Maternal Age in UK at Highest
By Danell Swim
February 28, 2008
The cesarean rate in the UK is about to get a whole lot higher, now that all those “old moms” are choosing to endanger themselves and their unborn babies by choosing to give birth at such an advanced maternal age. Yes, this is sarcasm.
The conception rate for women aged 40 and over has reached a “record high”, prompting fears that the growing number of older mothers is placing increased pressure on maternity units.
The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics (ONS) show that the overall conception rate rose by nearly 3 per cent between 2005 and 2006 from 76 to 78 conceptions per 1,000 women aged 15-44.
The conception rate in England and Wales rose between 2005 and 2006 for all women aged 19 and over. There were an estimated 866,800 conceptions in England and Wales in 2006, compared with 841,800 in 2005.
But the rate for women aged 40 and over increased fastest, by more than 6 per cent from 11.5 per 1,000 women aged 40-44 in 2005, to 12.2 in 2006.
The statistics underline the growing tendency for young women to defer having children while they concentrate on their careers, which can often suffer after childbirth.
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