Births to U.S. Women 40 and Older Top Teen Births as More Mothers Face Perimenopause
Updated
Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 5
Births to U.S. Women 40 and Older Top Teen Births as More Mothers Face Perimenopause
1 articles · Updated · The Washington Post · Jul 5
Summary
Women giving birth later in life are increasingly confronting postpartum recovery and perimenopause at the same time, with overlapping symptoms including brain fog, insomnia, mood swings, hot flashes and heavy bleeding.
A 90% rise in births among women ages 35 to 39 since 1990 has widened that overlap, and in 2023 U.S. births to women 40 and older exceeded teen births for the first time.
OB-GYNs say the two stages can be hard to distinguish because both involve sharp estrogen and progesterone shifts; if symptoms persist after weaning or once a baby sleeps through the night, perimenopause may be involved.
Many women say doctors dismissed their concerns as normal postpartum changes, a gap specialists link to limited postpartum follow-up and weak medical knowledge about the intersection.
Online groups and communities such as 40Mom Movement are emerging as older mothers seek information, treatment options and peer support around a once largely unspoken experience.