Older Mums: More Women Are Having Babies Over 50 Than Ever Before


by Emily Gilbert |
Updated on

Statistics show that an increased amount of women are having babies over the age of 50

The number of women who are having babies once they’re 50 and over has doubled in the last five years, new UK research shows.

The number of women aged 50 and over who gave birth in 2012 was 154, a dramatic increase from the 69 women who became mums in 2008. In 2000, this number was just 44. But the research didn’t show why women are having children later in life – this could be for a number of reasons including advancements in fertility treatments, women choosing to focus on their careers first or simply not finding the right man to settle down with.

The number of women aged 50 and over who gave birth in 2012 was 154, a dramatic increase from the 69 women who became mums in 2008

Figures show that every week around three children are born to a mum in her 50s, despite health concerns that surround older women giving birth.

Older mums are more likely to suffer from ectopic pregnancies and miscarriages and risks to their babies include genetic abnormalities.

The number of mums aged 40 and over has also increased by 13 per cent from 26,419 in 2008 to 29,994 in 2012.

Around 20 per cent of babies are born to women who are 35 and over, which is considered the age a woman becomes an ‘older’ mum. This is the highest percentage since records began in 1938. And in some areas of the UK, including Bright, Maidenhead and Windsor, one in three women are 35 or older before having a child. 

But while being an older mum does come with some risks, there are plenty of positives, too, including better finances and a more stable career.

Did you leave having your baby until you were older? Let us know in the comments box below.

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