Is 37 too old to start having kids?

Be honest.. What's your opinion? How old is too old to have kids? Is 37 too old? How about 36? What about 40? Just because you can have kids doesn't mean you should, right? after 35, you have a risk of downs syndrome (1 in 100 births, right) .. so what do you guys think?

After years of trying, I found out at 35 that I could not have kids due to mosaic turner's syndrome. I never really had that Maternal yearning that some women have, but thought I needed to have a baby?? Why I have no idea! Now I am 40 I am happy to be kid free, with the exception of my 17 year old stepson. I just didn't want to start being a mom at 40. Does that make sense??

honestly....i think after about 42 i think it is too old to have one the old fashion way...but to help a child out like adoption or foster care would still be good. 

I personally don't think there is an age limit that should tell women when they are too old to have children. I think it's a decision that should be made by the woman and her partner. There are many women out there who are 40 and are as healthy, active, etc. as a woman in her 20's, some are even in better condition. Yes the older you are, the more complications there COULD be. But those complications run their risk through every pregnancy. So I say, if your clock is ticking at 40 - go for it. But don't have a child just because you feel like you should. Children are precious and such a gift - I certainly can not wait until I am able to have one of my own.

I am in my twenties and do not have children..I have been rasing my 7 year old brother from birth (who is my everything) and my fiancee has 2 children (15 and 12)...Now my mother who has the 7 yo turns 50 in December and he is more than perfect..and my Grandmother who was born in 1942 has a daughter who was born in 1983...She was 41...

I am 50/50 with the kid decision..If I had a child that would be great and if not oh well..If I do have children my cutoff is age 35...I have time... Now most of my friends had kids young 16-20...Sometimes I wish I did, but I went off to college and enjoyed my youth...And after WLS I plan to do even more and kids are not in the equation right now

It's all up to you and what you want, if your 40 and you desire a baby than go for it. However, by the time I finish with my surgery and wait the time frame my doctor would like to me I will be between 35 1/2 and 36 and I'm still planning on having one. There are risk with everything and we all learned that with this surgery.

I think it's a personal decision. I had my daughter a week before I turned 39. It was right for me. I would love to have more but economically, two is enough for me.

I knew enough about myself to know having kids in my 20's was not an option because I had zero patience. For me, in my 30's was the only way to go. (I was 31 when I had my son.)

Do some soul searching and decide with your partner what is right for you both.

I think this is an individual thing.  I personally was not interested in having babies after the age of 30.  That was my decision.  When DH and I were engaged we talked about children and we agreed that we wanted to have a larger family (we have five boys) and that he would work and I would stay at home and raise the children.  That was our decision.  This doesn't work for everyone.  The boys are from 17-11 in age and now I work pt in the evenings while DH is home with them.  This works for us. 

Funny thing is when I had our last son he was born two days before my 30th b-day...LOL!!

Now, if we were talking about adoption or fostering I don't personally have an age limit on that.  If I were up to the challenge I'd do it no matter how old I was getting or feeling.  Love has no limits on age and there are so many children that need that love.  So when it comes to me pushing babies out of my body...age 30 was MY limit.......if I were to adopt or foster...I have NO age limits.

Chrissy

I was told by a genetic counselor that more downs syndrome  kids are born to mothers < 35 because they are not screened as closely as > 35.

I think its entirely an individual decision.

Rita

The fact is true but the reason is not.  More babies with trisomy 21 are born to mothers under 35 because there are way, way, way more births to these younger mothers.  The rate of trisomy births for younger mothers is a lot lower than for older mothers.