Ontario doula Warda Warsame has been in the profession for six years and shares that most of her clients are bewteen the ages of 37 to 46-years-old. (Courtesy: Canva)
Women are changing the narrative that having kids in your 30s is your last chance to do so as many are now having children in their 40s.
According to Statistics Canada, compared to previous generations, on average women are having their first child later in life and in 2024 the country’s total fertility rate was at a new low.
Although, data shows that the majority of women of childbearing age did report that they do want to have kids.
The average age of childbearing in Canada was 31.8 years old at the time of delivery in 2024.
Reports show that rising education levels, people deciding to get married later on and high costs of living are contributing to many women having children later on.
The Brandon Gonez Show spoke to a birth and postpartum doula, Warda Warsame who shared her experience of working with women who are deciding to have children later in life as they become more established.
“I understand the choices that a lot of my clients are making at that age is like, they’re more established in their careers,” said Warsame. “They have the financial means now to have a baby. They have built their career enough so that they could take a moment to step back and then, you know, have that baby and go back without it being too difficult.”
Having practiced as a doula for six years, Warsame, the founder of Abaayo Doula, was inspired to join the profession after receiving valuable support from a doula during her second pregnancy and birth.
A doula differentiates from a midwife as they are a non-medical support system for the family throughout their pregnancy and birth journey, providing emotional support during labour as well as the postpartum period. They also help to provide answers regarding the healthcare system and to be the family’s extra set of arms.
Warsame does say that in her experience, women having children in their 40s is not particularly new and that the majority of her clients are between the ages of 37 to 46.
While acknowledging that pregnancies later in life can carry greater health risks, Warsame mentioned that many of her clients take intentional steps to prepare physically before conceiving.
“Pregnancy in that age group is not also something that is happening, you know, the spur of the moment, or like it’s not a decision that is taken lightly. It’s something that a lot of times folks are getting prepared for,” she said.
Women in their 40s are more susceptible to maternal health risks such as gestational diabetes, placental abruption, complications during delivery and the baby are also at higher risksfor premature birth and chromosomal abnormalities.
However, many women in their 40s have healthy pregancies and delivery and health risks are monitored through more medical supervision.
“I think there are assumptions about the health impact of pregnancy in that age group, and there is obviously some validity to that. But majority of my clients are actually not dealing with those health impacts,” she adds.
The media has also highlighted celebrity women who are in their 40s that are havig children, like actress Anne Hathaway (43) who has been seen recently showing off her baby bump on red carpets and on her social media.
Warsame says that women in their 40s, who are thinking about having children should make sure that they have a good support system for themselves and their family as having a child is a lifelong commitment.
“Once you have a child, you are committed to that, so it’s like if you have that drive to be a parent, go for it. If you don’t, it’s okay. You don’t owe society anything,” she said.
