Thirtysomethings & the baby boom!
The nation’s fertility rate is at its highest level in 12 years, with about 265,900 babies born last year. But it is women between 30 and 34 who are having more babies than any other age group, and more than their age group has had in the past 43 years, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics figures released yesterday.
But an infertility specialist at IVF Australia, Michael Chapman, said yesterday women were putting their parenthood plans at risk because priorities had changed in the past 40 years, with many more focused on building careers and buying property. “Women and men are putting childbearing on hold because they want to have stability in their careers and be financially stable,” Professor Chapman said. “A lot of people live by the fallacious view that they can put off childbirth until they are older and then science or technology can save them when this does not hold true.”
The medical director of Family Planning NSW, Dr Christine Read, said most women wanted to explore career and partner options before having a child. “In my day, you decided on your partner early. Now men feel that they want to be committed and settled down [before they have a child] and women usually feel that they desire freedom to explore all of their options”.
The ABS also revealed that the average age for first-time mothers is now 31, which is the highest figure ever recorded. Read more here .