All Posts tagged older moms

Women deciding to give birth at an older age is nothing new, and the average maternal age in the last decade has risen from 21 to 26. Becoming a mother for the first time comes even later in life for women with a college degree and a career, as reported by the New York Times. In general, women in their 30s, or even 40s, who decide to become pregnant are faced with a number of myths regarding pregnancy and maternity. Myths based on health reasons thrive, as do myths around social standing and becoming a parent later in life.

Myth of Infertility

Though it is true that fertility declines after the age of 35, that does not make it impossible for women to conceive after that age, nor does it mean that every woman who becomes pregnant after 35 has used IVF. The difficulties may be more, but they can be addressed with preventive fertility care, a healthy lifestyle, and prenatal planning with the support of your doctor. Keep in mind that issues leading to infertility are not always age-related, such as endometriosis. Therefore, there is no need to jump to conclusions about pregnancy over 35 as the challenges may have nothing to do with a woman’s age, and we can never know the capabilities of each body.

Myth of Putting the Child at Risk

Similar to the issue of infertility, the rumor that children born to mothers over 35 may be autistic or be diagnosed with Down Syndrome is alive and well. However, there is no evidence that directly links the mother’s age to such issues; there may be a higher risk of carrying a healthy pregnancy to term, or a risk of augmented complications, but only 1% of the cases of children born with autism since the 1990s has been due to maternal age. As with any maternal age, the mother’s overall health, diet and well-being has more of an impact on the baby’s health and on her pregnancy than her age per se.

Myth of Selfishness

Many women who decide to prioritize their education and career over starting a family fresh out of college, or even fresh out of high school, are criticized as being selfish. Another perspective on this issue, however, shows us that women who have kids early on face major difficulties in the workplace—from lack of childcare to limited opportunities to advance—and as a result have more trouble supporting their families. On the other hand, women who start their families having established a career earn about double the income than younger mothers and the opportunity to better support their kids.

Myth of Not Being Around

In addition to all of the above, women who give birth at a later age face the criticism that they will either be too old when their child reaches important milestones in their life or that they will not be around at all. Motherhood seems to provide such vitality to women that in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior in March 2005 it was reported that women who become mothers in their 40s are four times as likely to live to be 100! Additionally, we should remember that there are really no guarantees of “being around” at any particular age, as not everything always depends on natural causes.