Pregnancy tips Study Shows Older Mothers Are Just As Capable

I know there are those who feel that women in their 40's and 50's should not be having children. The reasons usually revolve around whether or not they are capable or whether or not they will be around to see their children grow up. Here is an article about a study that was done on older women - they were found to be just as "capable" as their younger counterparts (but we already knew that!):

Older mothers 'just as capable'

Women who give birth over the age of 50 are both physically and mentally as "capable" as younger women of being good mothers, a US study has concluded.



"The scientists said: "The subjects were given surveys to determine their physical and mental functioning and parental stress.

"Overall the researchers found that the women in their 50s did not have reduced parental capacity or higher stress levels than the younger women."

Dr Anne Steiner, who carried out the research, said the study suggested opposition to older mothers may be based on prejudice rather than evidence they were poor parents.

She said: "The conclusion from this study, though it is limited and of small size, is that if we look from the perspective of stress and physical and mental functioning, it doesn't seem like we can restrict parenting based on these reasons."