In Defense of Older First-Time Moms

by Susan Newman, PhD

Actress Halle Berry had her first child at age 42

“When is the ideal time to have a baby?” Everyone has an opinion and most people have no qualms sharing it. Whatever people believe, women are having their first babies later than ever before.

In 1967 pregnancies among 40-something women were typically mothers having a third or fourth child. Today, however, women aged 40-44 are very likely to be having their first child. The National Center for Health Statistics recently foun...