it's true that after 35 the risk for genetic defects increases for women. I dont know the age for men, probably the same but apparently for them age contributes to more genetic mutations.
in regards to fertility, we as a species are encountering problems regardless of age. The rate for miscarriage is 1 in 4 pregnancies. Thats high.
For me personally, it's really important that a child is raised in a home where they can see healthy relationships. A few studies that have impacted me on this topic actually. One of the big ones is the significance of forming attachments between the ages of 6 months and 3 years. If for whatever reason (neglect, abandonment, breaking up and someone leaving the picture)...basically failing to form normal attachments during that time can result in life long emotional and behavioural damage. The impact of a child's needs for care, comfort and security not being met, or losing one of their primary care givers compared to older children is huge.After that age they will bounce back. But they are so very volatile in their early life. That scares me. We are now learning that children between this age who spend more than 20 hours a week in childcare experience child abandonment. ?!!?!?!... Obviously we aren't all in ideal circumstances where families can live in a one income household and mothers get to stay home and breastfeed and basically give your kid the best possible environment to develop and thrive into awesome humans. But the goal should be giving them the best you can give. Raising a person doesn't hold a candle to carreer goals. It really made me re-evaluate my entire life... and priorities had to change in order for me to bring someone else into the world.
( Not to piss anyone off btw ~ this is just input from a different view )
I understand how you feel OP, I'm kind of in a similar position, I'm in my mid 20s but my husband is early 30s. By the time I feel like I'm ready to add a second child to our family age is going to be something we have to consider.
about the adoption thing in this thread. It is *incredibly* difficult to adopt. Lots of couples who want to adopt have to go through 4 years of waiting, paying out $20,000 MULTIPLE times only to be denied. There are so many kids waiting in foster care and orphanages world wide who HAVE FAMILIES waiting for them, applying for them, who know their name and get updates on them for years.... but can't bring them home due to red tape. The adoption system is fucked beyond belief.
last edit I promise: caesarian section. it's. awsum.
Edited by 0ryxisalive, 23 October 2013 - 02:59 AM.
