Ageing Mothers: How Healthy Are They?

Recent statistics have shown a significant rise in babies born to women 45 and over. Although some are still reserved about the relative wisdom of women who choose to become mothers at a more advanced age, others believe in the wisdom and beauty of choice.

According to the official statistics, babies born to women 45 and older have almost trebled over the last decade from 663 in the year 2000 to 1,758 in 2010. For women over 50, the statistics are even higher, more than trebling over the same period from 44 to 141.

Established institutions such as the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have expressed concerns, claiming that women over 40 are as many as three times more likely to lose their babies. Other risks include ill health or abnormalities such as Down’s syndrome.

There are several factors that contributed to the rise in women who delay childbirth. These include advances in IVF techniques, celebrities giving birth later in their lives, as well as professional and economic concerns.

What some experts refer to as the “celebrity effect” has caused some women to follow the example set by some celebrities, such as artist and director Sam Taylor-Wood, who was 44 when her baby girl was born.

Today, women also have more freedom to exercise career choices, which they often do in favour of raising families early in life. In addition, the current economic situation tends to dictate that even married women can’t really stay at home and make ends meet anymore.

Once these women become established in their careers, they choose to have children.

The Office for National Statistics, covering England and Wales, has released figures indicating that, while the number of babies born to older women have increased, those born to women in their teens have dropped by some 20 per cent.

These statistics also show that many of the babies born to older women are multiple births. The most extreme age for birth in recent years was Elizabeth Adeney, who became the country’s oldest mother at 66 in 2009 after receiving IVF treatment in the Ukraine.

Despite professional concerns, there are those who have welcomed the new trend as a positive indication of female health today. Lindsey Harris, founder of Mothers35plus, said: We’re also much healthier than we used to be. Once upon a time having a baby in your 40s would be seen as a mistake, but not now.”

Surely this is something to celebrate.

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