The new age to be a mum

Australian women are changing the age they commit to family.

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A new report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) shows the rate of women aged between 15-44 giving birth is higher than a decade ago.

The average age of all women who gave birth was 30.1 years in 2013, compared with 29.5 in 2003.

The average age of first time mothers also increased, from 27.8 years in 2003 to 28.6 in 2013.

According to the report almost 305,000 women gave birth to over 309,000 babies in 2013, with 97% of mothers delivering in hospitals.

‘The proportion of mothers aged 35 years and older who gave birth in 2013 was 22%, compared with 19% in 2003. Conversely, the proportion of mothers aged less than 24 years decreased from 19% to 17%,’ said AIHW spokesperson Dr Fadwa Al-Yaman.

The report noted, mothers older than 40 years were around 3 times as likely to deliver by caesarean section as teenage mothers (51% and 18%).

The report also shows that fewer women are smoking during pregnancy-12% in 2013, down from 15% in 2009.

‘Tobacco smoking during pregnancy is the most common preventable risk factor for pregnancy complications, and is associated with poorer perinatal outcomes including low birthweight, pre-term birth and perinatal death,’ Dr Al-Yaman said.

Smoking was more common among teenage mothers, mothers living in Very remote areas, mothers living in the lowest SES areas, and Indigenous mothers.

‘Some positive changes were seen in smoking behaviour during the antenatal period, with around one-fifth (22%) of women who smoked quitting in the first 20 weeks of pregnancy.’

Interestingly enough – Baby boys slightly outnumber baby girls, with more male (51%) than female (49%). The sex ratio, defined as the number of male live born babies per 100 female live born babies, was 106.0.

How old were you when you had your first child?

Share your thoughts below.

Image – stock photo

25 Comments

- - madlac2 said
  - 04 Feb 2016
    9:56 am
I was 23 with my first and 25 with my second, hopefully i will be 36 with my 3rd xx

- - curlytops said
  - 02 Feb 2016
    10:54 pm
intersting to know how its changing.

- - linaianna said
  - 02 Jan 2016
    10:41 am
Thanks for sharing this article

- - mom160421 said
  - 31 Dec 2015
    10:19 pm
I was in my late 30’s when I had my daughter.

- - aprilb1 said
  - 30 Dec 2015
    10:17 pm
i was 18 with my first and 23 with my second. I’m 24 now 🙂

- - rachelvk said
  - 30 Dec 2015
    9:12 pm
I was 33 when bub 1 arrived. I will be 35 when bub 2 joins us.

- - mom140193 said
  - 29 Dec 2015
    10:57 pm
I had my first at 26 then twins at 30. All miracles after multiple miscarriages and given i wasnt meant to be able to have children. I have noticed friends around my age having their kids later – mid 30’s.

- - Nas01 said
  - 24 Dec 2015
    2:58 pm
I was 21. I got married at 19 and always wanted to start having family young.

- - mom94125 said
  - 19 Dec 2015
    7:28 pm
wow that is good to know. i never really thought about the stats. i wonder why the age is increasing? education, careers, paying off debts?
- mom94125 replied
  
  09 Jan 2016 , 9:43 pm
  it is great that smoking is being reduced! that is progress!
- - Mummytoabeautifulprincess said
  - 18 Dec 2015
    4:32 pm
I would have been 26 had everything gone well with my first pregnancy but I gave birth to my first baby when I was 28. I’m now 31 and hoping to become pregnant again within the next year.
If I had my time over again though and especially knowing what I know now, I would have had my babies earlier!

- - mom169484 said
  - 18 Dec 2015
    4:26 pm
I was 16 nearly 17 when i had my little girl and 21 when I had my little boy age is just a number it dose not matter to the baby what age u are aslong as u can love a give everything that child needs who cares how u are xx

- - mom161840 said
  - 16 Dec 2015
    10:09 pm
I’m 21 years old and 23 weeks pregnant with my first. So excited to meet my little man!

- - mum4107 said
  - 15 Dec 2015
    5:51 am
39 when my miracle daughter was born

- - mom80542 said
  - 14 Dec 2015
    6:18 pm
Just had my first Bub 3.5 months ago at 43 🙂 and we are over the moon happy 🙂
- mom90758 replied
  
  14 Dec 2015 , 11:21 pm
  Congratulations!! 🙂
  - mom93821 replied
    
    16 Dec 2015 , 5:44 am
    
    Congrats to you on the birth of your bub.
- - chazza33 said
  - 14 Dec 2015
    5:00 pm
I was seventeen when I had my first and 34 when I had my last

- - Kasey said
  - 14 Dec 2015
    2:04 pm
Interesting read….I had my first at 23 & now having my 4th at 35. I’m actually enjoying this pregnancy alot more than I ever did with my others.

- - Nas01 said
  - 14 Dec 2015
    12:44 pm
I was 22 when I had first child. I got married at 19 and some time to travel before we started our family. I’m 27 now with 4 kids. We have definetly been busy.

- - mom123456789 said
  - 14 Dec 2015
    12:30 pm
I was 19 and I wouldn’t change it for the world. Yeah I’m young but I do the best job I possibly can to raise my daughter with all the love & care in the world

- - mom74640 said
  - 14 Dec 2015
    12:22 pm
Lke it

- - mom90758 said
  - 14 Dec 2015
    12:06 pm
Finally fewer women smoke during pregnancy. So good to hear, really!

I had my first and only child when I was 36 years old. Above the average age thus.