If you’re thinking about becoming a parent, you may be trying to figure out how to decide when to have a baby. Regardless of how well you try to time a pregnancy or the birth of a baby, parenting is no easy feat! Starting or adding to a family comes with challenges, stress, and obstacles, but it also offers an incredible amount of love and emotional connection. Is there a “perfect time” to have a baby? The answer often depends on a would-be parents’ (or parent’s) priorities and the scientific knowledge we have about what factors impact fertility.
What is the Best Age to Have a Baby?
If you ask any parent, the general consensus is that there is no right age or time to have a baby. But every situation has a unique set of circumstances. When considering the right time to have a baby, many factors come into consideration, such as whether there is a single intended parent or a couple? Are the intended parents part of the LGBTQ+ community? Is the couple, regardless of sexual orientation, currently prioritizing career, financial, or housing goals before committing to start a family? Answers to these questions will help determine when to have a baby and how to decide on the family planning options available to you.
When is the Right Time to Have a Baby Biologically?
Science has shown that a healthy woman in her twenties has a greater chance of getting pregnant each cycle, and the likelihood of conceiving diminishes as she ages. Based on biology alone, the ideal time for pregnancy is before age 32 and up until age 37. After 37, the fertility and the fecundity of a woman’s eggs decrease until she reaches menopause. Therefore, becoming pregnant before age 32 allows for a higher success rate for conception, birth, and health outcomes for the baby and mother. However, some women in their forties defy the odds and have healthy pregnancies and successful deliveries. In short, every egg and sperm combines to create a unique embryo, whether done through traditional family planning methods, surrogacy, IVF, or any other approach.
Factors that Influence the Decision When (and How) to Have a Baby
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, more American women and couples are delaying pregnancy until their thirties, often due to financial and career considerations. In addition, more LGBTQ+ couples are creating families through assisted reproductive technology (ART), adoption, and foster care. Figuring out how to decide when to have a baby is intensely personal, but considering both biological and individual needs can help future parents make the right decision for them.
All Are Welcome in the Family Creations Family!
Whether you are single or married or identify as LGBTQ+ or heterosexual, all are welcome at Family Creations! Our team can answer your questions about surrogacy and egg donation and help you consider when is the right time to have a baby. Contact us today!