To wait or not to wait? That is the question...
Most women choose to have their kids when they are in their 20s or 30s but did you know that the number of moms becoming pregnant in their 40s has doubled in the last ten years? There are many reasons why these women are waiting until a little later in life to bring a baby into their family. Maybe they are really focused on their careers, not ready to give up traveling, or just didn't meet the right guy for a while.
Many celebrities have been pregnant in their 40s including Nicole Kidman, Marcia Cross, Halle Berry, and Brooke Shields. I have an aunt who had her last 2 boys at age 40 and 45 making the age difference between the oldest and youngest grandchild on that side of the family a whopping 27 years!
There are a few positive aspects to having kids later...one study says at this age you are a better mom because you are more stable in your life and relationship, more financially secure, and less likely to choose your career over motherhood. Most older mothers have harder pregnancies but are a lot more mature and more capable of doing the work involved in raising a child.
Did you know that women are born with 2 million eggs and by the time they are 40 there are only 5-10,000 left. This will most likely make it a lot harder to become pregnant naturally. And although it is possible to become pregnant in your 40s, there are many risks associated with waiting this long. Older moms are at a higher risk for miscarriages. Women between 35 and 40 have a 20% chance of miscarriage, after age 44 the number jumps to 50%! They are also at risk for having a premature birth. The rate of c-section deliveries for older mothers is also higher that average. Birth defects, high blood pressure, and gestational diabetes are some other problems they may be dealing with when pregnant over 40. Also women who are pregnant over 40 have a 30% greater chance than a pregnant 20 year old for a heart attack during pregnancy.
Although there are certain risks involved in being an older mom, I believe that the rewards are just as great! Being able to live everyday with your child will bring happiness to your life no matter how old you are. How old were you when you had kids?
