More and more frequently American women decide to have children later in life (beyond the age of 30). Higher education, building a career, the feeling of “not being ready” (emotionally or financially), or the desire to have fun are the likely reasons for late motherhood.
The timing of becoming a parent is a very personal choice; however, I wish that the decision-makers had all the information before they decided… I had my child in my mid-thirties; however, I would have had my baby earlier, if I had known all the risks of late pregnancy and late motherhood.
For the young women out there, here are some of the pros and cons of having a child in your twenties.
Pros to having babies between 20 and 30:
- Pregnancy before age 22 decreases breast cancer risk (Schedin P. Nat Rev Cancer 6:281-91, 2006; Meier-Abt F, et al. Trends Mol Med 20:143-53, 2014; MacMahon B, et al., Bull World Health Organ 43:209-21, 1970; Polyak K. Cancer Cell 9:151-3, 2006.).
- Babies of younger mothers are healthier: with a lower chance of being premature, with low birth weight, or with genetic abnormalities.
- The women’s fertility is highest in the early 20s.
- At younger age, the risk of miscarriage is lower.
- Pregnancy is physically better tolerated by younger women.
- Younger women carry easier the physical demands of parenting.
Cons to having babies between 20 and 30:
- The woman may need to postpone her education and/or career development
- Accumulation of debt: in their early 20s, recent college graduates still have college debt
- Frequently young mothers who go back to work earn less than their childless counterparts.
- Older mothers might be more emotionally mature for parenting.
- Pregnancies (especially at younger age) may increase the risk of ovarian and endometrial cancers (Hankinson SE, et al. Cancer 1995; 76:284–290; La Vecchia C, et al., Int J Cancer 1993; 53:215–219; Titus-Ernstoff L, et al. Br. J Cancer 2001; 84:714–721).
*Paternal age also matters. The sperm of older men tends to have changes in single genes (e.g., fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 and 3, RET proto-oncogene; Jung A, et al., Andrologia 35(4):191-9. 2003). Children of older fathers (45 and older) are also at increased risk of autism, ADHD, psychosis, bipolar disorder, suicide attempts, substance use problems, failing a grade, and low educational attainment (D'Onofrio BM, et al., JAMA Psychiatry 71:432-8; 2014).
