Having Babies in Your Forties SURVEY
For most folks, having babies in your 40′s is a no-brainer. You just don’t do it. It’s a non-issue. But for some, it is a serious desire. Almost a quest, at times.
There are many issues surrounding the topic of fertility in your 40′s. For one, our bodies simply don’t function the same way they did when we were in our 20′s. They are changing. Transitioning to a new season. This means pregnancy may be harder to achieve, harder to maintain, and more difficult to go through. Pregnancy loss may become more common, which brings a unique sorrow to our lives.
In addition, our families are growing up. We now have older children…and older parents who need us. We are on the brink of potentially becoming mothers-in-law and grandparents. Peri-menopause becomes a reality before our 40′s are over…with menopause close behind.
Life is rapidly changing.
Visionary Womanhood is putting together a book on this topic, to be released spring of 2013. Ten women will be sharing their “Forties Story” and answering YOUR questions. This means we’d love to hear what those questions might be! Whether you are a single girl in your early 20′s or an experienced grandmother in your 60′s…we want to know what YOU would want included in such a book if you had the opportunity to give us your two-cents.
Go to this link HERE to complete our brief survey. With your help, we can communicate a message of hope and inspiration for women as they anticipate, or are already in the midst of, their 40′s.
{p.s. I am looking for one last contributor for this book. Specifically seeking a Christian woman in her 50s-60′s who had at least two babies in her 40s and has experience writing. If you meet this criteria, and you’d like to be part of this project, contact me.}
Tags: 40's, fertility, motherhood, survey
I’m 28 yet always light up when I see the topic of “pregnancy in your 40s”. My mother had four children, at 29, 31, 34 (me), and 42 (my baby sister, eight years after me!). I am so happy to have my little sister, and I think my mother having her in her forties has kept her younger. Which is funny, because so many people claim the opposite would be true–that children make us age and wear down quicker because of all the work they require. The truth is, they keep us going and give us so much joy!
Can’t wait to hear more about this
I hope I’ll be able to have children in my forties, as I’m 28 and only 10 weeks along with my third pregnancy! I wish I wouldn’t have waited. We think we have all the time in the world, until we realize the length of time it may take to conceive, and then 9+ months of pregnancy.
Thanks Melissa! And congratulations on your newest little treasure all tucked inside!
I’ll be 40 in February, and would definitely like to have more children. I have actually been thinking of various issues that may arise should the Lord bless us with more children at this stage of life. This book would be super relevant for the likes of myself, and many others!
Such a great idea, and I look forward to reading it…
*So* excited about this. Wonderful idea, friend.
I am 41, have 2 beautiful girls [ages 5 and 31/2). Both were conceived and born after I was 35. I am so hoping and praying that we can have another one yet. I have had 2 miscarriages since my last child, which makes me kind of worried. Really looking forward to reading more….
Hang in there Jeanette! When I turned 40 I had two miscarriages in one year. Then God gave us a baby girl. Another miscarriage…and two baby boys. There is hope…!!!
Oh I needed to hear that! I too am 41 and had a miscarriage back in January and have not been pregnant since. The longest I have EVER gone without becoming pregnant again. I am so nervous that God has closed my womb and I know I must be content with that but I so want to have another baby! Every month I calculate the date and wait…It took me a while to get past the point that I could have 20 children and now I fear I won’t have more!
God sure does amazing things in those who trust Him!
Thank you for posting! Can’t wait for this book!
I can relate to those fears early on of having 20 children…and now wishing I could actually do it! ; ) I have had lengths of time between pregnancies also that were surprising and scary. God’s timing is good…keep praying and resting…and taking one month at a time.
How refreshing! I’m 53 and have had the immense privilege of bearing eight children. I was still hoping to be blessed with another child at 48 right before I had a needed hysterectomy. Not many women think this way–I feel less like a loner now! Nutrition. The key to so many aspects of what’s unbalanced in our bodies. It seems that even some genetic predispositions can be overcome by better nutrition. I appreciate your perspective! Looking forward to reading more of your writing.
I would be very interested in hearing about the nutritional ideas that Donna is talking about. I am 36 and have techincally had 4 miscarriages in 1 year. The first 2 were very early, the last two both at 14 weeks. I have not tested positive for any problems… All my tests have come back fine.. My doctor is now saying that he wants to treat me like I have the blood clotting issue. I am not sure what it is called, but he said that he would have me take a baby asprin for the first few months and then switch to the lovenox shots. This is a whole new territory for me, and very scary to say the least.
Lisa, I’m so sorry to hear about your tough year. Those late losses are especially heart breaking. For more information on nutrition, I recommend my blog article on Keeper of the Home as well as a book that someone just recommended to me today over there called Naturally Knocked Up. I wish you God’s peace as you continue to pursue having another child.
Natalie,
Thank you for your timely reply, and for writing these helpful articles! I look forward to reading all of this info!
Lisa
Wish this book was written when I needed more support! I’m 52 and have been blessed with seven children, although had six miscarriages. I had three children 40-45 and had my last miscarriage at 48 because the baby was outside the sac, yet perfect if it lived. How wonderful to have so much support and information for those embracing their fertility in their 40′s!
Yes…your sentiments echo my own. This past year I looked around to find some encouragement for myself…and couldn’t find anything like this “out there” which is why I decided to do this project. : ) I can’t wait to read the testimonies of the contributors.
I have 8 children, the last 2 born when I was 40 and 44. They were healthy pregnancies. I used the nutritional guidelines from a book called “Let’s Have Healthy Children” by Adelle Davis….it’s an older book. As far as I know I have never had a miscarriage. Anyway, I would like to know if anyone has had a baby of their own without any outside help in their 50′s! I am 51 now. I did see a woman from Africa on someone’s blog that was very pregnant at 52 and wish I knew how that ended! ~~Pam
My mom found some Adelle Davis books early on, maybe when my oldest brother was a baby if not earlier. We were raised on a lot of the principle’s in her books. Now I use info from the Weston A. Price Foundation (www.westonaprice.org) which is really a follow up to Adelle Davis’ work. Also, Weston A. Price’s book was really informative. The foundation’s nutritional info is fantastic.