Babies born to mums over 50 at an all time high

The number of women over 50 having babies has more than doubled in the last five years.

Every week, three babies are born to mums over 50 – but with research showing that older women are more likely to have miscarriages, ectopic pregnancies and children born with genetic abnormalities this news is likely to cause a stir.

Midwives have spoken out of their fears that the extra care required for these older women is putting pressure on the NHS – but with everyone aged over 35 classed as an ‘older mother’ is this really the case? Do such a huge proportion of these mothers really need additional care?

The number of women in their fifties giving birth has more than doubled since 2008, when there were 69 births in Britain – last years figures came in in at 154. The number of births to women in their forties has also risen, with 1 in 25 births being to mothers who have turned 40, and 20% of all babies being born to someone over 35.

The reason for this higher birth rate to older mothers seems to be down to women choosing to concentrate on their careers before having a family, with changing medical advice and advances in IVF also playing a part.

We have to ask ourselves – is this really such a bad thing? I wouldn’t personally choose to have a baby in my forties or fifties, but I already have my children. I wonder if it would be a different story if I had previously been unable to conceive or I wasn’t in a stable relationship? Who knows? I don’t think we should judge these women, and I certainly don’t think we should dictate at what age people choose to have a family. If they can provide a loving and caring home, then surely that’s what matters?