Some people have this ideal age that they want to be a mum, while others just decide the right age will be whenever it happens. Some think it is better to do it while you are younger, while others hold true to the stance that you should wait until you are older.
While we aren’t here to tell you one way or another, we do want to highlight what Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria says about being an older mum.
Longoria gave birth to her when she was 43 years old and believes it was the perfect age for her to become a mum.
Here are a few reasons why:
No surprises
No surprises might be a bit of a stretch – life never comes without any surprises – but there are likely to be fewer of them.
Over the years of waiting to become a mum, you have likely played out as many scenarios as possible in your head and have seen so many others go through parenthood that you have a better grasp of what to expect.
It could be as simple as knowing that when the thermometer reads a slightly higher temperature, it is okay to not rush to the hospital.
We know ourselves better
The older we are, the wiser we are – plain and simple. Knowing who you are and what you value in addition to having a strong sense of self-confidence will help you stand your ground and be a better mum.
No regrets about seeing the world
FOMO – the fear of missing out – can be all too real as a new mum. Suddenly you realise all these things you didn’t get to do yet that you still want to do. While being a new mum is exciting, it is important that you get to see the world first.
As an older mum, you have likely gotten quite a bit of travelling done and are more ready for that next phase of life.
Friendships spanning 20+ years
Being a new mum is hard at times and requires a strong support system. The older you are, the more years you have put into certain friendships. Having these friendships that span 20+ years can give you people that you really value and trust to fall back on when the times get rough.
A solid career to fall back on
Once you are out of the workforce for an extended period of time, it can be hard to get back in. Skills get dusty quickly, and the next generation of professionals swoop in fast.
An older mum will have more experience under her belt, and an established career could give her the seniority she needs to easily find work again.
Less pressure to conform
Unfortunately, the pressure to conform does not completely disappear after high school, although we all wish it did. It does shift, however, so as a new mum you might not feel the pressure to conform to the latest fashion trend, but you might feel pressured to conform to a parenting skill or to ensure your child is reaching milestones at the same times as the Joneses.
But the more we age, the less concerned we are with what people think and therefore, the less likely we are to feel and/or give in to the pressure to conform.
Fewer financial concerns
The financial responsibility is one of the largest deciding factors in when and if you should have a child. The cost of actually birthing the child – the prenatal doctor’s visits and hospital bills for both mum and baby – in addition to the cost of actually raising the child adds up.
While it will not get any cheaper the older you get, you are more likely to be more financially stable and have less financial concerns than a younger mum would. You have had more time to save and likely are more fiscally responsible as you have matured.
Finances are one of the leading causes of stress, and as an older mum, this is a benefit you will be glad to have.
Of course, there is no magic age that is the perfect time to have a baby. Each mum is going to face their own struggles and having a baby at various ages will all have their own struggles as well.
But, these are a few benefits to having a baby later in life straight from someone who has been there and done that.
What would you consider the perfect age for pregnancy?