Becoming a mother and what it means today

Today, women face more choice than ever before. While this has contributed towards greater social, economic and reproductive freedom for women, it has also made the decision of when – or if – to become a mother more difficult. The United Nations recently reported that fewer women are having children and warned of the dangerous consequences of declining birth rates. Our research found that for many women, the decision to become a mother, and when, is not straightforward.

Key Data

Over a quarter of women (29.2%) who want kids haven’t had them due to financial reasons

More than 1 in 5 women (20.9%) haven’t had children because they don’t want to lose their freedom and time

Over three quarters of working mums (77.3%) reported having to reduce their working hours to care for their children – nearly four times as many as working dads (19.1%)

More than 1 in 3 women (42.6%) reported they have not had kids due to work-related reasons

Nearly 1 in every 2 women (47.1%) believe statutory maternity leave is too short

Cost of living is putting women off having kids

Nearly half of women (49%) are delaying having children due to fears about the cost of living and a lack of affordable housing among other reasons, our survey finds. This data emerges as the ONS warns UK birth rates are falling to their lowest since WWII.

Dr Mireia Galian, Senior IVF Consultant at IVI London

“There are many situations that make the current climate difficult to think about this as the best time to have a child.”