Age is just a number: CDC data shows 40s are the new 20s for baby-making

IOL News

22-04-2025

A report from the CDC's National Vital Statistics System paints a vivid picture: births among women in their 40s have more than tripled since 1990, while the rates of teen pregnancies have plummeted to historic lows.
Image: Boko Shots /pexels
Motherhood is no longer a one-size-fits-all journey. For decades, societal expectations dictated when and how women should have children.
However, according to a recent report from the CDC's National Vital Statistics System, the narrative is shifting significantly.
Births among women in their 40s have more than tripled since 1990, while teen birth rates have dropped to historic lows. This is more than just a set of statistics; it's a portrait of women reclaiming their power over one of the most personal decisions of their lives.
The rise of "not right now, thanks"
There's a clear generational shift happening, and it's hard to miss. Gen Z and Millennials are saying, 'Hold the diapers, please.'
Thanks to better sex education, access to contraception, and a cultural shift toward prioritizing personal growth, fewer teens are becoming moms. And it's a big win: teen birth rates have plummeted, opening the door for better health, education, and economic opportunities.
The numbers don't lie. Teen birth rates in the US are at their lowest ever, and this trend is echoed globally. In South Africa, however, the story is different.
According to a 2024 District Health Barometer, a staggering 365 teenagers give birth every day, with 10 of them under the age of 15.
While progress in reducing teen pregnancies is evident worldwide, the disparity between developed and developing nations highlights the role of access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities in shaping women's choices.
But what's shifting the narrative for older moms?
Behind the rise in births among women in their 40s are stories of choice, autonomy, and empowerment. These women aren't just waiting for convenience; they're waiting because they want to.
Some are pursuing advanced degrees or building fulfilling careers. Others are ensuring financial stability or simply taking the time to figure out who they are before bringing another life into the world.
And let's not forget the science. Assisted reproductive technology, like IVF, has opened doors for women to have children later in life.
With advances in medical care, many women in their 40s are having healthy pregnancies, proving that the old 'biological clock' trope isn't as loud as society once made it seem.
Women have been sharing their personal experiences in response to a viral Instagram post.
"I had my second child at 42, almost 43, and my midwife said to me, 'Of all the pregnant women I'm caring for right now, including 18-year-olds, you're the only one having a textbook pregnancy.' Everything is unfolding exactly as you'd hope."
Or this comment, 'I love how women prove to the world that their clock is not ticking so loud after all! If women have the chance to choose, they choose the same path as men growing up, focusing on personal growth, then starting a family as a formed individual."
While developed nations celebrate the drop in teen pregnancies and the rise of older moms, the situation in countries like South Africa tells a different story. Teen pregnancies remain alarmingly high, with experts attributing the trend to poverty, gender-based violence, and limited access to reproductive healthcare.
Advances in reproductive technology, such as IVF, have also made it increasingly feasible for women in their 40s to have healthy pregnancies.
Image: SAULO LEITE/pexels