Can I Be a Mom at 43? What You Really Need to Know

Yes, It’s Possible—But There’s a Bit More to It

Fertility at 43: Let’s Talk Numbers

Okay, let’s be honest. Biologically speaking, fertility does decline with age. By 43, the average woman has a roughly 5–10% chance of conceiving naturally per cycle. That’s... low. But not zero.

Egg quality decreases, and the risk of chromosomal abnormalities (like Down syndrome) does go up. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, at age 43, the chance of having a baby with chromosomal issues is around 1 in 50. Not great, but not doomsday either.

That said—there are people who get pregnant naturally at 43. It happens. One woman I knew got pregnant “accidentally” at 44 after thinking she was done having kids. Surprise baby. She laughed when she told me, “I thought it was early menopause. Nope—just Max.”

Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART)

Now, if natural conception isn’t working, there’s help. IVF (in vitro fertilization) is a common route. But—let me level with you—IVF success rates at 43 with your own eggs? Around 5%.
Oof.

Enter: donor eggs. With donor eggs, the success rate can climb to 50% or more per cycle, depending on the clinic. Big difference. Some women feel weird about the idea at first, but others say it was the best decision they ever made. (You’re still carrying and birthing the baby, after all.)

What About Health Risks?

For You

Pregnancy at 43 isn't risk-free. There's a higher chance of gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and preeclampsia. Not to scare you—but it’s important to be real. Doctors usually label these pregnancies as “geriatric,” which is a terrible word, but it just means they’ll watch you more closely.

Still, many women go through perfectly normal pregnancies at 43. You’ll need more monitoring. More checkups. But if you're healthy overall? It's very doable.

For Baby

As mentioned before, risks like chromosomal abnormalities do increase. But let’s zoom out: most babies born to women over 40 are perfectly healthy. There’s also a slightly higher chance of preterm birth and low birth weight. But again—“higher” doesn't mean “guaranteed.”

Emotional Readiness: It’s a Whole Different Thing

You know yourself better at 43. You’ve probably done a lot—career, travel, relationships. That maturity can be a huge advantage as a parent. Less likely to sweat the small stuff. More present. More stable.

That said, there might be some weird feels. Maybe you’ll be the oldest mom at the playground. Maybe your friends are already empty-nesting. And yeah, there could be some FOMO moments. But... also maybe not. Maybe you’ll feel totally in your element.

Honestly, I changed my mind three times writing this paragraph.

Lifestyle and Support: It Takes a Village (Still True)

Can You Do It Alone?

Yes, absolutely. Tons of women parent solo—by choice or by circumstance. But if you can build a support system, do it. Friends, family, doulas, online mom groups (they're not all judgy, promise).
Parenting at any age is a lot, and at 43, your energy might not be what it was at 28. That’s okay. Support helps.

Work and Balance

You might be at a stable point in your career by now, which helps. Or, you might be switching paths. Either way, maternity leave, flexible hours, and a decent childcare plan become super important. Don't be afraid to ask for help—at work and at home.

So… Can You Really Be a Mom at 43?

Yes. But it’s not a one-size-fits-all journey. Some women breeze through. Others hit bumps. There’s no “perfect” time, only the right time for you.

You’ll need info. Support. Maybe a few backup plans. But if you want this? Like, really want it? Then heck yeah—it’s possible.

Is 165 cm normal for a 15 year old?

The predicted height for a female, based on your parents heights, is 155 to 165cm. Most 15 year old girls are nearly done growing. I was too. It's a very normal height for a girl.

Is 160 cm too tall for a 12 year old?

How Tall Should a 12 Year Old Be? We can only speak to national average heights here in North America, whereby, a 12 year old girl would be between 137 cm to 162 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/3 feet). A 12 year old boy should be between 137 cm to 160 cm tall (4-1/2 to 5-1/4 feet).

How tall is a average 15 year old?

Average Height to Weight for Teenage Boys - 13 to 20 Years

How to get taller at 18?

Staying physically active is even more essential from childhood to grow and improve overall health. But taking it up even in adulthood can help you add a few inches to your height. Strength-building exercises, yoga, jumping rope, and biking all can help to increase your flexibility and grow a few inches taller.

Is 5.7 a good height for a 15 year old boy?

Generally speaking, the average height for 15 year olds girls is 62.9 inches (or 159.7 cm). On the other hand, teen boys at the age of 15 have a much higher average height, which is 67.0 inches (or 170.1 cm).

Can you grow between 16 and 18?

Most girls stop growing taller by age 14 or 15. However, after their early teenage growth spurt, boys continue gaining height at a gradual pace until around 18. Note that some kids will stop growing earlier and others may keep growing a year or two more.

Can you grow 1 cm after 17?

Even with a healthy diet, most people's height won't increase after age 18 to 20. The graph below shows the rate of growth from birth to age 20. As you can see, the growth lines fall to zero between ages 18 and 20 ( 7 , 8 ). The reason why your height stops increasing is your bones, specifically your growth plates.