Social influences and modern life bring up the question of when is the right time to have a child: age, financial situation, and maturity are just some of the factors every woman should consider if she wants to plan for a baby. The truth is, we can’t always plan everything in our lives; for example, a child might come as a surprise and the mother will instinctively grow and prepare herself to welcome the baby.

Is There an Ideal Age to Get Pregnant?

According to the physiological conditions of the body, doctors recommend getting pregnant between the ages of 20 and 30, as this period is considered the scenario where women have the highest chances of conceiving. As time passes, the production of eggs decreases and getting pregnant may become more difficult. After age 30, the chances of miscarriage, gestational hypertension, and complications during childbirth are higher. However, with advances in medicine, women can postpone motherhood using various methods, such as egg freezing, and are less worried about physiological factors.

Is Investing in One’s Career and Leaving Motherhood for Later Really the Best Option for Every Woman?

This will depend a lot on personality, life experiences, and personal circumstances. It’s natural today for women to seek their place in the job market and take advantage of opportunities that, years ago, were more restricted to men.

Advantages of Delaying Motherhood

  • With a stable financial and professional life, it is likely you will more easily meet the needs and expenses that come with a child;
  • More maturity and emotional readiness acquired over time;
  • A stable relationship, prepared for a child’s arrival;
  • Women who delay motherhood can enjoy marriage, travel, and prepare their home for the baby’s arrival;
  • More time and attention can be dedicated to the child and family, because the situation was planned and returning to work will be optional;
  • After becoming a mother, it’s often easier to return to a career, since she already has professional experience;
  • You can enjoy your children and provide greater comfort, such as trips, outings, good health insurance, classes, and things that require a good financial balance to enjoy.

There Are No Rules When It Comes to Motherhood!

There are many women who also choose to have a baby earlier, even before finishing school, and take on the journey of raising children. As we like to stress, in these situations there is no right or wrong, but what is best for each woman.

Motherhood planned for earlier in life also offers benefits for couples and many choose to have a baby as soon as possible, pointing to the following advantages:

  • To enjoy the children to the fullest, since they are young and have the energy for it;
  • To have children first and then focus on their careers once the kids are older, so there’s no more worry about motherhood and they can dedicate themselves fully to their professional life;
  • Parents who have children earlier are able to be closer during their children’s growth and teenage years;
  • Professional life, education, and career are not necessarily off the table for this mother. Nowadays, it’s quite common to start college and invest in a career later on;

Therefore, before worrying about the best time or even the ideal age to have a child, consider the following: what is the best situation for you? This is a question that should be asked individually and also as a couple.

Don’t Just Consider the Right Age to Get Pregnant

The anxiety of waiting for a baby can sometimes make you forget something important: the emotional maturity for this moment. The right time to have a child is extremely relative. Before considering age, genetic, and hormonal factors, be aware that having a child is a much greater and longer responsibility, especially as children are living with their parents for longer. You will have to give up time, attention, and be fully aware that all care will be 100% the parents’ responsibility. Having a child requires physical — and above all — emotional energy.

Don’t Let Yourself Be Influenced by Social Pressure

You know those family gatherings where there are always questions and cliché comments about your life like: When’s the baby coming? What about marriage? A little brother, etc. That will always be around, and you can be sure we will never quite fit the ideal standard for so many pressures around our lives.

The decision to have a child and the right time is very personal, so never make this decision due to family or social pressure, but because you feel it is the right moment to dedicate yourself to this stage that is so important in a woman’s life.

One child, two, or even none at all — this is a choice and assessment for the couple, and surely we all have our own reasons. The ideal time to get pregnant is like asking: What makes you happy?… For each person, a different answer.

See also: Only Child – Pros and Cons of Having Just One Child