Older parenthood

Older motherhood

The average age of first-time mothers in Australia and many other countries has increased (40, 41). Because more women are having children later in life, age related infertility has become more common.

Impact of age on pregnancy

Whilst most babies born are healthy, pregnancy at an older age (naturally or with ART) can have greater health risks for both mother and baby.

In general, women over 40 have a higher risk of (42, 43):

  • Gestational diabetes
  • Pre-eclampsia
  • Placenta praevia
  • Having caesarean section birth
  • Having pre-term birth
  • Having a baby with a low birth weight

There is also a higher chance of miscarriage, stillbirth, and having a child with birth abnormalities such as Down syndrome (particularly after age 35) because of the decline in egg quality over time (4, 43, 44).

To understand more about these risks and what they mean for you, please speak to a healthcare professional.

Older fatherhood

Male fertility also declines with age (45, 46). However, this happens later in life than women.

Children born to older fathers also have a higher risk of birth abnormalities and childhood illness (47).

Some research shows that children born to fathers aged 45 or older appear to have a higher risk of:

  • Autism spectrum disorder (about 3.3 times higher compared to children born to fathers aged 20 or younger) (48).
  • Schizophrenia (about 1.5 times higher compared to children born to fathers in their mid-late 20s) (49).
  • Developmental disorders (about 1.56 times higher compared to children born to fathers in their mid-late 20s) (49).

To understand more about these risks, please speak to a healthcare professional.

Pros and cons of older parenting

Here are some pros and cons about older parenting you may want to consider.

Pros

  • May feel more prepared to become a parent when older.
  • Gives more time to complete your education and build better financial and/or job security.
  • Provides more time to find a suitable partner or be in a stable relationship before having a child.
  • Gives more time to feel emotionally ready for parenthood.

Cons

  • Increased difficulty becoming pregnant.
  • Greater health risks for mother and baby.
  • May have less energy to care for young children.
  • May have fewer children overall, and perhaps only one child.
  • May not be able to have a blood related child (even with the help of ART).
  • May feel uncomfortable about being older than other mothers at your child's play group/kindergarten/school.