Last year, for the first time ever in the UK, more babies were born to mums over the age of 35 than to mothers who have yet to turn 25.
The figures, released by the Office for National Statistics, show that 21 percent of births in England and Wales in 2014 were to mums aged 35 and over, while 20 percent were to women under the age of 25.
There were a total of 144,181 babies born to mums in the older age group, compared with 138,592 to those under 25. The data also revealed that the most popular age bracket for having a baby was between 30-34, with a whopping 215,642 babies born to women in this bracket.
This has since 1998 been the most common age bracket for women to give birth, a change from the years between 1936-1998, when most women giving birth were aged between 24-29.
While many women today might not feel financially or emotional ready for babies until after they have turned the big 3.0, many hare concerned about the trend. According to the NHS, as women get older “both mothers and babies face an increased risk of pregnancy-related complications and health problems.”
Then again, a recent study from Boston University Medical Center in the US also found that women who have children later in life are more likely to live longer.
How old were YOU when you had your babies? Were you happy being a young/older mum? Please share your experiences with us and send me an e-mail at: [email protected]
