For decades, society has pressured women into getting married and having children in their 20s, stressing the importance of a “biological clock”. The idea is that fertility declines with age, making it harder to conceive as women get older. Because of this, many women have felt rushed to settle down and start a family early. However, nowadays, a significant number of women are choosing to wait until their mid-30s or later, prioritizing career, stability, or personal growth before embracing motherhood.
Women who have had kids after the age of 35 have taken to Reddit’s r/AskWomen subreddit to share their experiences and their regrets, if any, after one user posted this question:
Several women responded to this, sharing their experiences of getting pregnant and giving birth in their late 30s. Mostly, their decision to wait was because they hadn’t found the right partner, weren’t ready financially or emotionally, or just wanted to have thrilling experiences in their 20s before completely settling down in their 30s.
While some did admit to their regret of not trying for a baby early on, others were proud of their decision to wait because it eventually worked out well for them.
It’s important to keep in mind that every woman’s experience and body is different. So while it’s okay to take inspiration from other women, we are the best judges of our lives.