Special Report: Too Old to Give Birth?

Shelley Bowturn is the proud mother of two little boys. Nine-year-old Justin, who she had at age 41 and six-month-old Nathaniel - who she had at the age of 50.

Shelley Bowturn, Older Mom
"I don't think I was ready to have a child until I was 41 and I think that's why Justin took so long to come along, I really wasn't ready and neither was my husband."

Shelley and her husband were living and traveling in Europe, like so many other couples, the timing wasn't right.

Leah Stein, Older Mom
"I think I waited like a lot of women do for like the right perfect time, the right moment, the perfect mate, and I thought I had like all the time in the world - which you don't."

Some experts say these women are pushing the envelope expecting to be expecting - when the odds can be low.

Dr. Fredrick Licciardi, Infertility Specialist
"If women say to themselves, ‘Oh I'm just going to wait until I'm 38 or 39 or 42 to become pregnant’, many, many of them will never have a chance to have a kid on their own, because they just waited too long."

In fact - when it comes to assisted pregnancies through IVF, or egg donation - many doctors actually have a cut off age.

Dr. Fredrick Licciardi, Infertility Specialist
"You have the draw the line somewhere. There are upper age limits and whether the upper age limit is 60 or 55 here, my upper age limit is 49."

Why? There are health issues for both the mother and baby, including hypertension and increased miscarriage. According to a recent article in the New England Journal of Medicine, the miscarriage rate is 10 percent at age 20, but at age 45 and older, it jumps to 90 percent.

Still thanks to technology - some women are defying the odds.

Shelley Bowturn, Older Mom
"I would say in my mind there really isn't an age that is too old. I think it is important to have an open and honest medical discussion with your physician about your family history, your own personal medical history, the medications that you're on, as well as your psychosocial circumstances

That's exactly what Shelley did.

Shelley Bowturn, Older Mom
"I said what do you think? I'm 47 now I'm getting older. I would have the baby when I'm 48 or 49 and she said go for it. Your health is very good, you have low blood pressure, you're hardly ever sick and you have lots of energy if anybody can do it, you can."

And she did - with no regrets.

Shelley Bowturn, Older Mom
"I don't want anybody to wait too late especially listening to me but if it's really important I would say go for it, it's a definite possibility and he just brings life and love and laughter."