For the first time in history, women over 40 are having more babies than teenagers. Yes, you read that right. More newborns are coming from moms rocking anti-aging serums than high school backpacks.
According to a new CDC report, births to women over 40 have skyrocketed by 193% since 1990, while teen births have plummeted by 73%. In 2023, women over 40 accounted for 4.1% of all births, narrowly edging out teen moms at 4.0%. The idea of who becomes a mom and when is evolving.
The report, issued earlier this month by the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), revealed that the fertility rate in the U.S., which represents the average number of children a woman is expected to have during her reproductive years, has continued its long-term decline through 2023, with American women averaging 1.62 children, down from 1.66 in 2021 and 2022.
Let’s be real. Times have changed. Back in the day, settling down and having kids in your early 20s was the norm. But now? Millennials and Gen Z are prioritizing education, careers, and financial stability before diving into parenthood. And honestly, who can blame them? The cost of living is through the roof, dating feels like a full-time job, and let’s not even talk about student loan debt.
At the same time, modern medicine is making it easier for older women to have healthy pregnancies. With fertility treatments, IVF, and advanced prenatal care, the old-school idea that women have a tiny “biological clock” window is slowly being rewritten.
It’s not just teens and 40+ moms feeling the shift. Since 1990, overall U.S. births have dropped by 14%, and younger age groups are seeing the biggest declines:
- Births to women aged 20-24 fell by 44%
- Births to women aged 25-29 dropped by 23%
- Meanwhile, births to women aged 30-34 jumped 24%
- And for women aged 35-39, births have soared 90%!
So what does this mean? Simple: Motherhood is getting a glow-up. The days of panicking over having kids by 30 are fading, and more women are choosing to start their families when they’re ready, not when society tells them to.
With economic uncertainty, evolving gender roles, and medical advancements, we could be looking at a future where 40+ moms become the new norm. And honestly, they’re proving that you can build a career, live your best life, and still have a baby when the time is right.
Whether you’re a teen, in your 20s, or pushing 40, the best time to have a baby is when YOU decide!
