I suspect that few people would want to admit it outright for fear they may sound bad, but there are probably more than a few couples who have had the a surprise menopause baby and weren't completely happy about it.
That's not to say that the child won't be loved and appreciated for the gift they are, it's just to say that at a certain point in life our priorities shift and having a menopause baby will be very difficult for many couples.
Hey, any grandparent knows that having young children is a young persons game! I can't believe I had two young kids at the same time.
Today, after I've spent some time with my "honorary" grandchildren I need to take a nap! I know that I could raise a child at this point in my life, but I also know that I don't want to.
In a lot of ways I would make a much better parent today than I did when I was younger; I simply have more knowledge and wisdom than I did then but what I don't have as much of is stamina!
So, if you feel the same way and you don't want that particular type of surprise you will need to be careful as you approach menopause.
For one thing, always talk to your doctor. She can provide you with more information and help you figure out where you are in terms of menopause.
In the meantime, here is some additional information:
1. Perimenopause is the time when you are just starting to have menopausal symptoms but you are also still having a period.
This will start anywhere from your 30's to your 60's though for most women it begins around age 45. Perimenopause can last for many years.
During this time your periods are likely to be very erratic and hard to predict both in terms of flow and when you will get it.
Also, you will likely experience some menopausal symptoms like hot flashes, mood swings, anxiety attacks, fatigue, trouble sleeping, drying skin and hair and weight gain (sounds fun, doesn't it?).
You may have none or all of these symptoms, or some amount in between, and the severity can vary wildly between women.
The most important thing to take away from this is that you can still get pregnant during this time if you aren't careful.
Since you don't know when your next period will be you should rely on other methods of birth control.
2. Once a woman has not had a period for 12 consecutive months she is considered to be in menopause. After that point, you should not have to worry about getting pregnant.
So, if you and your partner don't want to have any more children and are getting older, don't make the mistake of thinking you no longer need to use some sort of birth control.
A women can still get pregnant while she is perimenopausal. Talk to your doctor for more information. All babies are gifts, but sometimes we get to the point in our lives where we want someone else to have that gift and we don't want a "menopause baby".
