If she has "problems" with her parents, I wish the best for her and many people do. You can choose your friends, you can choose your enemies, but you can't choose your family. Still, that means no support. If she even wants 1/2 an hr to walk around the block, she is out of luck for the next 15 years.
If she is lonely and that is the only reason she wants a baby, she should really reconsider whether it is a good option. The reason being - the baby is not there to give her attention, her whole life is dedicated to giving the baby attention. When you are a parent, there is no time for self-pity.
36 year olds can have babies. 40 year olds can. 16 year olds can. You need a license to fish, but not to have a child.
Mentally ill individuals, even with bi-polar disorders can have children, and also have the ability to make good parents. The question is whether in this case this mother will remain in treatment/take medication while focusing on being a mother.
Make no mistake, being a parent is joyful, but takes laser-like focus, and for the first 3 months, requires no sleep.
If she is listening to this advice, I would say no for now, and recommend getting her life together as much as possible before considering being a single parent.
