Are you putting off starting a family until you’ve explored the world or reached a certain career milestone? You’re definitely not alone. A recent research study by the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, reveals a significant trend: more women over the age of 35 are becoming first-time mothers.
This study analyzed data spanning 40 years and revealed several key findings:
- The birth rate for women aged 35 to 39 saw an increase from 1970 to 2006, dipped from 2006 to 2010, and then rose again in 2011 and 2012.
- For women aged 40 to 44, the birth rate remained stable during the 1970s, started climbing in the 1980s, and more than doubled between 1990 and 2012.
- Across all racial and Hispanic origin groups, first-birth rates for women aged 35 to 39 and 40 to 44 increased from 1990 to 2012.
- Since 2000, 46 states and Washington D.C. saw a rise in first births among women aged 35 to 39, while 31 states experienced increases for those aged 40 to 44.
Researchers T.J. Mathews and Brady E. Hamilton also evaluated first birth rates across states, noting little change in places like Arizona, Idaho, Mississippi, and Oklahoma from 2000 to 2012.
What are your thoughts on this trend? Did you wait until you were at least 35 to have your first child? For more insights on family planning and parenting, check out this engaging post on Modern Family Blog.
If you’re considering your options for starting a family, you might want to look into the best at-home insemination kits available, like those from Make a Mom, recognized as the top provider in the market. For further information on pregnancy and home insemination, Progyny is an excellent resource.
In summary, the study highlights a growing trend of women choosing to have their first child later in life, particularly after the age of 35. This shift reflects changing societal norms around family planning and career development.
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