UK Wedding News
31/03/2014
New figures have revealed that the number of women over the age of 50 having children has more than doubled in the last five years.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, statistics show that around three children are born to a mother in her 50s every week.
It is understood that around three children are born to a mother in her 50s every week.
The figures were released by health ministers in a response to a parliamentary question, the Daily Mail has reported.
It has previously been reported that the later in life a woman chooses to have children, the more health risks that are associated for both the mother and baby. For example, older women are more likely to suffer from a miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, while their children are more likely to be born with genetic abnormalities.
The higher level of care required also places additional pressure on the NHS.
In answer to the parliamentary question, it was revealed that in 2012, 154 babies were born to mothers over the age of 50. This was an increase of a third in just one year. However, the number has more than doubled since 2008 when there were just 69 births to women aged 50 and over. In 2000, the number was 44.
Elsewhere, the number of births to mothers aged 40 and over and has increased. In 2008, 26,419 children were born to women in this category; by 2012, this had increased 13% to 29,994. In other words, one in 25 children are to mothers who have turned 40, while around 20% of babies are born to women aged 35 or older – the highest percentage since records began in 1938. At the same time, only 23% of births were to women aged under 25 in 2012, down from almost half in the early 1970s.
It is thought potential reasons for the trend in starting a family later is because women are choosing to concentrate on their careers first. Significant advances in IVF treatment also mean more women are willing to risk delaying motherhood, while other women may have new relationships later in life and are choosing to have more children with a new partner.
Louise Silverton, director for midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives, is quoted by the Daily Mail as saying: "There are an increasing numbers of older women who are having babies and these women tend to have more complications than younger women.
"This is more pronounced as women have babies at increasingly greater ages. Older mothers are more likely to have increased rates of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancies and genetic problems in the child and other issues such high blood pressure, diabetes and problems with the placenta.
"Because of these risks it is crucial that these women get the right level of care, advice and support they need in their pregnancy.
"Every woman, no matter what her age, deserves the best possible care and this is one of the reasons behind the RCM's call for more midwives in the NHS."
A Department of Health spokesman is also quoted as saying: "We know that more older women are giving birth now than 20 years ago and research shows that older women have a higher risk of developing complications during pregnancy and may need more support.
"That is why we have invested in over 1,500 more midwives since 2010 with another 5,000 in training. This will ensure that every mother has a named midwife who is responsible for personalised care."
(JP)
20/03/2020
LeToya Luckett-Walker Is Pregnant
Charlotte Crosby Finds New Romance
Lydia Bright Gets Candid About Giving Birth
Lana Del Ray Splits From Boyfriend
Angelica Ross Learns Of Boyfriend's Secret Life
Ashley Graham's Breastfeeding Struggle
Susanna Reid's Mother's Day Plans
Lin-Manuel Miranda Homeschooling Kids
Kristen Bell Speaks Of Pride For Daughters
Prince George & Princess Charlotte Now Homeschooled
Large Increase In Mums Aged Over 50
New figures have revealed that the number of women over the age of 50 having children has more than doubled in the last five years.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, statistics show that around three children are born to a mother in her 50s every week.
It is understood that around three children are born to a mother in her 50s every week.
The figures were released by health ministers in a response to a parliamentary question, the Daily Mail has reported.
It has previously been reported that the later in life a woman chooses to have children, the more health risks that are associated for both the mother and baby. For example, older women are more likely to suffer from a miscarriage and ectopic pregnancy, while their children are more likely to be born with genetic abnormalities.
The higher level of care required also places additional pressure on the NHS.
In answer to the parliamentary question, it was revealed that in 2012, 154 babies were born to mothers over the age of 50. This was an increase of a third in just one year. However, the number has more than doubled since 2008 when there were just 69 births to women aged 50 and over. In 2000, the number was 44.
- - - - - - Advertisement - - - - - -
Elsewhere, the number of births to mothers aged 40 and over and has increased. In 2008, 26,419 children were born to women in this category; by 2012, this had increased 13% to 29,994. In other words, one in 25 children are to mothers who have turned 40, while around 20% of babies are born to women aged 35 or older – the highest percentage since records began in 1938. At the same time, only 23% of births were to women aged under 25 in 2012, down from almost half in the early 1970s.
It is thought potential reasons for the trend in starting a family later is because women are choosing to concentrate on their careers first. Significant advances in IVF treatment also mean more women are willing to risk delaying motherhood, while other women may have new relationships later in life and are choosing to have more children with a new partner.
Louise Silverton, director for midwifery at the Royal College of Midwives, is quoted by the Daily Mail as saying: "There are an increasing numbers of older women who are having babies and these women tend to have more complications than younger women.
"This is more pronounced as women have babies at increasingly greater ages. Older mothers are more likely to have increased rates of miscarriage and ectopic pregnancies and genetic problems in the child and other issues such high blood pressure, diabetes and problems with the placenta.
"Because of these risks it is crucial that these women get the right level of care, advice and support they need in their pregnancy.
"Every woman, no matter what her age, deserves the best possible care and this is one of the reasons behind the RCM's call for more midwives in the NHS."
A Department of Health spokesman is also quoted as saying: "We know that more older women are giving birth now than 20 years ago and research shows that older women have a higher risk of developing complications during pregnancy and may need more support.
"That is why we have invested in over 1,500 more midwives since 2010 with another 5,000 in training. This will ensure that every mother has a named midwife who is responsible for personalised care."
(JP)
Top stories
20/03/2020
LeToya Luckett-Walker Is Pregnant
Charlotte Crosby Finds New Romance
Lydia Bright Gets Candid About Giving Birth
Lana Del Ray Splits From Boyfriend
Angelica Ross Learns Of Boyfriend's Secret Life
Ashley Graham's Breastfeeding Struggle
Susanna Reid's Mother's Day Plans
Lin-Manuel Miranda Homeschooling Kids
Kristen Bell Speaks Of Pride For Daughters
Prince George & Princess Charlotte Now Homeschooled
