Image: Shutterstock
The world as we know it is used to the concept of young moms. For over a thousand years women have given birth to babies in their teens and early 20s. However, nowadays the importance of family planning has come to the forefront and as a result the average age of women having children has slid into the 30s. But does this mean that having a child in your 20s is a bad thing? Not necessarily, motherhood is challenging no matter what age you choose to embrace it. And although modern medicine has evolved enough to allow women to delay having a family, there are some undeniable advantages to having a child earlier on. So, is having a baby in your 20s a good move for you or should you wait till your 30s? We’ve laid out some risks and advantages of both of these decisions in order to help you figure it out. Read on to know more!
The Advantages Of Becoming A Mom In Your 20s
Image: Shutterstock
1. You Are More Fertile And Have A Better Chance At Getting Pregnant
It’s a well known fact that the younger you are the easier it should be to get pregnant. At the age of 25 you have greater odds at conceiving 3 months after trying than when you reach the age of 35 when your chances go down by 12% (1). Women have about 1 million eggs but they are born with all the eggs they will ever have! The fertility of a woman however starts to decline upon reaching the age of 32 and declines further after 35 . After passing the age of 37 they are estimated to only have about 25,000 eggs left. Although this may seem like a lot, it’s hard to gauge how many of these eggs will form an embryo successfully.
2. Lower Chances Of Miscarriages And Other Pregnancy Risks
It is unlikely for young mothers to develop high blood pressure or diabetes while pregnant. This is mostly prevalent for women above the age of 35 (2). Without these major risks and health concerns, coupled with the higher quality of egg, women in their 20s have a better chance at avoiding miscarriages and stillbirths than those in their 30s.
Advantages Of Giving Birth In Your 30s
Image: Shutterstock
1. You Have Financial Stability
The older you are the more likely you are to earn more, which means you have a higher disposable income. Babies are expensive; just ask a mother for her grocery bills. Formula, diapers, baby clothes and doctors visits – these are just some of the expenses you need to be ready for. And being financially stable will help you share this burden with your partner. Besides, having a baby is time consuming and draining. Juggling a new career, figuring out how to be a responsible adult, make smart financial decisions all while taking care of a baby isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. That’s what people in their 20s are in for. This doesn’t mean it can’t be done, after all, so many people make it work. But there are consequences. Having a baby early can set you back from going to college or making strides at work. It’s definitely something to think about.
2. You’re More Likely To Have Twins Or Triplets
Image: Shutterstock
Are you one of those people who is obsessed with the idea of having twins? Well, waiting until you’re 30 might just be your best bet to make your baby dreams come true. This is also great news for women who want multiple children but only after they’ve reached their 30s. The chances of having twins or triplets increases with age due to hormonal changes in the body causing multiple eggs to release at the same time (3). So, if you can’t stop daydreaming about the matching outfits and strollers for your twins, waiting till you’re more mature is the way to go!
Major Risk Of Having A Baby In Your 20s
Your Health Might Suffer
Image: Shutterstock
Experts have found a connection between the well-being of the mother and the age at which she had her first child. The more a woman delays her first pregnancy, the better her health is said to be. Maximum health was predicted for mothers who had their first baby at 30 years old (4).
Major Risk Of Having A Baby In Your 30s
There Is A Higher Risk Of Your Baby Having Health Complications
Image: Shutterstock
Women in their 30s are more likely to have a lower birth weight baby and a premature baby. This can also be caused by having twins. Premature babies, especially the ones born in the 6 to 7 month frame suffer from issues like breathing issues, impaierd hearing and learning issues (5). They also run a higher risk of having chromosomal abnormalities that can lead to the baby having several health complications or mental disabilities like down syndrome (6).
Be it your 20s or 30s, having a baby is an absolute joy. When you plan to have a baby is completely up to you. But it’s best to make as informed a decision as possible. So, were there some things on our list that surprised you? Let us know in the comments below!
