Chandigarh, February 1 (Punjab Khabarnama Bureau): In a new episode of the podcast The Masoom Minawala Show, Dr Nandita Palshetkar, a gynaecologist specialising in infertility and IVF, spoke about everything from conception and fertility struggles to the societal pressures surrounding motherhood. She also revealed the ‘ideal age’ to get pregnant
‘Age is very important for women’
Asked what is the ideal age for women to get pregnant, Dr Nandita Palshetkar said, “By 28, I feel. Because I am a doctor, I am backing it up with science, I am not talking like a mother-in-law. I feel that the eggs start diminishing, the quantity starts diminishing. But yes, by 35, in today’s world, it’s more practical. But we do know that science is showing that things start changing after 28.”
Responding to whether she’d recommend getting pregnant before 28, Dr Nandita said, “But that becomes difficult as women don’t get married before 30 today. So, I think it is okay. 30-35 is a good age to have your first baby… age is very, very important for women.”
What’s the best age to have a baby?
Ultimately, the best age for a woman to get pregnant is when she is physically, emotionally, and financially ready to become a mother. But what do scientific studies have to say?
A 2002 study pinpointed the ideal age to give birth to a first child as 30.5. The average age of first-time moms is nearly 27, according to the US-based Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. A 2016 study found that birth rates have risen among women in their 30s and dropped among those in their 20s.
Summary: A doctor explains the ideal age for pregnancy, supported by scientific evidence. Factors like fertility rates and health risks are discussed, emphasizing informed decision-making for women.