Poll: granny sex

[cartzo]

Resisting the urge to name this thread "granny sex" lets get to the point, there has been a huge increase in mums giving birth from the ages of 45-60 here in the UK. Obviously this has raised alot of contreversy, with lots of ethical issues. Sorry for the no link but i couldn't find one that wasn't the daily mail.

Also i should probably mension the health problems towards both the baby and the mother giving birth at this age can cause, babies born to older mother have a higher risk of health problems, genetic and mutation.

So what is your opinion on older mums (aged 50-60).

I personally think it is wrong but i dont think there should be a cap enforced on it, people say that society should get used to it like they had to with homosexuality, but the difference is that this isn't natural.

EDIT: the voters have spoken, the thread name is changed.

 

[WrongSprite]

It's fine.

My mum gave birth to me when she was 42.

The experience over time has made her a better parent.

 

[SonicKoala]

The last option in your poll made me laugh for some reason (which is why I picked it).... I guess I don't really care what age women have children as it doesn't really affect me; the one issue I do have with it is the increased risk of health issues in both the baby and the mother, because... health issues aren't cool.

 

[Lullabye]

More cougars on the prowl....

ummmm, its fine I guess. As long as you keep it reasonable.

 

[Skeleon]

I think it's problematic, especially because of trisomy 21 and the like.
However, you can't really do anything about it besides educating people about the much higher risks.

...people say that society should get used to it like they had to with homosexuality, but the difference is that this isn't natural.

It's only "not natural" because people rarely lived that long in "the good old days" of living "naturally". It's perfectly normal to be able to become pregnant up until menopause because that's how long a woman can chug out eggs. Also, even if it weren't "natural", why would "natural" mean "good" and "not natural" mean "bad"? Nature isn't good. Nature is nature.

 

[cartzo]

I personally think it is wrong but i dont think there should be a cap enforced on it, people say that society should get used to it like they had to with homosexuality, but the difference is that this isn't natural.

So women giving birth is unnatural yet homosexuality isn't?
What?

And why don't you like it?
And what ethical issues could possibly be raised?

how would you feel having to cope with the death of your mother in your teen years or even earlier, plus there are the health risks towards the son/daughter that i mensioned, i can't think of any right now but i'm sure there are more.

and yes homosexuality is natural

 

[Alkestes]

See now, all these people are talking about medical issues and the like. The problem I have with it, is that the child simply won't have the same childhood if a 50-60 year old woman gives birth to it. Presumably, the father will also be around the same age, which due to them being older, will give them less energy than an average younger person. This means the child gets less playtime with parents, and definitely less active playing around.

Also, by the time the child is around six or seven years old, the parents will more than likely have retired, resulting in less than stellar Christmases and birthdays. Think of the sad look on the little tykes face when he opens up a box that looks like it could contain a PS3/360, only to have it contain something a lot less awesome.

 

[the idiot computer]

before reading the thread i chose the 4th option so there is my opinion.

 

[cartzo]

Also, even if it weren't "natural", why would "natural" mean "good" and "not natural" mean "bad"? Nature isn't good. Nature is nature.

thats a really good point, i cant really answer that, but thats not the real reason i dont really approve.

i'll have to try and use that point in my biology course work thought, thanks for your post.

 

[aPod]

"Hey is that your grandma?"

"No man... thats my mom."

I dont think it will do wonders for the kids social status...

 

[RanD00M]

Nothing wrong with it.

It's their decision after all.

 

[cartzo]

how would you feel having to cope with the death of your mother in your teen years or even earlier, plus there are the health risks towards the son/daughter that i mensioned, i can't think of any right now but i'm sure there are more.

and yes homosexuality is natural

Well...
I'm not one for telling people they can't do stuff.
First, an age limit. Next? Aborting the children until you get a genetically perfect one?

i dont approve of an age limit (read post fully).

 

[Calgetorix]

So women giving birth is unnatural yet homosexuality isn't?
What?

Are you saying homosexuality isn't natural?

 

[Julianking93]

Why not?

She can have a child whenever she wants.

Well, at least until she hits menopause.

My mom had me when she was 25, so that's a little young in my opinion.

 

[Skeleon]

i'll have to try and use that point in my biology course work thought, thanks for your post.

Okay, sure.

Anyway, I think that as society grows older overall and as the average life expectancy moves ever closer to the three digit mark, it's to be expected that mothers will get their children at a later time, too.

 

[Susan Arendt]

Also, even if it weren't "natural", why would "natural" mean "good" and "not natural" mean "bad"? Nature isn't good. Nature is nature.

thats a really good point, i cant really answer that, but thats not the real reason i dont really approve.

i'll have to try and use that point in my biology course work thought, thanks for your post.

You're looking at it from the child's point of view, not the mother's. Women are forced to make some difficult choices, choices not faced by men. Do you want a family or a career? If you take time off for maternity leave, you frequently miss your chance to advance in your job...assuming you have a job to come back to. (No, you can't officially be fired, but you can be shunted into a position you don't want very easily. It happened quite regularly at the company I used to work for.) So many women are putting off having children until they're more established financially.

Women are also waiting longer to get married. They no longer need men for financial stability, so they're enjoying independence longer than they used to. That puts off having children, because the model is still to have kids with a committed partner, whether that's a spouse or not. Men aren't as in as much of a rush to get married, either.

Until relatively recently, women weren't expected to go to college or even work. Their role in society was to get married, have children, and raise those children. Unmarried girls in their mid-twenties were considered spinsters. Girls with jobs were the exception, housewives were the norm. That, obviously, has changed dramatically, and as a result, the baby clock has gotten pushed back so now that women are having their kids in their 30s and even 40s.

Yes, having children later in life comes with health risks and other concerns, but it's a more complex issue than you're making it out to be.

 

[Calgetorix]

Just because I don't think it's natural doesn't mean I'm not subject to it.

Well, like some of the other posters said, natural isn't something either good or bad - it's just nature.

The fact that there are also examples in the animal kingdom of homosexuality leads me to believe it's natural.

By the way, the way you put it, it could easily be misunderstood (as if people subject you to homosexuality ; ))

Oh, and to actually stay on topic - it's really up to the woman itself. Usually though, when they aren't able to get pregnant by natural means (that is sex), that's usually a good sign they shouldn't get pregnant.

Now, when it comes to artificial insemination... Call me cynical or whatever but if you have to use insemination in order to get pregnant, I don't think you should have children to begin with. I see it as nature's way of saying "you are unfit for children". Even if it means I might not have children in the future.

Obviously, it's not possible to stop from happening now so I guess I have to accept it. Women above 50 getting inseminated though is something I approve of even less.

With that said, I think my way of seeing this issue has been explained.