first pregnancy at 40 years old . . .

[shivvy]

what are the risks?

[lady_p_gold]

Well at this age the eggs are much older as they have been hanging about in your body all this time, so the risks of having a baby with Downs syndrome and that sort of thing is greatly increased. However there is screening for all sorts of things these days and lots of women of 40 have had perfectly healthy babies so with all today's modern tests there is a good chance that all will be well if the mother is in good health. Personally the thought of having a teenager when I am in my fifties would be worrying though !!!

[suzanneb]

im 35 and just had my first child. i had all blood screening for downs and spina bifida, which can back with no risk factor and i had a really easy pregnancy. we also hope to have a couple more so i will probably be 40 on my last one!! there is so much technology and tests to check for abnormalities now so were lucky