In the news recently was a story about a Japanese woman in her 50s who has given birth to her own grandchild. Her daughter could not become pregnant, having had her uterus removed due to cancer. Although surrogate motherhood is frowned upon in Japan, the woman agreed to in vitro fertilization to help her daughter and her son-in-law have their own child.

Woman Gives Birth to Grandchild

More and more women in the US are experiencing their first pregnancy after 40 and the number of women having babies in their 50s is increasing. Some, like the woman in Japan, are acting as surrogates and having children for their daughters. Still others are having their own children, taking advantage of the latest advances in fertility techniques and in vitro fertilization.

But the dangers and risks of pregnancy increase with the age of the mother, and there are other factors to consider for both the mother and child. How old will the mother be when the child starts school, graduates or has children of his or her own?

Dr. Phil has an article on pregnancy and child-rearing in later life at his website. It neither discourages nor encourages but sets out the facts for those considering a pregnancy in later life.

Having a Baby in Later Life