Is there a right age for having a baby?

Well, most experts say any age is the right age for starting a family. How far is this true? While 20’s seems to be a perfect age for getting pregnant as you are at the peak of physical fitness, maturity and patience are more in your 30’s and 40’s assures more financial stability. Yes, getting pregnant at any age comes with its pluses and minuses. In today’s era where late marriage is a trend, achieving career heights and financial stability is a priority, family planning has surely taken a back seat especially in urban areas. For some couple’s family planning happens only after assuring enough financial security for the baby, for some career takes priority and many do a meticulous planning before planning a baby. Having a baby largely depends on where you are in life? Did you find a partner early or late? Do you plan to have a big family or a small one? Even though every woman is unique and every age has a different experience, the physical and emotional changes one goes through are also influenced as per your age. Here is what you can expect:

Your 20’s

From a complete biological standpoint, 20’s is the perfect decade to have a baby. It is the right time to get pregnant and to be pregnant. You are at the peak of your youth, booming with energy and vigour and the menstrual irregularities from your teen years have also evened out. Every woman is born with about 1-2 million eggs in their ovaries. By puberty, this number is about 3,00,000 to 5,00,000 and our ovaries release only about 300 eggs during our reproductive years. The fresh and healthy eggs are released first and these serve best for fertilization. As we get old, so does our body, ovaries and eggs. The quality of eggs released diminishes as we get old. The risk of having a baby born with Down’s syndrome is high as we age. Miscarriage rates are far lower in your 20’s.

(Check the table below)

Pregnancy and post-delivery complications are far lesser while you are in your 20’s. Physically, being a young mom, you are free from any diseases or joint complaints and your energy levels too are high. Your joints have gone through minimal wear and tear. So, you can easily do the chasing around that is required for the baby. Also, if you are planning for a bigger family it is always better to start early. This gives you an appropriate time between your pregnancies to restore physically and mentally. Though being a young mom is favourable physically but it may be difficult emotionally and financially. It may not be the right decade if you are building your career or wanting to spend some alone time with your husband. Having a baby means a lot of patience and devotion. A mother in her 20’s may not be yet prepared for all of it. Additionally, if you are newly married, chances are that you will get lesser time with your partner, as the baby will take up most of your time. 20’s is the age when your career is in the take-off mode. You are yet to figure out your career path and trying to establish yourself professionally. Having an early baby may harm your career goals. Also, if you are in your 20’s chances are that your savings are low. So, your finances too may go for a toss.

Your 30’s

As you touch the 30 mark in your life, you have gathered a few life experiences, and you are more established in your career and are stable financially. With all the experiences comes patience and maturity which is a quality every mother should possess. Having a baby in your 30’s also gives you enough time with your husband. Your marital bond is strong, you’ll have had spent good quality time together, even taken a few vacations and had some adventures in your life. But as you are maturing so are your eggs. A woman’s ovaries release the best quality of eggs early in her life and as you age the quality of eggs starts to decline. The results may not be as speedy as in your 20’s because your eggs have aged and might give slower results. The early 30’s is a better time as compared to the late 30’s. Age 35 officially marks the “high-risk pregnancy.” This cut-off has been set because research shows the odds of having a baby born with a chromosomal problem like Down’s syndrome (where the baby is born with an extra chromosome) increases. Getting pregnant in the latter half of 30 increases the chances of miscarriage and placenta previa (where the placenta grows very close to the cervix and can cause bleeding).

YOUR 40’s

From a complete medical standpoint, this is the toughest decade for having a baby. You are left with the most-aged eggs which were slow to respond to your body’s cues and therefore does not make them good candidates for fertilization. The chances of having a baby with chromosomal abnormalities increases in your 40’s. Your health too is not at its best in this decade, chances of you having gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, varicose veins, etc. are high in your 40’s. The odds of having multiple pregnancies, having twins increases as you age because your ovaries may release more than one egg due to the shifting hormones because of menopause. This itself makes it a high-risk pregnancy. Most women enter the perimenopause (a phase before menopause) phase in their 40’s. so, a skipped period which they might think is because of some good news turns out to be a result of low oestrogen. While there are a lot of negatives, let me tell you a few positives too. Later pregnancy means you have stronger financial stability. You have probably achieved your career-high and are more than willing to be a stay-at-home mother. You are more mature, flexible and patient. You have seen a lot of up’s and down’s in life and now can face difficulties better. This confidence helps you to talk to your doctor better and choose your preferences for labour and delivery.

Every woman can choose the right age for herself to start a family.

Always remember this:

‘ A baby will make love stronger, days shorter, nights longer, bankroll smaller, home happier, clothes shabbier, the past forgotten and the future worth living for.’