Irresponsible Reproductive Citizens?! Let’s Flop Into It!
On this episode Jessica and Sonia discuss the stigma of being an older mom- AKA an irresponsible reproductive citizen! They share the stats, question why women decided they needed to do it all, and share the many titles geriatric mamas have been given; people truly say the darnedest things!
Topics discussed in this episode:
The Stats (2:33)
Why Jessica Doesn’t Need to Drive A Tractor (4:20)
The Titles Geriatric Mamas Have Been Given (6:21)
Risk Factors of Geriatric Pregnancy (8:29)
Netflix Documentary, Our Father (6:21)
The Benefits of Being An Older Mom (25:47)
What Can Be Done to Change the Stigma? (30:45)
Jessica’s Experience with Accupuncture (33:58)
Kourtney Kardashian’s Pregnancy Announcement (39:07)
“I don’t need to drive a truck, I don’t need to drive a tractor; I don’t even need to wear pants. I will give up pants if it means I get to stay home.”
Jessica’s baby, Hayden on tractor duty.
“I feel like we’ve flopped into Geriatric Mama-hood right when everyone’s decided it shouldn’t be a term, but now I’ve embraced it, and it’s here to stay.”
Sonia embracing her baby, Annabelle; and geriatric mama-hood too.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Overall fertility trends from 1990 to 2019 were relatively stable, compared to previous decades but varied significantly by age, according to a Census Bureau analysis.
The analysis, which looked at Census Bureau and National Center for Health Statistics data, shows fertility rates of women ages 20-24 declined by 43%, while those of women ages 35-39 increased by 67% during the roughly 30-year period.
This article examines how older motherhood and older mothers are problematised and represented in key Canadian policy texts on ‘delayed childbearing’ and ‘advanced maternal age’.
Concordia University Article on Francesca Scala’s Analysis
Scala and her co-author Michael Orsini at the University of Ottawa analysed two dozen English-language policy documents, government reports and professional statements and guidelines containing terms such as “advanced maternal age,” “delayed childbearing,” “older mothers” and “infertility.” Documents dated between 1993 and 2020.
They identified three principal themes in their research: older mothers were considered risky maternal subjects, were unnatural or were irresponsible reproductive citizens.
7 Benefits of Having a Child Later In Life
People rarely talk about the benefits of having a baby after 35. Instead, we often hear only about the worries about pregnancy later in life. This makes some sense as knowing that we have a ticking biological clock can be really scary. And it's true that the number of eggs people with ovaries have decreases as they age. Pregnancy over 35 also comes with a higher risk of certain complications like hypertension or diabetes for you and chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome for your baby.
However, there are also a number of compelling benefits to having a baby after 35. In fact, while there is no one right time for pregnancy, there are a number of advantages to postponing parenthood.
After a woman's at-home DNA test reveals multiple half-siblings, she discovers a shocking scheme involving donor sperm and a popular fertility doctor.
Dr. Bianca Yturralde, DAOM, LAc, DOM, Dipl. OM
(AKA, Jessica’s Acupuncturist.)
The Chinese Herb Referred to by Jessica (36:33)
Read about the Chinese Herb Jessica’s Acupuncturist recommended when an ovarian cyst popped up during fertility treatments, along with other Holistic Fertility Treatments in Jessica’s blog post.
30 Celebrities Who Conceived in their 40s Blog Post by Jessica
Did you know that more than 100,000 women in their 40’s give birth each year. Yup! You read that correctly! So why is there such a stigma? Sure, there are health concerns and risk factors… But there’s risk involved with ANY pregnancy, even those that appear to be 100% “normal.” The reality is, women are waiting until later in life to start a family - And that’s okay! Read more!
Thanks for listening and checking out these show notes!
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Calling all geriatric mamas! We're looking for women of advanced maternal age who are pregnant, trying to get pregnant, battling infertility, have gone through surrogacy, fostering, adoption or have plans to be a mama in the future to share their stories! Would you like to come on our podcast and share your story, or write in your story and have us read it on your behalf? We would love to hear from you!
Disclaimer:
Please consult your physician for personalized medical and health advice. Always seek the advice of a physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions regarding a medical condition, your pregnancy, birth plan and post-partum treatments.
Never disregard or delay seeking professional medical advice or treatment because of something you have heard on the Geriatric Mamas podcast or website.
