There is no right or wrong time to have a baby, but there are a lot of things to consider before you make the decision.
These decisions may mean looking at factors in your life, such as your health and your relationship with both your partner and those around you who will become your support network.
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Focussing On Your Health and Well-being
Health concerns are a worry for any pregnancy. If you can, work on getting yourself into as healthy a place as you can be both physically and emotionally before trying to conceive.
Things to look at might include:
- Your weight – having a BMI that is higher (30 and above usually) will make it harder to conceive.
- Your relationship with drugs and alcohol – both recreational drugs and alcohol have the potential to harm a developing fetus.
- Your emotional well-being – are you in a good place mentally? Stress and anxiety can make it harder to conceive.
- Your relationship – while it’s not how everyone will enter parenthood, being in a dedicated and loving partnership will make bringing a child into the world easier and financially more certain
Advantages of Having Children Later in Life
A couple who waits to have children may be more certain of their decision, even if it takes a bit longer to get there. Being older and more mature means you have likely faced many of life’s struggles already and overcome or dealt with them, leading to a greater sense of foundation for your journey into parenthood.
When a couple has kids later in life, they tend to be more involved with their family’s lives and see the importance of a united partnership and what it means.
If you’re considering having children as a potentially older parent, it may be worth investing in some non-judgmental counseling from professional services such as the GSA. Contact them through their website at: Gcaus.com.au.
Entering Your Twenties and Thirties With Kids
It’s a pretty big deal to have a child when you’re in your twenties or thirties. It can be difficult to adjust to being a parent, especially if you have been partying and having fun toward the end of college.
There is some debate among medical professionals on whether having children in their twenties or thirties is better, but research has found that children born after their parents have turned 25 years old are more likely to be healthier and smarter than their counterparts born earlier in life.
So, if you’re considering having kids later in life, it may be worth holding off until you’re at least 25 years old and know what you want from each other and life before committing to kids.
Retiring With Kids in Your Forties or Fifties?
Some people believe that having children when you’re in your forties or fifties is a great idea, as it can give you more time to set up your life in a way that works for you.
A lot of parents find that they have more time and energy to focus on the well-being of their family if they are retired.
Whether you plan to work part-time, full-time, or not at all after your children are born, finding a happy balance between child parenting and your new life will be an important task.
