article_snippet: The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show that more women than ever are having babies later in life in order to focus on more women education and careers.
article_snippet: National Statistics show that double the number of women are now having babies over the age of 35 than double the number of women were in 1990, despite it being the time when fertility is said to plummet.
article_snippet: The number of over-50s giving birth has more than doubled in the past five years, with three children every week in Britain born to a mother in this age group.
article_snippet: The ONS report on the rise of older mothers in Britain published last month said: 'Reasons for an increased number of women conceiving at ages 30 and above included increased participation in higher education; increased female participation in the labour force; the increasing importance of a career; the rising opportunity costs of childbearing; labour market uncertainty, housing factors and the instability of partnerships.'
article_snippet: There were 14 pregnancies for every 1,000 women over 40 in 2012, more than double the 1990 rate of 6.6 per cent.
article_snippet: Births to mothers over 40 are now running at four times the levels of the 1980s.