Huh? I’ve spent the last 7 years in the world of advanced-maternal-age pregnancies and I didn’t say anything in my post that isn’t backed by science. Women can
carry a pregnancy at older ages, even past menopause, if they are using embryos formed using younger eggs either from a donor or their own, frozen. But if they’re trying to get pregnant with their own present-day eggs then yes, age matters a whole lot.
A woman probably wouldn’t have too many issues getting pregnant with the first kid at 37 and having the child around 38, but by the time she recovers from that birth and is ready to try for #2, she’ll be approaching 40 and things really do get more difficult by then. A 40 year old woman only has a 5% chance of conceiving each month. And, it’s not just a matter of getting pregnant, it’s a matter of
staying pregnant. Miscarriage rates are higher because, as you can see below, less than 50% of a woman’s eggs are normal by her late 30s. Chromosomal abnormalities become more prevalent with age and older mothers have higher risk pregnancies, as well.
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“Graphic 3 shows that on average there is a decline in female fertility starting in the mid-thirties, with lower fertility especially after the age of 35. Women’s fertility will continue to decrease every year, whether or not she is healthy and fit because the number and quality of the eggs decreases with age. Even if a woman is not ovulating (for example if she is taking the contraceptive pill, or is pregnant), the number of eggs continues to decline at the same rate. How quick a woman’s fertility declines will depend on a combination of genetic and lifestyle (e.g. smoking) factors.”
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Of course, this is where someone is going to chime in to say their mother got pregnant with them accidentally at age 45. Yes, it happens. There are always statistical outliers and exceptions to every rule. But, if you’re starting out trying to build a family, assuming you’ll be the one to beat the odds isn’t a safe bet. It’s completely understandable that a woman in her mid-to-late thirties would feel like doesn’t have time to waste.
H&M were together roughly two years before getting married (thanks again Google!) which isn’t, IMO, rushing into it. They certainly didn’t have another 5+ years to wait while she got a feel for royal life, though.
Ultimately, I think they are both happier in the lives they’re living now so, lucky for them, it all worked out for the best.