HAVING children later in life has more benefits than downfalls, local mothers Verity Williams and Melissa Caulfield will tell you.
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At age 34 Mrs Williams has just given birth to her second son, nine-week-old Hamish, while 10 months ago, at the age of 37, Mrs Caulfield welcomed her third child Emmeline into the family.
The women are among thousands of mothers who are following the nationwide trend of having children later in life.
They both agree they made the right decision in waiting to have a family.
“”When I was 22, 23 I was just married and we were enjoying ourselves, renting and just having a good time,” Mrs Caulfield said.
“I feel a bit more mature now, I don’t feel like I’ve missed out and I feel I have done what I wanted to do.”
The number of women over the age of 35 having children has almost doubled since 1998.
The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show a record number of 68,259 women aged 35 and over had babies in 2008, compared with 40,070 women in 1998.
Mrs Caulfield said it was the opportunities presented to young people these days that was behind the trend.
“They are getting more senior positions and more career opportunities,” she said.
“Women don’t feel quite so pressured to get married and have babies.”
Mrs Williams said cheap travel as well as the increasing cost of living are also contributing to women waiting to have children.
Orange is following the national profile in terms of increased birthing ages, says Orange Base Hospital Maternity Unit acting manager Jenny Soar.
‘We are seeing mums, especially first-time mums, having babies later in life after they have established their careers,” she said.
erin.somerville@ruralpress.com
