In developed countries, women become mothers at increasingly advanced ages. The causes of this phenomenon are a set of factors related to lifestyle that have been delaying the age of being a mother in recent years. According to data from the INE (National Institute of Statistics), in Spain the average age of first-time mothers is 32.2 years and 30% of women have their first child over 35 years of age.
Without a doubt, maternal age is an influential factor in the development of children. The maturity with which women face motherhood evidently affects the upbringing of children and their future life. We mentioned six great advantages of being a mother after 35 .
Although getting pregnant at an advanced age is twice as difficult and is associated with higher risks in pregnancy and childbirth, today, thanks to regular medical check-ups and having a healthy pregnancy, many women have their first child past 35 without any complications.
In addition, there are many advantages of being a mother at 35 , when the woman has achieved a certain job and socioeconomic stability that encourages her to live the experience of motherhood. These are some:
Improve mental abilities
There are several studies that link advanced maternal age with an improvement in mental abilities . According to a study published in the Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, women who have their first child after age 35 perform better on tests of mental acuity, problem solving and verbal abilities.
One reason could be because the increase in hormones that occurs during pregnancy could affect brain chemistry, and that the older the mother, the longer these changes in her brain will last. This translates into better cognitive function in advanced ages.
They punish children less
But the benefits are not only for them, but also for the children and the way in which they will be educated. A new study of almost 5,000 mothers in Denmark, published in a recent issue of the European Journal of Developmental Psychology, has found that older mothers are less likely to yell at their children and impose harsh punishment , and that children are less likely to to have social, emotional and behavioral problems.
When checking on up on the children of mothers aged 7, 11 and 15. It was found that the children of older mothers have fewer social, emotional and behavioral problems at the ages of 7 and 11, but not by 15. Also age observed that older mothers were less likely to harshly scold and discipline their children.
They have a better economic situation
At these ages, women usually have a better economic situation and a consolidated employment situation. The economic stability allows to face the upbringing of the children with greater tranquility.
They are more mature
Psychological maturity is an advantage in itself. There are fathers and mothers who have had children in their twenties and have had them again in their forties and they say that the difference is very noticeable. They prioritize the really important concerns and avoid those that are not so important.
They become more flexible and tolerant, creating a less structured and positive environment, which leads to a healthier and happier parenting .
They lead a healthier life
Generally, at older ages, women are more aware of healthy nutrition. They are more careful with their diet, they care more about the quality of the food they eat, and this has an impact on a better diet for their children .
They have greater self-confidence
In turn, they have a more positive perception of their body, they know themselves better and they have greater confidence in the decisions they make. This security also affects consistency when educating children . It does not mean that younger women do not have it, but obviously life experience contributes to making better decisions for our children.
In Babies and more | Babies born to women over 35 could be smarter
