Apr 29, 2024 - News
Pennsylvania women are having babies later
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More Pennsylvania women are having babies in their 30s and 40s than 25 years ago, per provisional CDC data.
Why it matters: In the last few years, age 35 has gone from the start of "geriatric pregnancy," to potentially a maternal-age sweet spot, Axios' Carly Mallenbaum writes.
By the numbers: Today in the Keystone State, the average age of a woman giving birth is 29.9.
- Meanwhile, 54.6% of women gave birth in their 30s or older last year compared to 40.4% in 1997.
- Plus: Teen pregnancies plummeted in the state over the past quarter century.
The bottom line: New guidelines are considering pregnancy risks five-year age groups instead of a big advanced maternal age group.
- Risks, including of miscarriage, increase much more after age 40, compared to 35.
Go deeper: Please don't call my cervix incompetent