“When I Was Your Age, I Was Raising Both You and Your Younger Sister.”
This was a frequent refrain from Vini’s mom during their discussions about having a baby. Despite her mother’s arguments, Vini and her husband planned to wait at least three years after marriage before starting a family. But the past year had been particularly hard for Vini, as she struggled to cope with pressure from both sides of the family. She couldn’t make the elders understand that she wasn’t ready to think about having a baby at this stage in her career. While she definitely wanted kids in the future, now was not the right time.
Vini’s situation isn’t unique. Many couples nowadays are choosing to delay parenthood. There’s been a noticeable increase in women having children later in life. Whereas women used to have their first child between ages 20 and 25, it’s now more common for them to do so between ages 30 and 35. Some even embrace motherhood in their mid-40s.
Why Couples Are Waiting to Have Kids
There are various reasons why couples decide to become parents later in life. For some, it’s a conscious choice, while others find it’s their only option. Here are a few reasons behind this trend:
Firstly, women are getting married later. With a focus on their careers, many women delay marriage and entering the workforce. This shift pushes back their timeline for motherhood.
Secondly, today’s couples want to spend more time building their relationship before adding children to the mix. They want to understand each other fully and feel that prioritizing their relationship helps them better handle the pressures of parenthood later.
Financial stability is another factor. Couples want to ensure they can provide their kids with a comfortable life, which means becoming financially secure first.
What Do Doctors Say About This?
While many opt for later parenthood because of advances in medical science, allowing for procedures like in vitro fertilization, surrogacy, or egg freezing, doctors don’t typically recommend waiting until after your mid-30s to start a family. However, these medical advancements mean that women have more flexibility in their timing.
Benefits of Late Pregnancy for Women
Women often worry about whether having kids later in life is wise. Concerns about child upbringing, personal health, and other factors loom large. However, research shows several benefits for ‘older’ mothers:
1. Emotionally Prepared: With age comes maturity. Older mothers tend to be more emotionally equipped to handle the challenges of parenting and are likely to be more patient and knowledgeable about child-rearing.
2. Longer Life: A study suggests that women who have children later might live longer, potentially seeing their 90th birthday or beyond.
3. Financial Stability: Couples who have children later are often financially secure, allowing them to provide a high-quality life and education for their kids.
Benefits for Children of Older Mothers
Children also enjoy several advantages from being born to older parents:
1. Smart Parenting: Women’s brain functions improve around menopause, which can enhance their parenting abilities.
2. Higher Education Chances: Kids of older mothers are usually more persistent in their education and perform better academically.
3. Stable Home Environment: Older parents tend to create a more stable and nurturing environment, positively impacting children’s development.
Women now have a host of reasons to feel confident about delayed parenthood. Whether you choose to have kids now, later, or not at all, remember that the decision is entirely yours. Celebrate your choices and your journey in womanhood!
