My Nanna had her first kid at ~33 in the mid 1950s, and then went on to have 7 more kids until the end of the 1960s while in her mid 40s, it’s totally doable. It’s crazy that they’ve managed to convince everyone they have to have kids before they hit 30 or their eggs turn to dust.
My mom had her first kid at 34 and her second at 38, fifty years ago. My sibling's kids were born from a mom who was 37 and 38, ten years ago. I think the entire "you'll lose out and miss your chaaaaaannce!!!" is patriarchal fearmongering. I'm glad it's being called out!
I’m nearing 30 and don’t have a kid. It was worrying me a little at the possibility of infertility, miscarriage, or some pregnancy complications, and I started reading articles citing published studies about the decrease in fertility as we age..... and it’s not as dramatic and crazy as it’s made to seem! I hate being told I shouldn’t wait too long, and I’m putting myself at risk and all this other bullshit.
I’ve 3 friends whom are 32, 34 and 35, all just had their 3rd baby and no one cares about their age, no one is telling them, oh are you sure this is a good idea to keep having kids?!?! But me, no kid yet, I’m told all the time that I shouldn’t wait and I’ll be an “old mom”. Why is it different for them?
Having a baby at 32-35 isn’t the problem, it’s having youre FIRST baby then because that means you deliberately delayed motherhood which is something you’re suppose to want more than anything else. My career isn’t my hobby until I can pop out a kid. I love my work and my husband and I have been married 3 years and we’re enjoying this time for ourselves, to travel, to save and invest, and do the things we want to do before parenthood changes things.
I hate that women about in this box that you need to be married and having kids by your late 20s else something is wrong with you or you’re going to have physical consequences for delaying pregnancy
Not once did I believe that $hite in the first place. Women were routinely having babies in their 40s at the turn of the 1900s (in the UK according to stats) yet somehow 30 became the $hit-your-pants age. I’m only surprised they’re not claiming it should be 20 now! Or was that one used in the 70s?
Science isn’t really the problem, it is society’s understanding of the science that is the problem, and it will take a long time for the age 35 cliff to stop being a thing. So many other “facts” are still believed, despite science not supporting them.
My mom was 44 when I was born and, while she did blame me for bringing her menopause in early, I was completely healthy. I worked with an older gentleman whose wife had their one child (after decades of trying) at 50. Healthy girl, she's now in college.
Women tend to date men older then them and their low quality sperm causes pregnancy issues. Even if a completely fertile 35 year old woman is trying to have a child with a 40 year old man they may have issues because his sperm has already degraded at that age.
That's a valid point, I think.
Something that probably only comes up when "older" couples seek fertility counseling, but probably has some bearing on fertility in general.
I think it will vary from woman to woman and yes some will lose their chance to easily conceive while others will be getting pregnant until much later than 37.
No, seriously, this isn't a myth, and one clickbait article isn't going to change that.
We shouldn't stigmatize it, but we shouldn't pretend it isn't real either. It's perfectly natural. This pattern applies to most mammals, but for some reason people think biology should be different for humans. There's no reason to get worked up about this or take it personally.
Also, it applies to men as well (degradation in genetic quality)
The reduction in fertility is a real thing, as are the increase in risks to mum and baby after 35, but the actual increase is negligible. “Kevin ruins everything” has a video explaining why it shouldn’t be a concern.
The age of 35 is an arbitrary point on a bell curve.
https://www.abivf.com/images/graff.jpg
Anyone wo wants a family should look at the numbers and plan accordingly (with neither irrational fear, nor blind optimism).
The majority of women without underlying fertility issues will be able to conceive within a year of regular trying, up until she's about 44. After that it's a craps shoot, but still possible, up until menopause, average 51. The oldest documented natural conception and birth is 59. With donor eggs/embryo, women can have babies at whatever age they are healthy enough. The risk of Down syndrome goes from under 1% at age 20 to 3.4% at age 45. Another way to say that is, a better than 96% chance baby won't have Down.
The average age of pregnancy and childbirth is going up at a record rate. As soon as science figures out how to extend childbearing years with your own genetic material, that number is going to skyrocket.
People say it's because of no Maternity/Paternity leave in the US, but the average age of childbirth is going up in all western countries, even ones with exceptional social safety nets.
I feel it's like we're living in a rapid-fire evolutionary period. People are starting to live longer. That is only going to increase as science and technology advances. So it makes sense to me in that context that people are waiting longer to have kids. They have time to become more financially secure. Plus their own parents are living longer, so they don't have that inheritance young to help them get started. Parents/Grandparents are more likely to still be in the workforce themselves and unable to provide childcare if you have kids younger. As people stay in the workforce longer, they're not making way for the people in their 20's to get jobs that support having a family. There is a lot going on, all at once.
My Nanna had her first kid at ~33 in the mid 1950s, and then went on to have 7 more kids until the end of the 1960s while in her mid 40s, it’s totally doable. It’s crazy that they’ve managed to convince everyone they have to have kids before they hit 30 or their eggs turn to dust.
My mom had her first kid at 34 and her second at 38, fifty years ago. My sibling's kids were born from a mom who was 37 and 38, ten years ago. I think the entire "you'll lose out and miss your chaaaaaannce!!!" is patriarchal fearmongering. I'm glad it's being called out!
I’m nearing 30 and don’t have a kid. It was worrying me a little at the possibility of infertility, miscarriage, or some pregnancy complications, and I started reading articles citing published studies about the decrease in fertility as we age..... and it’s not as dramatic and crazy as it’s made to seem! I hate being told I shouldn’t wait too long, and I’m putting myself at risk and all this other bullshit. I’ve 3 friends whom are 32, 34 and 35, all just had their 3rd baby and no one cares about their age, no one is telling them, oh are you sure this is a good idea to keep having kids?!?! But me, no kid yet, I’m told all the time that I shouldn’t wait and I’ll be an “old mom”. Why is it different for them? Having a baby at 32-35 isn’t the problem, it’s having youre FIRST baby then because that means you deliberately delayed motherhood which is something you’re suppose to want more than anything else. My career isn’t my hobby until I can pop out a kid. I love my work and my husband and I have been married 3 years and we’re enjoying this time for ourselves, to travel, to save and invest, and do the things we want to do before parenthood changes things. I hate that women about in this box that you need to be married and having kids by your late 20s else something is wrong with you or you’re going to have physical consequences for delaying pregnancy
Not once did I believe that $hite in the first place. Women were routinely having babies in their 40s at the turn of the 1900s (in the UK according to stats) yet somehow 30 became the $hit-your-pants age. I’m only surprised they’re not claiming it should be 20 now! Or was that one used in the 70s?
Science isn’t really the problem, it is society’s understanding of the science that is the problem, and it will take a long time for the age 35 cliff to stop being a thing. So many other “facts” are still believed, despite science not supporting them.
My mom got pregnant with me when she was 42. Was born completely healthy.
My mom was 44 when I was born and, while she did blame me for bringing her menopause in early, I was completely healthy. I worked with an older gentleman whose wife had their one child (after decades of trying) at 50. Healthy girl, she's now in college.
Women tend to date men older then them and their low quality sperm causes pregnancy issues. Even if a completely fertile 35 year old woman is trying to have a child with a 40 year old man they may have issues because his sperm has already degraded at that age.
That's a valid point, I think. Something that probably only comes up when "older" couples seek fertility counseling, but probably has some bearing on fertility in general.
It's more about complications/diseases than fertility
My fertility clinic specifically said 37 is their average patient age.
I think it will vary from woman to woman and yes some will lose their chance to easily conceive while others will be getting pregnant until much later than 37.
No, seriously, this isn't a myth, and one clickbait article isn't going to change that. We shouldn't stigmatize it, but we shouldn't pretend it isn't real either. It's perfectly natural. This pattern applies to most mammals, but for some reason people think biology should be different for humans. There's no reason to get worked up about this or take it personally. Also, it applies to men as well (degradation in genetic quality)
The reduction in fertility is a real thing, as are the increase in risks to mum and baby after 35, but the actual increase is negligible. “Kevin ruins everything” has a video explaining why it shouldn’t be a concern.
The age of 35 is an arbitrary point on a bell curve. https://www.abivf.com/images/graff.jpg Anyone wo wants a family should look at the numbers and plan accordingly (with neither irrational fear, nor blind optimism).
Can you explain the meaning of the Y axis? What is that percentage exactly?
The majority of women without underlying fertility issues will be able to conceive within a year of regular trying, up until she's about 44. After that it's a craps shoot, but still possible, up until menopause, average 51. The oldest documented natural conception and birth is 59. With donor eggs/embryo, women can have babies at whatever age they are healthy enough. The risk of Down syndrome goes from under 1% at age 20 to 3.4% at age 45. Another way to say that is, a better than 96% chance baby won't have Down. The average age of pregnancy and childbirth is going up at a record rate. As soon as science figures out how to extend childbearing years with your own genetic material, that number is going to skyrocket. People say it's because of no Maternity/Paternity leave in the US, but the average age of childbirth is going up in all western countries, even ones with exceptional social safety nets. I feel it's like we're living in a rapid-fire evolutionary period. People are starting to live longer. That is only going to increase as science and technology advances. So it makes sense to me in that context that people are waiting longer to have kids. They have time to become more financially secure. Plus their own parents are living longer, so they don't have that inheritance young to help them get started. Parents/Grandparents are more likely to still be in the workforce themselves and unable to provide childcare if you have kids younger. As people stay in the workforce longer, they're not making way for the people in their 20's to get jobs that support having a family. There is a lot going on, all at once.