Putting off childbirth defies nature, claim doctors

Scotsman ^ | 9/16/05 | Louise Gray

[Crackingham]

Women should have a family first - before they are 35 - and leave their career until later, a group of leading doctors said yesterday. The obstetricians and gynaecologists said the increasing number of women delaying having children were defying nature and risking heartbreak. Writing in the British Medical Journal, they recommended that if women wanted families and a career, they should have children earlier, and called for more support for younger mothers. Women's groups voiced caution over putting a deadline on childbirth but agreed on the need for more support.

Susan Bewley, consultant obstetrician at St Thomas' Hospital in London, said the doctors were motivated by the number of older women they saw experiencing problems in childbirth. She said: "It is us in the clinic who see the heartbreak, and we cannot help these people when they are running out of time. That is what motivated me to write [the report] and ask the authorities what can be done to help women to do it at a time that suits them."

In Scotland the most common age for giving birth is now 30 to 34. There has also been a steady rise in the proportion of mothers aged 35-plus, from 6 per cent in 1976 to 18.8 per cent last year.

But Dr Bewley said the optimum age to have a child remained between the ages of 20 and 35. She said: "Each woman finds her own solution but we cannot kid ourselves having children at 35 is easy. It is not. It goes wrong for lots of people."

The strongly worded editorial, co-authored by Melanie Davies, a consultant obstetrician from University College hospital, and Peter Braude, head of the department of women's health at St Thomas', pointed out age-related fertility problems increased after the age of 35, and dramatically so after 40.

The editorial claimed employers and health planners were to blame for encouraging women to delay motherhood to focus on careers and financial stability. It called for government and companies to make it easier for women to choose to have children at a younger age, and said: "Free choices cannot be made with partial knowledge, economic disadvantage for mothers, and unsupportive workplaces.

"Doctors and healthcare planners need to grasp this threat to public health and support women to achieve biologically optimal childbearing."

The experts listed a number of complications linked to later motherhood, including pre-eclampsia and increased risk of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancies.

They also said that older fathers had decreased fertility, while children of older men had an increased risk of schizophrenia and several genetic disorders.

They wrote: "Women want to 'have it all' but biology is unchanged, deferring defies nature and risks heartbreak. If women want room for manoeuvre they are unwise to wait till their thirties."

Dr Bewley added: "You cannot suddenly emerge at 45 and say, 'Now I want children'. I appreciate we want it all and some will get it. But there is a window for reproduction where there isn't for work."

[cubreporter]

Gosh being pampered to me was the kids making construction paper hearts and made up notes and making all the little things that I have right now and have kept for years. In the fall I put out my pottery they made in grade school. They're the best "art" pieces in the world. No gallery no matter how fancy could ever do them justice. They are in fall colors except for two blue ones and they go on my hutch in the fall for the whole world to see.

I see pampered as something different. Mine doesn't cost money. Mine was free from innocent little children. It was/is the best.

[cubreporter]

That's true and I also read that on from Irma Bombeck about the hand that holds the carkeys rules the world. Ha,ha.

[shezza]

More women should make a "career" raising their own children. Might have to skip the extra BMW though.

I know a lady who had her first child last year...in her late forties. She didn't give up her job, though. No, the child is driven to her parents' house for care, then picked up whenever she gets off work, which is sometimes 7 or 8 o'clock. The baby also stays with her parents when she flies off for conventions and business meetings. (Did I mention her parents are in their eighties?)

[netmilsmom]

>>When he put it on my wrist he said it was so I could think of him when he's in his class. why would I ever want to 'get rid' of this kid by sending him away for 8 hours a day?<<

That brought tears!

I HATE sending my baby away. My older daughter and I stand outside the door saying, "Set our baby FREE!"

[DooDahhhh]

You nailed it Lester. These young women who feels like they are children can put their lives on hold for as much as 20 years. And then voila at 40 they want a family. Responsibility is not being taught to these people at the appropriate age.

[netmilsmom]

>>I see pampered as something different. Mine doesn't cost money. Mine was free from innocent little children. It was/is the best.<<

I love it!

Pampering to me is kiddie movies from Blockbuster, extra butter popcorn and all of us snuggling under a blanket on the couch for a fun afternoon. I put my foot down after years of doing "Mother's Day" by driving 2 hours to eat a snooty brunch "at the club" for my MIL. I told my hubby to go see his mother, it's his duty and but it's Mother's Day for me too. I love one girl under each arm and popcorn. Silly laughs from them is music to my ears.

Or the big tears watching "Heidi" the first time. All three of us cried.

I was gutted for my kids. Why would I want to get "rid" of them now?????

[RGSpincich]

The obstetricians and gynaecologists said the increasing number of women delaying having children were defying nature and risking heartbreak.

Risking heartbreak? That's a medical condition now? Common sense is at risk if nothing else. So all these over achieving college graduate women can't tell time on the baby clock, eh?

Not going for it. It's a plot by a secret association of professional men to get women out of the corporate board room.

[Tax-chick]

My idea of pampering is lying down in the afternoon with the baby, and holding while he sleeps (and sweats and snores ...). James is just about too big now - he'll be lying there humming with his eyes closed, and then suddenly he'll sit up and say, "Airplane! Vroom, I hear an airplane!" But his Replacement will be here in only a few months :-).

[netmilsmom]

You are so blessed!

[Lester Moore]

15 eh? So pedophilia is OK by you?

Do you suppose your wild-eyed accusation censors me? It does not.

If a 15 year old young woman has a 19 yr old young man between her legs it's because she wants him there and it's not pedophilia.

Do make sure you use your own money to enforce your pollyanna view & that you're not using the state to point a gun at me and take my money so you can then afford to hammer the world into compliance with what you think. If you are spending my money on this, you are a thief.

Unfortunately, crusaders, like you, have the advantage in the debate over redistributionism.

[Lester Moore]

15 to 19 is a CHILD considering people live up into their 80's nowadays.....

Poppycock.

[Lester Moore]

One starting place is to stop treating young women, 15-19 like they are children. They are not children at that age.

Yes, they are.

No they're not.
And for certain if you think an 17-18-19 yr old is a child you are totally nuts.

[cubreporter]

Sounds like a good way to be pampered. Also sounds like James is a good candidate for Pilot Training some day. :) Glad you'll have another little one to snuggle with. Can't beat it, huh? Have fun.

[tuliptree76]

I found it.

[cubreporter]

I was gutted for my kids. Why would I want to get "rid" of them now?????



Oh my God...I am going to show this to my daugher in law. She had a C-section 5 weeks ago. She'll appreciate that great comment. She looks great too. Lost all that baby fat and now looks like she did before she was pregnant. :)

Sounds like a fun time for you and the kids. I loved everthing you mentioned...especially the EXTRA BUTTER POPCORN!!! Heck if we're gonna get together with the kids who in the heck wants to full with HEALTHY stuff?""

[Army Air Corps]

You still have plenty of time.

[wolfcreek]

This is one of my pet peeves, seeing a couple with small children and wondering if they're the parents or grandparents. I believe, it's totally unfair to the kids for the parents to be too old to keep up with or even properly discipline their children. I'll probably catch some grief for my opinion, but who wants to come home from their senior prom and see 60 something parents crashed out in their recliners.

[Major_Risktaker]

I can hear feminists now, "Don't tell ME what to do! How dare you try to box me in with your paternalistic limitations!" etc..
A lot of women don't seem to realize that they are really arguing with God, not men.

Feminists have always hate childbirth. Feminists love birth control pills, homosexuals & abortion. Feminists hate God and men.

So, what do you make of this? Feminist will love it, homosexuals can have kids and the government will embrace the artificial womb.

Google It

_______________________

Ectogenesis: a ticking time-bomb: Artificial Womb

This type of technology could produce massive social, cultural and medical changes in the entire area of abortion and pregnancy:

_______________________

Good Luck Chief Justice Roberts you'll need it.

[discostu]

I started too, but you just couldn't get through it without insults. Bye bye. don't bother to reply I'm not going to be dumb enough to give you the benefit of the doubt for even 10 seconds ever again.

[Yaelle]

Your post is brilliant. That's exactly what happened.

Now, the MTV generation is telling new young women that they should FIRST, before they become career women, become little party animal sluts. 10 years of mandatory whoring around and drinking and drugs, THEN 10 years of career. No one in society expects 19-year-olds to be thinking of marriage and babies. And whom would they marry? 19-year-old boys are told by society to Par-tay and spread their seed. Even if they are good boys, they are students and in no way ready to care for children and a wife.

I long for traditional roles.