Why more women are choosing to have children later on in life

Times have seriously changed and this is evident in when women choose to have children. Unlike in the past, where many woman prioritised building a family first, women are delaying having children. Yes, they may be married but that does not force them into having children as soon as possible. They would rather build their careers first and create financial stability before becoming mothers. Recent studies reveal how women are now spending more time on education, building careers, and even marrying later in life. This means that even if women are having babies in their early 30s, the second child will sometimes only arrive after the mom is 35. For example, British statistics reveal that the average age of women giving birth in the UK is 29 years of age. This means the average age has risen by four years since 1975. Although possible, there are risks associated with the choice of having a children towards your 40s.

The implications of putting off having a baby

It might take time to fall pregnant

According to specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist, Dr Tom Mokaya due to the body changes in women being a natural progression, it may take longer for a woman to conceive when they are old. “There isn’t something that suddenly happens on the day you turn 35 that’s going to make it more difficult for you to have children. The age of 35 has been used as a benchmark. At birth, a woman will have half a million eggs. By the time she reaches puberty, that number drops to about 50 000, and only 350 will mature and be released during ovulation,” he explains. He further explains that falling pregnant in your late 30s and beyond depends on how receptive and responsive your body is. “A woman may not ovulate as often or as easily later in life because the older she gets the less responsive her uterus becomes to implantation – so her eggs may never implant, or she may experience a miscarriage.” Opting to have children late means living with the reality that the eggs released later in life may not be as high quality as those released earlier and this can cause problems. “Although the risk of structural abnormalities doesn’t necessarily increase with age, genetic and chromosomal abnormalities can become an issue,” Dr Mokaya warns.

Chromosomal abnormalities are a reality

Although you may feel matured to handle raising a baby, the risk of chromosomal disorders increases a great deal from the age of 35 upwards. The risk of Down syndrome rises from one in 880 at age 30 to one in 32 at age 45. Doctors use age to determine your risk factor and they will offer you screening tests. These tests include blood tests and diagnostic tests (amniocentesis or a chorionic villus sampling (CVS) test, which will look for signs of chromosomal or genetic disorders such as Down syndrome.
CVS comes with a slightly higher risk of miscarriage than an amniocentesis, so you’ll need to learn more about the risks and benefits of these tests before making a decision. There is also an option of a less invasive test called the NIPT (non-invasive pre-natal test). You need to be emotionally ready for the results these tests may reveal and it is advisable to take them as early as possible in pregnancy to deal with the results as early as possible.

There are chances of a miscarriage

At 20, you have a 95% less risk of having a baby with chromosomal abnormalities than when you’re in your forties. Chromosomal abnormalities are sometimes responsible for miscarriage, which is why an older mom will be more prone to.

Natural birth is unlikely

If you want a natural birth, chances are this might not happen. According to Mayo Clinic, older mothers have a higher risk of pregnancy related complications,such as placenta previa – a condition in which the placenta blocks the cervix,  that might lead to a C-Section delivery. They add that labour problems tend to be more common in first-time mothers older than 35.

You’re more likely to develop gestational diabetes

As women get older gestational diabetes ,which only occurs during pregnancy, is more common. If left untreated, it can cause a baby to grow too large – which increases the risk of injuries during delivery.

 High blood pressure is likely

At every check-up, your doctor will monitor your blood pressure and your baby’s growth and development. Should you develop high blood pressure, the doctor can put you on medication for the duration of your pregnancy.

Benefits of birthing after 35

Giving birth late in life is not all doom and gloom, there are benefits as well.Experts have noticed some differences in women who choose to give birth later:

• They tend to be calmer.
• Older moms are usually in established and stable relationships.
• They have all the support they need.
• Financial stability means less stress during pregnancy.
• There’s often more time for the kids.