by Karen Travis

Created on: September 26, 2009   Last Updated: October 01, 2009

More women today than ever before are postponing the life altering choice of starting a family. The most obvious reasons range from having career objectives and financial stability to finding the right partner and overcoming ones' personal fears. Statistically, today, there are more women having first time births of healthy babies, after the age of forty, than in previous generations. This is largely due to the advancement in medical technologies and medicines. This growth in knowledge and practice enables women to have an alternate choice, choosing a career first rather than starting a family.

Women have valiantly overcome many obstacles in the past to arrive at the place they are today. They have earned the right to become career leaders in the modern world. Choices made of their own choosing and not dictated from society's views. It takes a tremendous amount of focus and time to build a lucrative career and many don't want the interference of having to choose between having children and their climb up the proverbial career ladder, simultaneously. Oftentimes, once a career is firmly established, then the word 'family' may finally come into play.

Economical stability is a realistic goal for most people and planning ahead is certainly a smart move. Many women and their partners may have plans to wait and purchase a home first before beginning a family. Some may be building a financial 'nest egg' in preparation before committing to producing their offspring. There are numerous explanations as to how and why financial stability may come into the decision making arena of when to have children. Taking into consideration the cost of raising children in this day, it plays to be smart, as some would say.

A newly married couple may want to wait just for the reason of having time together first. This may include vacation places and experiences not children oriented. A single woman may also want the same time for herself, time to explore the world or to engage in activities which would not be inclusive for children. She may want a chance to experience life and what it has to offer before settling down. She may want to explore interests and hobbies without anyone holding her down or back. Some women may have simply not found the right person to share a life with, whether by choice, or circumstance.

Still, there are those who may have emotional fears and reservations about bringing a child into this world. It could mean putting off having a family until such emotions and fears are dealt with. Confidence in oneself may need to be built on before the idea of raising a family can come into the picture. A tragedy in a woman's life may lead her to a choice of putting off having children, perhaps from a miscarriage or living through a friend's nightmare of losing a child.

Whatever her reasons for postponing may be, it is her choice!

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