For the first time since the 1930s, more women over 35 years old are becoming first-time mothers than those who are under 25 in the UK.
According to the newly released report from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), based on age group, over 35 trumps under 25 by at least one percent. Around 20% of childbirths in 2014 can be attributed to moms who are below 25 years old. Altogether, the average age for first-time motherhood is from 25 and 34 years old, although more than 50% of the live births have mothers who are 30 years old and above.
Interestingly, the 2014 trend can also be seen among men in which the average age for fatherhood is now 33.1, a little higher than 32.9 the previous year.
The data further revealed that older women also have fewer to zero children, and the reasons can range from circumstances to personal choices. It could be because more women of childbearing age prefer to delay having children until they can consider themselves as financially stable. A good example is the rising cost of house prices. A home is one of the most important possessions when starting a family, but in the UK, the costs are so high it's already hard to afford by younger women. Job insecurity is also seen as another possible reason.
Other countries are also showing signs of childbearing women delaying raising families. In Australia, women in their late thirties are now becoming a growing client base for in vitro fertilization (IVF). Many of these women too prefer to raise children by themselves and avoid finding a spouse.
Pregnancy at a later age, however, presents many challenges including the reduced chances of conceiving. Unlike men, women are born with all the eggs they need for conception upon birth, but as the woman grows older, such supply goes down. There are also health risks associated with late pregnancy.