Number of mothers in their 40s has ‘trebled’

Recent statistics show that the number of women who gave birth in their 40s has ‘trebled’ in the last 20 years. Records from the Office for Nation

12:39 12 July 2012

 

Recent statistics show that the number of women who gave birth in their 40s has ‘trebled’ in the last 20 years. 

 

Records from the Office for National Statistics show that the number, which was just at 9,835 in 1991, has spiked to 29,250 in 2011. Additionally, last year’s records also showed that the number of women aged 35 to 39 who have birth was 3.4 per cent higher than in 2010. 

 

This seems to be a trend, with younger women delaying their motherhood due to certain factors, such as career or financial considerations. Some, however, also say that it might take some women a long time to find the right spouse. These records are in spite of doctors’ warnings that fertility declines at a rapid rate after age 35. 

 

Studies also show that the significant increase can be blamed in various fertility treatments such as IVF, donor eggs, and so on. 

 

However, in several cases, the women also gave birth naturally. Included in these examples are TV star Amanda Holden and Hollywood actress Nicole Kidman, who both gave birth in their early 40s. 

 

In line with this, a research conducted by the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health also showed that kids who are born to mums in their 40s have a greater likelihood of becoming high academic achievers.