Goodbye Grandma, Hello Motherhood! - Comments

I think no one it truly "too old" to be a mother but think of it though when the person is a teen or young adult and their parent(mom or dad) died that would hurt the person terribly. And the parent wouldn't be able to see the child grow up to a full grown up.

Anyone can drop dead at any moment...?

I don't see your point.

I don't think it's fair to the child, considering the mother is likely to drop dead at any minute.

i think it should depend on the actual person....she seems healthy enough now and all she/ll have to keep that up for her child

Interesting article, but I agree with Venomous. I was also turned off by you putting your own opinions into the article -- but that's just my opinion.

Try googling Maternal Age Effect or Chromosomal Abnormalities.

You will see my point.

I'm sorry to say but I think you missed the entire point. As maternal age increases there are greater chances of genetic/chromosomal abnormalities in the offspring.

The medical professionals are not debating the question of whether older people would make good mothers, they are raising ethical concerns on whether bringing a horribly deformed child into the world is the right thing to do.

Most fetuses with genetic abnormalities are aborted spontaneously (naturally) and those that do reach birth can be riddled with disorders such as 'Downs Syndrome'

No one ever bothers to report on that. I believe some of these women are horribly irresponsible wanting to become pregnant over fifty, ignoring medical advice. I don't believe they would be prepared to look after a child with a genetic disorder regardless.

oh... i don't know.
I just feel sorry for the mother... obviously she has had a very awful time of it.
but at her age, she should know what her capabilities are, so if she can rear the child properly... why not? Although it would be so unfair if the child had to look after the mum because of her age.

At least they would have a mom when they are a teenager.

Though the kid will probably get ripped on for have a mother older then someones grandparent.

Any older woman facing such a choice should be responsible enough to know that motherhood means that it isn't just themselves whom this decision could have an effect on. The single person become a union of two, and the former has to make sure neither party suffers unnecessarily.
And that means both a loss of the child to the mother, or loss of the mother to the child.

Self-sacrfice for your children, being there to pass on wisdom and guidance for the future, and keeping them fully provided for are the basics for raising a kid. Whether someone will be able to achieve all three depends on the person, but age is potentially a crippling factor, I think.

It's her born right to be a mother.
If she wanted to be one in her later years, why not?

While I definitely do not agree with what she's doing, it is still her own choice and her own body.

She has the right to bear a child, but I personally think she's getting too old. Like asteroid said, menopause happens for a reason.

It is so selfish to have a child that old, it's disgusting. What teenger wants an 80 year old mom?! I'm sixteen, and my grandma isn't even close to 80 yet. I seriously doubt an 82 year old woman can raise a 16 year old kid.

Menopause happens for a reason.

She might have the right to have the child, but having a baby at an older age - I don't care how healthy and young you feel - can endanger the child's health. Therefore, I believe there should be an age limit.

Why not adopt?

There's millions of people without homes who need to be looked after. No point bringing another person into the world when it's pretty likely she'll leave it before it's able to look after itself.

I believe she has the right to have a child, who are these people to deny her that right?

She might have never been able to conceive a child even when she was younger and she didn't want to die without ever being a mother.

But either way, even if she does die when the child is a teenager I would think the child would at least be happy to have known his mother AT ALL. Some children don't even get that. People should give her a break, why does everyone have to make such a big freaking deal out of every little thing, it's getting ridiculous.

I think that as humans with feelings it shouldn't matter what age but then comes the feelings of the child if the mother were to die. As humans with responsibilities and a brain it should be taken into consideration that this women is 66 years old. And even though it shouldn't even have to be decided, both sides of the argument are right.

And I hate myself for saying this but I agree that there should be a cut-off age for motherhood. Simply because it's pretty risky. But at the same time, it should be the choice of the mother.

Anyway, great article.