Research shows U.S. women having babies later in life

More women are having babies at an older age according to a recent study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The study also shows fewer teens are getting pregnant. ABC-7’S Nichole Gomez sat down with Daisy Cuevas, who had her first child when she was 17. She said pregnancy wasn’t her only challenge. ” I wouldn’t sleep. I had no sleep. I don’t know how i did it, but it was hard. As soon as I started showing people were like Oh my God she’s pregnant, she’s only 17,” Cuevas said.

While attending high school, she struggled with her school work. She said her grades dropped and she wasn’t doing what other teens her age were doing.” I couldn’t play sports because I couldn’t go to practice, I couldn’t go to parties or any social events,” Cuevas said. Daisy is among many women who have children in their teens. A study released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
found that the average age of women who had their first child in 2014 was 26 years.

Doctor Sireesha Reddy an obgyn with the Texas Tech Health Science Centers of El Paso said this may be because of birth control. “The availability of birth control, that gives woman a lot of options to delay child-bearing years.” “There’s an emphasis on going to school and finishing school. Individuals want to have those things available to them when they do get pregnant,” Reddy said.

Daisy Cuevas has been on both sides of motherhood, having giving birth to her oldest daughter, Chanel, at 17 years old and her youngest,3-month-old Julianna. She says she views motherhood a little differently in her 30’s.

“Your priorities are way different. I think you’re more fit to be a parent when you’re older.” Cuevas said

Dr. Reddy said people are thinking more about finances, and they’re preparing for children. She said there are some health risks in older women, such a diabetes and pre-eclampsia.