America's Surprising Birth Trend: Older Women Lead in Childbearing

• For the first time in the US, women aged 40 or older are having more children than teenagers, according to NCHS data.
• America's total fertility rate fell to 1.62 children per woman in 2023, a significant decline from 1990, primarily due to fewer births among women under 30.
• Health experts attribute this shift to inflation, career pressure, education, lifestyle changes, and delayed marriage/motherhood.
• Modern medical technologies like IVF and better prenatal care enable older women to conceive and have healthy pregnancies.
• Free or low-cost contraceptive methods and increased awareness have reduced unwanted pregnancies among young people.

Why It Matters: Older women in the US are increasingly delaying motherhood due to societal shifts and medical advancements.