Factors influencing women's decisions about timing of motherhood

Abstract

Objective: To examine the factors that influence women's decisions about the timing of motherhood from a life span perspective.

Design: Qualitative.

Setting: Large Western Canadian city with a high rate of infants born to women aged 35 years and older.

Participants: 45 Canadian women aged 20 to 48 years.

Results: Independence, a stable relationship, and declining fertility influenced women's decisions about the timing of motherhood. Women integrated child developmental transitions into a projected life plan as they considered the timing of motherhood. Partner readiness and family of origin influences played a lesser role. Delayed childbearing has become more socially acceptable, with subsequent negative connotations associated with younger motherhood. Parental benefits have limited influence on the timing of motherhood.

Conclusions: Recognition by nurses of the various and complex factors that influence women's decisions about the timing of motherhood may flag the importance of pregnancy-related counseling for woman across the fertility life span. Policy decision makers must be cognizant of the need for additional high-risk obstetric and neonatal health services when societal norms encourage women to delay childbearing in favor of completing education and establishing a career.