This is a question only the woman who wishes to be a mother can answer. There are some factors that can help you get to that decision faster.
Biologically speaking, a woman's instinct will tell her that she needs to have a baby once she is in her late twenties or early thirties. This is the body's way of telling the woman that it is the most optimum window for having a baby. Though this should not always be a factor to make a decision, it can definitely guide the woman to think about whether or not she wants to have a baby. Today women are having babies when it suits them rather than when convention dictates it. From their twenties to their forties, women are now able to have babies. Of course, it is easier to have baby in your twenties than later in life.
If the woman is at a happy and secure place in her life, or a just at comfortable space in terms of resources, confidence and stability, then it is at such times that she starts to think about adding to her family. If she is in a relationship or a marriage, this is also the time she would want to have conversations about bringing a baby into the equation. The talks would cover responsibilities and changes that will need to be made when a baby is added to the family. The woman would also need to be aware that once you have a baby, there is no turning back. There is no taking a break from taking care of a baby. A baby can be frustrating at times, trying in others but when a woman is ready to have a baby, she does not think of the possible problem areas and is focused on having a baby. Women ready to have a baby are ready for the radical change, even it means life will change.
If the woman is in a relationship or marriage, it's also important that she doesn't want to bring a baby into the marriage to keep that relationship going. A weak relationship is further weakened if it is deliberately held together by something as strong as a child. Couples who have been fighting or arguing a lot or are not sure about their future, usually, are not in the ideal situation to bring up a child. Occasionally one partner is ready before the other but it's important that the couple be in the same place before having the baby. It's a joint responsibility and if a baby is born before both are ready, then the partner could resent the baby and what it does to the relationship.
Financial resources, physical space, possible career breaks - all these factors also play a role in deciding when to have a baby. Occasionally the woman might make a decision based on these factors too.
Submitted by J on October 10, 2012 at 02:23
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