Is having a baby in your 20s ideal?
Expecting a baby is happy news for most couples. While there never really is any right age to welcome a child into your life, a lot of people do believe that having a baby early in your life, when you are in your prime years is the most beneficial. Mira Rajput, actor Shahid Kapoor's wife, all of 26, is a mother to two tiny tots. She had her first baby, daughter Misha when she was 22, just a few months after she got married. Kylie Jenner was also just 20 years old when she welcomed Stormi into her life. Celebs like Reese Witherspoon and Britney Spears had their babies in their early 20s too.People widely believe that having a baby so early gives parents time to settle, makes perfect use of the 'biological clock', gives parents more energy to handle children as well. But, scientifically, are there any real benefits to starting a family so early on? We explain...
Why are the 20s considered a good age to have kids?
The benefits of having children at a young age run aplenty. Personally, 20s are the time when you have the most energy, it will come in handy while running behind a toddler who just won't tire. Moreover, the odds of conceiving are high, with an 18% chance (highest) of having a baby in three months of trying naturally.
There's also a health benefit for the mama and the baby. The risk of developing complications, or having premature birth is relatively low, as compared to when you have a baby in your late 30s.
20s are suitable for a healthy pregnancy
20 somethings also have a lower chance of miscarrying, chromosomal disorders, having gestational diabetes, blood pressure and more likely to be fitter and healthier.
People who have a baby in their early 20s are also more likely to be less stressed once their child is all grown up, giving them more time to concentrate on themselves.
Fertility starts to decline as you age
Chances of conception start to fall down after you age. A woman's eggs start to decrease in number gradually after the age of 32, and more sharply around the ages of 35-37.
Other factors such as health conditions, smoking, cancer diagnosis, endometriosis, fertility issues and infections could also make it surprisingly harder to conceive naturally. In many cases, doctors recommend women to go for IVF and surrogacy as well.
Parenting in the late 30s can also be a little challenging, making people look after children as well as their own ageing parents. Pregnancy in the 40s come with their own set of challenges.
That being said, pregnancy after a certain age is not entirely impossible.
Why some people don't prefer having children so early in life
One of the biggest factors which impact family planning is lack of sufficient resources-financially or otherwise. Most couples, who start a family in their early 20s are only starting out in life, which may make taking care of a family a little more cumbersome. Taking care of a baby is indeed costly. Hence, it's always advised to take financial planning into account before deciding to have a baby.
Are there any drawbacks to having a baby so early?
While the 20s may be the time a couple would be at the peak of their reproductive well-being, having a baby (or two) can make people refocus and reprioritize life- from life, travel, jobs, housing, money and leisure, especially in the first couple of years. Thus, having a baby in your 20s can be much more psychologically draining compared to parents who have a baby later in life.
In some cases, having a baby too early, before the age of 25 could also bring on additional risks to maternal health. But that isn't always the case.
Again, with a shift in social norms, planning a baby doesn't seem ideal for people in their early 20s and isn't usually the first choice if you ask them.
Bottomline
What is the right age to have a baby? There is no one good answer to this. All age groups carry certain benefits, risks with pregnancy. However, the right age depends on your own personal choices. Before you start a family, it's important to be sure about yourself, have a sound mind and capable of handling the full-blown responsibility of a child.
The optimum age to have a child is when a person is ready- physically, emotionally, mentally and financially. Biologically, 20s might be the best age, but one definitely needs to consider other factors as well before welcoming a baby.