Childless women in your late 20s, unite. For the second year in a row, more women in their thirties are giving birth than women in their twenties. But while cheering for career-minded 20-somethings is tempting, celebrations are not necessarily in order.
That parenthood is delayed while more women pursue professions is a well-worn and controversial truth. But is it possible we’re pushing parenthood too late into life?
No one wants to mention that delaying child-birth increases the health risks for both the mother and baby. Many don’t realize that the incidence of prenatal health complications is increasing alongside the age of Canada’s mothers.
This regrettable truth clashes with Canada’s social politics, professional career paths and lifestyle choices, but the costs of waiting to have children may outweigh the benefits.
Census numbers released late September show a spike in birth-rates for 2007, with women aged 33 to 41 responsible for 56 per cent of the rise. Highly educated women are also more likely to wait until their thirties and forties to have their first child. This makes sense when a PhD takes a minimum of seven years of university education to complete, Medicine can take 15 when you include residency and fellowships, and many women have more than one degree.
But specialists at the Society of Obstetricians and Gynecologists warn that everything bad that can happen during pregnancy and child birth is more likely to happen if the mother is older.
Women who give birth in their thirties and forties are approximately 10 per cent more likely to develop diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy. Twice as many older women give birth by caesarean section – a major surgical operation – compared to 20-somethings.
This introduces a host of health risks to mother and baby including bleeding, cardiac arrest and even death.
And older women are more likely to give birth pre-term, which increases the risk of life-threatening neurological and respiratory conditions in the baby. These can cause cognitive and motor difficulties that can remain with the child throughout life.
Pediatricians add that they see an increase in spina bifida and genetic abnormalities such as Down’s syndrome in children of older mothers. The risk of these conditions is high enough for doctors to recommend prenatal screening in all pregnant women over age 35.
The danger, specialists say, is that infant and mother death rates during child-birth remain low, so people assume all child-birth is safe when it is not. Complications are becoming more common partly due to older mothers, but those who are affected tend not to talk about it.
Parenting experts argue that delaying pregnancy can produce children who are better adjusted because older parents tend to be more stable. They have an established career and disposable income, a better developed sense of patience, and more of a sense of self. All of their energy can focus on parenting.
But as more mothers and children face deadly health risks, the question remains – is it worth it?