How does a woman’s age affect her health and condition after childbirth? Such questions constantly interest women who are thinking about motherhood for the first time. We find out what will happen if you postpone having a child or, on the contrary, rush.
History of the issue
Just a few decades ago, right up until the end of the 20th century, it was common to give birth at an early age — around 19–20 years old. Our grandmothers’ generation lived in the post-war period — it was necessary to restore the country’s population. And for this, it was necessary to have children. Fresh memories of the war left their mark — people were in a hurry to love and live.
Times were hard, but people gave birth to and raised children. The older generation helped not only with words but also with deeds, because families lived under one roof for generations. Mothers adopted the experience of their grandmothers and also tried not to delay the birth of their first child. As a rule, by the age of 35, a woman already had several children.
Today, WHO recommends realizing your reproductive potential between the ages of 19 and 35. However, women are increasingly postponing motherhood. They want to do as much as possible: build a career, get a home, a car, and financial stability. Let’s take a closer look at how best to approach this issue and what factors should be taken into account.
Early birth: pros and cons
Even today, very early births are common – at 16–17 years of age. As a rule, this happens due to inexperience: schoolgirls, who are not yet aware of all the consequences of relationships with men, take on enormous responsibility and risks by becoming mothers at such a young age.
What could be the advantages here?
On the one hand, having a baby at an early age seems like something wonderful. But at the same time, such young shoulders bear a huge responsibility: caring for a baby requires time, strength, and maturity that the mother herself may not yet have. She herself needs love and support. Yes, the child is able to give her warmth, but will he be able to get everything he needs from a mother who has not yet had time to fully grow up? This advantage becomes very questionable.
There are many more disadvantages: the body is often not ready for such an early birth, it is not yet formed. Tears during childbirth are possible, stretch marks can form on the stomach, thighs – after all, the skin is not yet ready for the stress that occurs with the body during pregnancy. At a young age, it is more difficult to recover after childbirth.
So, parents, be vigilant and provide your girls with information about the risks. Otherwise, you too will have a huge burden on your shoulders – caring for both your daughter and the newborn baby.
A young mother, like all other family members and the newborn, often faces psychological difficulties caused by early motherhood. In addition, health recovery after childbirth leaves an additional mark and does not pass without a trace. So, will a woman want to experience the joy of motherhood again after the difficulty of early childbirth? Or will she stop, based on this experience?
Late birth: pros and cons
The other extreme in this matter is when women over 35–40 come to me as a doctor and declare their desire to give birth. The body requires maximum recovery for this process. The woman usually has career achievements behind her, which have left their mark on her health. Many patients already have unsuccessful IVF attempts in their anamnesis, but they still want to finalize the “Motherhood” project in a positive way.
Unfortunately, after 35, a woman’s physiological reserves for childbearing decrease, as ovulation becomes less stable. Ovulation is the most important phase in the menstrual cycle that ensures the release of the egg, and therefore the possibility of conception. In order to become a mother, a mature woman needs much more time, effort and attention from doctors.
I can foresee an argument that has become hackneyed, but still sounds from our women: “Grandmothers and mothers did not take anything, did not undergo treatment, did not prepare – and nothing, they gave birth in the field. Why do we need any preparation?”
That’s why grandmothers gave birth, because they were not 35+, but much earlier. And there was no career run before that. Of course, each one decides for herself what is best to do, but forewarned is forearmed.
So, are there any advantages to late childbirth? Of course, there are. By this age, a woman has usually already established herself: she can give her child her attention, warmth, life experience and financial stability. Her decision to become a mother is most often a conscious and mature choice.
Moreover, with proper preparation for pregnancy (and it shouldn’t be otherwise), a woman comes out of it with minimal losses to her health. Recovery in this case takes much less time.
If you approach pregnancy and childbirth with preparation, forming healthy eating habits (for example, “eat for two, not for two”), then childbirth after 35 can be a great advantage. However, if you focus exclusively on pregnancy and then, after giving birth, stop paying attention to your health, this can lead to unpleasant consequences. This is excess weight, postpartum depression, stretch marks, excessive hair loss and many other troubles that can take away time and desire to take care of the child. In this case, late childbirth has many disadvantages.
How to make the right choice
The answer is obvious: you need to prepare for pregnancy and childbirth, regardless of whether they will happen at 18 or after 35. You are the only one, and no one has cancelled taking care of your health. After all, you want to enjoy motherhood, and not just check a box?
If there is a choice, it is better to stop at the golden mean: closer to 30-33 years. If there is no choice, then think about how to turn minuses into pluses, maintain your health as much as possible and psychologically prepare for the birth of the baby.
I know what I’m talking about because I’m not only a doctor, but also a mother of four daughters. My first birth was at 29 – and I prepared for it; my last birth was at 38 – and I also prepared for it. After all, I already had three children in my arms, and they needed me no less than the baby inside me (and maybe even more). And it was the most beautiful pregnancy and easy birth.
What to do is always your choice. The main thing is to listen to your body, understand its signals and support it in all trials.