One in 25 births in Britain to mothers aged 40 and over

One in 25 births in the UK in 2009 was to mothers aged 40 and over, according to official figures revealed this week.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the number of babies born to women aged over 40 was 26,976 last year, representing 3.8 per cent of the total number of births.

In comparison, 9,336 babies were born to over-40s in 1989 and 14,252 in 1999, marking a three-fold increase over 20 years.

In 2009 there was an overall 0.3 per cent drop in the birth-rate, the ONS said, pushing the age of the average first-time mother to 29.4, compared to 28.4 in 1999.

Commenting, Louise Silverton, deputy general secretary of the Royal College of Midwives, stated that the increase in the number of births in the last decade should be accompanied by an appropriate rise in the hiring of midwives.

“[Last year’s] very small decrease in the birth rate should not be used as an excuse to stop or reduce the promised rise in the number of midwives.”