chances of having a child with a problem then who is anybody else to stop someone due to their age!!!!!!!!!!!

PERSONALLY, 30 was my "cut off" age - however, if a woman wants to have a baby at 50, that's her choice. I might not necessarily agree with it, but I'm not the one raising the baby.

ETA: No to the testing...MY baby is MY baby, regardless of whether he/she has DS.

my anut was 40 and another aunt 38. both tested + for down's and neither of the children had it. So, i dont have a opinion either way as long as the parents know the chances and feel they are prepared for it.

Em

originally posted by IceePrincess

PERSONALLY, 30 was my "cut off" age - however, if a woman wants to have a baby at 50, that's her choice. I might not necessarily agree with it, but I'm not the one raising the baby.

ETA: No to the testing...MY baby is MY baby, regardless of whether he/she has DS.

ICP: I didn't do testing either and I was 38 when I had my son; however, do you think maybe the reason people test isn't necessarily so they can decide to abort... but maybe it's so they can prepare? You know, learn about the disease, prepare emotionally for what it may be like, talk to other parents, etc... ? I could see that being helpful.

I guess if you go into testing, with no intent to abort regardless, I wouldn't have a problem with it.

It's a woman's choice to have a baby whenever she pleases.

At age 21 I was pregnant with DS and my quad test came back saying there was a pretty high chance DS had down syndrome.

The quad test is not all that accurate.

Then there were all of the extra ultrasounds where they did measurements of his body every couple of weeks.

Then there is the  Amniocentesis. The really big needle they stick in your stomach and withdraw fluids to test. Or there is CVS the doctor takes cells from tiny fingerlike projections on the placenta called the chorionic villi and sends them to a lab for genetic analysis.  Both  these tests are invasive and carry a small risk of miscarriage. 

The amnio and CVS test were not an option for DH and I. Because regardless of if DS had Down Sydrome or not we were having him. So there was no reason  to take that small risk of a miscarriage.

Then there are  2  of the risks of miscarriage.

Being over age 35.

Stress.

Do I feel women over age 40 would need to have testing done before they had the baby. No. They should have a choice as well all do.   The testing gives a slight risk of miscarriage.  Their age already gives them a higher chance of miscarriage.  The stress of worrying after the very inaccurate quad test is enough to cause someone to have a miscarriage. 

The most stressful time of my life was from the time I had the results come back from the quad screen until the day I had DS and he didn't have down syndrome.  I wasn't stressed about him having it I was stressed that as a first time mother I wouldn't be able to deal with all that comes along with a child that has down syndrome.

Everyone has genetic factors. I'm at a higher risk for diabetes due to my mother , grandmother and great grandmother having it.  Should my mother of needed a test because I was at a higher risk? www.genetichealth.com/DBTS_Genetics_of_Type_1_Diabetes.shtml

I have crohns disease. I didn't know I had it until after I had DS. It is genetic.  Should I have not had him because there is a chance he could have it?

Here is a long list of genetic diseases. www.wrongdiagnosis.com/g/genetic/subtypes.htm

Should a women need to be tested for all of them before she procreates?

All marriages are happy. It's living together afterwards that is difficult.

Nice post, M2 - I agree.

I was 38, already considered A.M.A. ( bad words, advanced maternal age). Already at a higher risk of miscarriage because of my age. When I read up and talked to my OB about the amnio and CVS, it was a no brainer. Why further increase the chance of losing the baby entirely? Plus, I just don't like getting things "stuck" in me.... the procedures themselves grossed me out. :)

With my 16 yr old (I was 19) they did the AFP test, it came back a high likelyhood of downs.  She was fine.  I was 36 when I had my 9mth old.  I did have all the early testing, I went to Childrens and talked with a genetic counsler.  If you looked at my age alone there was a higher risk but going through my family history ect my risk went down to that of a 25 yr old.  I also had the blood work and the early ultrasound where they measure the babys fat pad in the kneck.  I had the testing primarly so I could prepare my 16 yr old if there were going to be problems.  However, I hold no judgement to those who due the testing with the option of abortion.  To answer the orginal post, I think people should due what is best for them.  My bestfriend had a baby at 44 and they are a very happy family.

I didn't test for a few reasons. #1 my parents did with me. Came back with all sorts of things that were wrong with me. My mom was 38.  I'm fine(ish guess it depends on who I ask, lol) I also didn't test because it didn't matter to me and if there was a problem I didn't want to worry about it the rest of my PG, and if it turned out wrong like it did with me I would hurt someone for making me worry.