Pregnancy Age Shift: Women across the world are rapidly changing their decisions about becoming mothers. Earlier, the focus was on getting married and having children, but today, women are focusing on building a career before getting married.
Delayed Motherhood Delhi: You've likely heard the news that women are delaying motherhood. Delhi's 2024 birth and death report revealed several important facts. This report makes it clear that the average age of motherhood in the capital is gradually increasing. While previously most women became mothers between the ages of 20 and 29, now the trend of becoming mothers is increasing even after the age of 30, and especially after the age of 35.
Delay in becoming a mother
The report states that by 2024, the number of women over the age of 35 becoming mothers will reach 8.78 percent. This percentage has been steadily increasing since 2011. Despite this, the age range of 25 to 29 years is still considered the most common for motherhood. Approximately 37 percent of women in this age group became mothers. Meanwhile, the number of women becoming mothers between the ages of 20 and 24 was approximately 27 percent. This change clearly shows that the mindset of society and families is changing compared to earlier times.
In fact, there are many social and economic reasons behind late motherhood. Girls are now studying more than ever before, focusing on careers, and the age of marriage has also increased. Furthermore, most people decide to start a family only after achieving financial stability. This is why the trend of becoming mothers at an older age is increasing.
What are the challenges?
However, experts are not entirely comfortable with this trend. Delhi-based gynecologist Dr. Ruchika Sharma says, "Pregnancy over the age of 35 carries many risks. Delivery can be problematic at this age. The risk of genetic diseases in the child increases, and the mother's health is also put under more pressure. The risk of problems like diabetes and blood pressure increases, especially. However, these risks can be significantly reduced with timely health checkups and better medical care."
The sex ratio is falling.
The report reveals another serious aspect: the birth rate is steadily declining, and the sex ratio is also falling. In 2022, the sex ratio at birth was 929 girls per 1,000 boys, which declined to 922 in 2023 and further to 920 in 2024. Experts believe that this decline is not a mere coincidence, but rather that trends like illegal fetal sex determination may be responsible. This situation is extremely worrying in urban areas like Delhi-NCR.
The report also showed that a mother's level of education has a significant impact on family size. Among mothers who gave birth to a fourth or more children, the highest proportion was among women with less than a matriculation education. In contrast, this figure was significantly lower among women with graduate and higher education. This suggests that education empowers women to make better family planning and health-related decisions.
Overall, this Delhi report paints a dire picture. While the age of motherhood is increasing and women are delaying motherhood, both the number of births and the sex ratio are declining. Experts believe that providing women with accurate information, awareness, and timely medical care is crucial to navigating this changing trend.
