According to an article in the August 5th edition of the Los Angeles Times federal data show that women in their 40s are more likely to have babies now than at any time in more than four decades. Among American women ages 40 to 44, birthrates have hit their highest point since 1967, data recently released by the National Center for Health Statistics reveal. Births have also become increasingly common among women in their late 30s.
I would love to be able to claim that RPMG is the sole reason for this phenomenon but we are only partially responsibile. Certainly advances in reproductive technology, especially IVF treatment in older women is also partially responsible. Attempts at in vitro fertilization rose by half among women 41 and older between 2003 and 2011, Society for Assisted Reproductive Technologies statistics show.
Young women are postponing childbearing. As the number of older mothers has risen, younger women have become less likely to bear children. Younger women are still much more likely to have babies than older women, but birthrates sank to record lows among teens and women in their early 20s in 2011, the data show.
Some older mothers say they were too restless to have children as young women. Others said they hadn’t found Mr. Right or were absorbed in education and careers that allowed little time for family.
Fortunately for those needing to postpone their childbearing, we now have egg freezing as a very real alternative to leaving future fertility to chance.
It is so fortunate that women nowadays are finally able to beat (or delay) the so called “body clock”. Woman can now achieve and enjoy the peak of there careers without letting go of the chance of being a mother. Thanks for this article! More women should know their options.