Moms in California are having children later, according to new provisional CDC data.
By the numbers: The average age of mothers in the state having babies has crossed into their 30s.
In 2003, the average age of California women giving birth was 28.1.
As of 2024, it's 30.9 — just above the national average of 29.7.
Zoom out: The state ranks sixth in the nation for maternal age, an Axios analysis found.
Washington, D.C., tops the list at 31.8 years old.
Mississippi ranks last at 27.5 years old.
The big picture: More people are pressing pause on parenthood thanks to increased access to reliable birth control and fertility treatments, though obstacles remain to getting pregnant later in life.
Knowing about fertility barriers ahead of time could encourage hopeful older parents to address a medical issue and perhaps freeze eggs for IVF early on — giving them a better shot at pregnancy.
