Having a first child is a momentous time for all married couples, however, in recent years, some couples in several countries are having their firstborn later at older age. To look further into this trend, this essay will delve into the reasons why people opted to have their firstborn at an older age as well as discuss whether the benefits of this trend are greater than its drawbacks.
There are various factors why a family decides to have their first kid later, one of which is emotional maturity. Having a kid, especially the first baby, will be a whole new experience that comes with numerous challenges that require high emotional capabilities. Besides maturity, some also choose to have their first child at an older age because they want to be prepared financially, mostly to secure funding for the kid’s future like their education. Therefore, having the first kid later at an older age becomes highly preferable.
There are several benefits as it relates to this trend. The first one is readiness in the emotional aspect. As mentioned in the latter, having the first child is extremely challenging and requires a high emotional ability, which is very beneficial if parents are ready emotionally. Following the first advantage is a wise parenting method. Highly mature parents will teach their kids in a wise manner, which will have a huge impact on the kid’s later life. Well-planning in the financial also one of the primary advantages of this phenomenon as the funding for the kid’s necessities is secure.
Aside from the advantages, some drawbacks come with it, one of which is risky pregnancy. Older age pregnancy is known to be risky for both the mother and the baby as the possibility of child defect is higher. Other than the high probability of child defect, the possibility of miscarriage and premature birth is also higher in older-age pregnancies. Therefore, conceiving at an older age is not ideal for women and for the baby.
To conclude, the primary reasons why people have opted to have their firstborn later are maturity in terms of emotional as well as financial preparation. The advantages of this trend are greater than the disadvantages as having the first child at an older age prepares the parents emotionally and financially as well as shapes them to be wise parents.