But what’s shifting the narrative for older moms?

Behind the rise in births among women in their 40s are stories of choice, autonomy, and empowerment. These women aren’t just waiting for convenience; they’re waiting because they want to.

Some are pursuing advanced degrees or building fulfilling careers. Others are ensuring financial stability or simply taking the time to figure out who they are before bringing another life into the world.

And let’s not forget the science. Assisted reproductive technology, like IVF, has opened doors for women to have children later in life.

With advances in medical care, many women in their 40s are having healthy pregnancies, proving that the old “biological clock” trope isn’t as loud as society once made it seem.

Women have been sharing their personal experiences in response to a viral Instagram post.

"I had my second child at 42, almost 43, and my midwife said to me, 'Of all the pregnant women I'm caring for right now, including 18-year-olds, you’re the only one having a textbook pregnancy.' Everything is unfolding exactly as you'd hope."

Or this comment, “I love how women prove to the world that their clock is not ticking so loud after all! If women have the chance to choose, they choose the same path as men growing up, focusing on personal growth, then starting a family as a formed individual."

While developed nations celebrate the drop in teen pregnancies and the rise of older moms, the situation in countries like South Africa tells a different story. Teen pregnancies remain alarmingly high, with experts attributing the trend to poverty, gender-based violence, and limited access to reproductive healthcare.

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Age is just a number: CDC data shows 40s are the new 20s for baby-making