Still, by examining many reports, it appears that the mean or the average age of having first child by country is 28 years old. Some women are still having their first child in their forties, in developed countries where a career prevails as a priority.
She represents many moms redefining the age to start a family. The latest U.S. Census Bureau figures show that, for the first time, the average age of women giving birth is now 30 in the U.S., the highest on record.
Over the past three decades, birthrates have declined for women in their 20s and jumped for women in their late 30s and early 40s. May 6, 2022, at 11:44 a.m.
Who Are America's Moms? Age of moms: According to pre-pandemic data, the average age of first time mothers in the US is 26, though it is on the rise among women from multiple socioeconomic groups [LINK].
In your early 30s, the chances you'll be able to have a baby are still high. You still have a lot of high-quality eggs to offer, but your odds will start to decline steadily at this age. Your fecundity rate decreases gradually until age 32. At 37, it drops dramatically.
According to the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, the optimal age for female childbearing is 20 to 35. Having babies after the age of 35 increases the risk of miscarriage, birth defects and other birth-related complications for women.
Geriatric pregnancy is a rarely used term for having a baby when you're 35 or older. Rest assured, most healthy women who get pregnant after age 35 and even into their 40s have healthy babies.
Average maternal age has risen for both first-time mothers (from 28.3 years in 2010 to 29.6 in 2020) and those who have given birth previously (from 31.3 years in 2010 to 32.0 in 2020). The highest proportion of mothers were aged between 30 and 34 (more than one-third (36%) of all mothers).
Having children doesn't just make you feel like you've aged overnight -- a new study led by Penn State researchers found that the number of times a person gives birth may also affect the body's physical aging process.
Up to 1965 the average woman in the world had more than 5 children. Since then we have seen an unprecedented change. The number has halved. Globally, the average per woman is now below 2.5 children.
Of all live births in the United States during 2018-2020 (average), 4.6% were to women under the age of 20, 47.5% were to women ages 20-29, 44.4% were to women ages 30-39, and 3.5% were to women ages 40 and older.
Due to advances in technology surrounding fertility, pregnancy, and delivery, it's possible to safely have a baby at age 40. However, any pregnancy after age 40 is considered high risk.
After age 35, there's a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications that might lead to a C-section delivery. The risk of chromosomal conditions is higher. Babies born to older mothers have a higher risk of certain chromosomal conditions, such as Down syndrome. The risk of pregnancy loss is higher.
But many first-time parents find that after the first month of parenthood, it can actually get more difficult. This surprising truth is one reason many experts refer to a baby's first three months of life as the “fourth trimester.” If months two, three, and beyond are tougher than you expected, you're not alone.
Experts say the best time to get pregnant is between your late 20s and early 30s. This age range is associated with the best outcomes for both you and your baby. One study pinpointed the ideal age to give birth to a first child as 30.5. Your age is just one factor that should go into your decision to get pregnant.
Perhaps the most significant benefits to starting a family young are the greater chances of conception — and lowered risk of miscarriage, pregnancy complications, gestational diabetes and birth defects — compared to older-than-average mums.
Our telomeres shorten and our epigenetic age increases
Given that there is hyper cell production during pregnancy, it makes sense that those telomeres would shorten and, therefore, appear to age dramatically.
Yvonne Butler Tobah, obstetrician and gynecologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., said a year postpartum usually resets body back to normal, but there are a few changes that can be permanent: Skin: A woman's face, areolas, stomach and moles often darken during pregnancy, and might stay that way.
According to doctors, just after 5 vaginal deliveries or even 3 c-sections, the woman's body does become weak. The risk of uterine rupture and bladder injuries is high and so is the chance of abnormal placentation and ectopic pregnancy.
The average age of fatherhood has increased by three-and-a-half years in the past 44 years, according to a Stanford University report, up to 30.9 years from 27.4 years old. The researchers used data from the National Vital Statistics System, which is part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
They become quite independent as they reach 5-6 years of age, even wanting to help you with some of the chores! This is probably why most parents look at age 6 as the magical age when parenting gets easier.
You'll be around for less time in your child's life
Since you are older, it stands to reason that you'll be around for your child for less of their life than if you had them earlier in your life. So the idea here is if you aren't maximizing the amount of time you can be around, then you're being selfish.
The oldest verified mother to conceive naturally (listed currently as of 26 January 2017 in the Guinness Records) is Dawn Brooke (Guernsey); she conceived a son at the age of 59 years in 1997.
There's more to consider about pregnancy past your mid-30s. Older women are more likely to miscarry or have a stillbirth. They have a greater chance of developing gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and of delivering a baby who is very small.