should a 42 yr old woman get pregnant or not?

At 42, I would be more concerned with Down's syndrome then autism. You should check with your doctor before making such a decision. I know several women had babies in their 40's with no problems but their hubbies did not use pot.

I don't see any reason why you shouldn't get pregnant but from what I hear there are some more risk involved for someone trying to get pregnant when they are older. However, my sister is 35 and she is not going to start trying until she is 36. I knew a woman who got pregnant when she was around 40 and she had a beautiful healthy boy. However, my ex husband's aunt had a baby when she was around 38 and he had Down Syndrome. It's all a matter of chance in the end but it could happen to anyone at any stage in their life. My only concern is that your husband smokes pot? Could you talk to him and ask him to quit perhaps? I mean, he's old enough that you would think he would want to anyway. No offense....

If you really want to have another child, I'd say talk to your doctor. The risks are very high for mothers above 40 and get higher every year you wait. My best recommendation (as a high risk pregnant Momma myself), especially with your concerns over your husband's habit, is to look into adoption. There are a lot of kids out there that NEED a loving family.

I dont want to tell you what you should do, but if that was me I sure would not want to get pregnant at the age of 42. But there are a lot of women that do. I would talk to your doctor and see what he has to say about it, since your husband is smoking pot.

I don't see any reason why your age would be an issue. You are still very young and people are live well into their 80's and 90's today. Maybe even longer by the time you get to be that age.

I don't see a problem with getting pregnant at 42, but, if you are worried about your husbands lifestyle maybe you should discuss that with him before you have the child.

You may want to have a serious discussion with your husband about his lifestyle and maybe make some changes together. You have a right to have a fear--and keep this in mind, a man's sperm do not age. Women's eggs age. So your husband will have the sperm of an 18 yr old and you will have the reproductive system of a 42 year old. You may also want to consult your OB. Good Luck!

The risks are high, especially that you're over 40....and another factor which can trigger the fear of abnormality on your unborn child (if ever) is the fact that your hubby does pot, which again is a potential high risk. However, if you're really desperately need to have a baby, you just have to check it out with a doctor which specializes in the so-called genetic counseling (I'm not sure if this is the correct specialist) who can adivise you as to the risks and whether you can go for it or not. I'm sure your doctor will give you the pro's and con's of such pregnancy. I admire you for taking care of an autistic child who is not even your own. But my point is: somebody should really take care of the boy. I hope you are getting professional help and education from autism organizations in your place so that he can really be helped. God bless....

Hi this is a difficult one for you, not having any children of your own it is only natural to want one. 42 is a fine age to have a child. I was nearly forty one when I had my little boy. However, I do understand your concerns re the asutism. My borther has a boy who suffers with asperges and it is hereditry on the fathers side I believe and asperges is on the austistic spectrum. My brother and his wife decided not to have another child because of this and my nephew actually now after years of being not allowed in state schools goes to a specialist weekday boarding one where the teacher ratio to pupil is 1:6 rather than 1::31+ in mormal schools. This has helped him a lot. If you really wanted a child that much I would say go for it and there is a 50/50 chance of child being a girl, but it is a serious decision and one only you and your new husband can make together. I would suggest that you stop smoking pot even if it is only on occassion, it wouldn't surprise me if his ex-wifes bi-polar problem didn't stem from that too as it has been proven that its effects can lead to mental health illness. Good luck with what ever decision you make. Ellie :D

Hello, I had my baby when I was 37/38. I had no problems at all through my pregnancy and after 14 hours of labour I had my beautiful perfect son. I am now 47 and I have one regret and that is not having another child. I hsve stated the reasons before on the site why I didnt, ther was too many other not so nice things happening over the past 8 years. I would have a baby if I was 42 again, in fact probably up to the age of 44/45. Think about it and don't leave it too late as I think i have now. As for the "pot" I wouldn't worry too much about that.

I'm glad I could be some help. I have read the other posts on here in regards to your situation about autism and down syndrome. They are highly advanced now and there are plenty things you can do to prevent both even at your age. They also do several test throught out the pregancy to detect whether or not your child had these things the test for down syndrome at 18 weeks this I know for sure I have had two babies of my own as you already know. I think you should before trying t get pregnant talk to your doctor about your concerns and start planning how to deal with these things if by chance it happens. Another thing about your husband and pot I would have a talk with him and tell him if he doesn't want to quit to do it else where so you have no problems with child services that what I did with my guy he also smoke pot and I simply asked him to go elsewhere and do it he did for a while but now he's been sober for a year and a half and he feels great he can remember things and enjoy the life he has with our daughter and my daughter which I had in another relationship but he has accepted my Mercedes as his own.

I also thought the same with my first about the pot thing but my doctor told me it goes by the mothers intake not the fathers the only thing it does to the male is lower their sperm count so it might be difficult to concieve. And as for your age if you think you can do it go for it I know a lady who has been taking care of someone elsesbaby since the baby was 3months old and that baby is now 2 and this lady is 60 so if you feel comfortable enough with yourself to have a baby you should there is no greater joy

if your doctor says it is ok at your age because i'm also a 42 mother of 2 and why not i would like to have another baby at my age if my doctor says it is ok for me. so give it a try

Hi, I am 42 years old and I want to get pregnant too, I have been married for one year and a half, after six months of my marriage I got pregnant but unfortunally I had misscarage on the 10th week and the doctor told me that the baby stopped developing after 6 weeks,and my husband used to smoke pot as well!when i had the misscarage I thought it is bcause of my age and my eggs are no more in good quaility to concieve, but know after reading all this comments I am thinking it might be because of my husband,now I moved from the us to dubai and I am trying my best to get pregnant to a degree I am having stress each time I have my period, i wish I can concieve again and my age is still strong to hold a baby especially my husband stoped smoking pots here in dubai,i wish the best for you and me

I don't think moderate pot use will be of any harm to the baby. Heck my husband was a heroin addict and my children are grown now and all perfectly fine! I have 4 children and became pregnant with my last when I was 39. She is 14 now and perfectly healthy and again...that was 14 years ago!!. 42 is not that old any more and if you are in good health, why not? I have no regrets.

I do not think you should deny yourself having a baby just because you are 42 years old. There have been many women that have been known to fall pregnant at this age and had healthy babies. Also as for your hubby smoking pot, I have heard from doctors that is has no effect on your baby. It only effects the baby if you smoke pot whilst you are pregnant. Of course if you are pregnant and your hubby smokes pot in front of you then that will effect the baby through passive smoking. Talk your worries through with a doctor that might help put your mind at ease and help you make decision on having a baby. All the best :)

You should watch trying to get pregnant at 42 for a few reasons actually...for one the obvious is that your husband does pot and that will affect the baby...and that can cause alot of birth affects...and I have also heard that when a woman trys to get pregnant later on in her life there is a possibility that something could go wrong with the woman or the baby...so just be careful and really think about this before you do anything!

I am by no means a doctor but I do know that having a child after the age of 40 is of great danger to both the monther and the child. I suggest tlaking to your doctor about all the potential hazards that having a child at this stage in your life can bring. you doctor will also know everything about your medical history which we do not know. If your doctor gives you to go ahead then I wish you the best of luck :)

my mother had my youngest sister when she was 44, it's a risk pregnancy though, but it went well. I think you should ask your gynecologist about the chances of getting your future baby be affected with your husband's pot sessions.. But I don't think so, I heard some stories like yours, and their babies just went fine.. Goodluck! :)

I turned 42 in December 8th, it is now April 8th. I got pregnant ib February, but lost it. I have now missed my period, and I only had one since the miscarriage. I have no biological children, and want to have at least one. Nowadays, more and more women are getting pregnant in later years. I think that you should go for it. Your child will have plenty of friends that have parents in their forties and even fifties-adoption... My friend has 2 young, adopted, perfectly healthy daughters, 7 and 2. She is 54. So, if your ob/gyn says you are healthy, then I would go for it! Good Luck to you-and to me. Maybe someday are kids will even play together-LOL-it could happen.