Comments on: Sarah Palin is a New Old Mom? Was the Decision to Have a Baby at 44 Safe?

By: Louise

Louise — Fri, 02 Jan 2009 03:33:12 +0000

I just found out that I’m pregnant with my third. I’m 44. I had my first at 41 and second at 43. When I married I was 40 and my husband was 35 (first marriages for both of us). We believe God is allowing us live out our 20s in our 40s!! Thank you for your comments. They have given me much peace. As we share our “exciting” news, we are getting mixed responses (most positive but some surprising very negative ones). We feel blessed. Thanks again for the peace.

By: Dr. Sally Witt

Dr. Sally Witt — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:45:48 +0000

Things are changing all the time.

My Master’s Degree was in Ed Psych and Counseling with a specialty in Mental Retardation. That was in 1981, and that term is outdated. At that time, it was really scary to be pregnant after 35, and Down’s Syndrome children did not have a long life to look forward to. Most families came to a divorce if they kept their children. I worked in a state hospital (now closed) where the residents were warehoused, and did not grow intellectually, physically, or spiritually to their potential.

Over the years I have worked in rehab centers, sheltered workshops, regional centers, and more. Programs have gotten better and better. Health care is better.

Now, I volunteer at times for a social group for people with all kinds of challenges, and there are 60 and 70 year old members with Down’s Syndrome that are doing great.

I hope that every child that is conceived is able to find a loving and supportive home, even if it is not with their biological parents.

I ended up not being able to have children after more than 11 years of infertility treatments. I would have welcomed a baby, even with some challenges.

HUGE subject.

Good job,

Sally

http://www.drsallywitt.com

By: Traci

Traci — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 15:37:52 +0000

I also got that tweet and went to the web site and like you, did not agree with the majority of the posts there. I’ve had seven children myself and my youngest was born when I was 38. I got the “advanced maternal age” thing all the time, heard “the risks” and to me a child is a blessing from God and it didn’t matter. I was willing to accept the risks – whatever they were. I have friends with Downs children and I don’t see them as burdens or “choices” to be discarded, but children and blessings.

Actually, my one friend who has a Downs child had him in her 20′s!!!! So it’s not always just older moms that have Downs children.

By: admin

admin — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 17:56:14 +0000

I agree! A child is a gift, an inspiration! I’ll check out you blog! Follow me on Twitter and we’ll connect!
http://www.twitter.com/newoldmom

By: momofsixteen

momofsixteen — Tue, 09 Sep 2008 16:37:59 +0000

As a mom of sixteen kids at age 49, I completely agree with your viewpoint on this matter.

I gave birth to my youngest at age 37. It was a much better time for me than when my first was born at age 20.

In 2005, with five children already, I married a widower who had eleven kids. Two of his children have Down Syndrome, one of them has 25% Mosaic Down Syndrome.

I voluntarily took upon myself the “burden” of caring for these children. I could have worked for him and had my freedom, but I also feel that children are a blessing from God. I couldn’t imagine a better way to spend the second half of my life than caring for these kids who had lost their beloved mother. That was a story published in the Philadelphia Inquirer back on Christmas Day, 2005. I posted a reprint on my blog called, “Test of Faith.” Writeen by Michael Vitez, the article shares how difficult life’s choices can be, but people like my husband and his late wife keep making difficult choices to do the right thing everyday.

A child with Down Syndrome is not a burden!! They are a lot of work, but the joy they bring to a family is great.

Thank you for sharing!