I just had my first daughter, and I'm 30. She is perfectly healthy. My sister had a kid 4 months ago, she is 32, and he is healthy. My friend had her son at 36, and another friends sister had her daughter at 42. All healthy. I know a woman who had her second kid at 28, he was missing his right hand. I know another woman who had her first son at 27 and he has had half a dozen heart surgeries in his short 4 years. Chances go up because our egg supply is dwindling and the older eggs are not always the best, but that doesn't mean it is a guarantee. There are so many things that can go wrong in a pregnancy, for anyone no matter the age. If the potential mom has an issue with it, there are screening processes she can undergo so she can decide what she wants to do. And even if you were to have a sick or disabled child, so what? There are treatments, and advancements in our time to give your child and you any help you may need. OP, your dad is an ass, even if it was a "joke". Don't worry about not having kids yet (or at all if you don't want them), and live your life the way you want to. Parents tend to think they are entitled to grandchildren (my mom has 5 now, I just had mine 3 weeks ago and she is already bugging me about a second, neither if my brothers want kids and she gets mad at them for it), but they aren't. It's your life, not theirs. Happy birthday! Don't let your dad get you down and have a good day!

My mom had me at 36 and I'm Not retarded or anything

Eh, my father had me when he was in his 40s. There's some truth to birth defects the older you have children, but not until you're… like… 50 or 60.

Whether you have kids or not, there's nothing wrong with a baby that has Down Syndrome. My husband and I adopted a baby with Down's and he is the happiest baby ever. Plus they reach a level of love and strength that most of us could never comprehend. That's not disabled, that's an advantage. Either way, good luck with your life whether you become a mother or not. :)

I can't think of anything helpful to say... so... IDK? Spite him by never having kids? Why do parents always seem to want to be grandparents?

My mom was 33 when she had me and I turned out fine. Don't worry OP, you still have plenty of time to have children if you want them.

I think that's a bit rude and not to mention inaccurate as well... Happy birthday from all us OP...hope it got better

1. That's rude. A, 30's not that old, and B, kids with Down's Syndrome are still worth loving. 2. My mum was 39 when she had me and I don't have Down's Syndrome. The risk does increase as you get older but that doesn't mean that after 35 any child you have absolutely will have Down's Syndrome.

I know a guy who is 30 years younger than some of his siblings. he was born at 51 or something. he's insane(not literally), but it has nothing to do with how his genetics lined up and more to do with the fact that all his siblings are older than him and that he has nephews that are way older than him too. it created a family atmosphere that's difficult to handle. so as to say, you should be fine!

Get an amnio after age 35. I had my first and only child a couple weeks before I turned 42. He is fine, and if I do say so myself, he is brilliant. Completely normal. I think your dad was joking though. Down syndrome is very rare as it is.