More and more parents are saying they’re not too old for a family. But there are risks

FIGURES show that women are increasingly delaying motherhood and choosing to have their children later in life.

Statistics published yesterday showed that there had been a steady increase in the proportion of births to women aged 30 to 34, rising from 13 per cent in 1976 to a peak of 31 per cent in 2002.

This has now fallen slightly to 27 per cent in 2010.

The proportion of births to mothers in the 35 to 39 age group has also increased. Births in these women increased to 17 per cent in 2008, compared with 4 per cent 20 years ago. This has now decreased to 16 per cent.

While they make up a small percentage of overall births, there has also been a rise in mothers over 40. Nearly 4 per cent of births are now to women aged 40 and over, compared with less than 1 per cent during the 1980s.

Information Services Division Scotland, which published the statistics, said: “There has been an increase in the proportion of babies born to women over the age of 30.

“It is well established that women are having fewer children and postponing childbirth until they are older.”

But concerns have been raised by maternal health experts that older mothers are more likely to experience problems during pregnancy and labour.

There are also increased risks for the baby.

There was also good news in the statistics, however, which showed a continued drop in women smoking during pregnancy.

This also increases the risk of complications.

The overall percentage of women who reported smoking at the time of their first antenatal booking has decreased consistently from 29 per cent in 1995 to 18.8 per cent in 2010.

But the statisticians warned that the number of cases where smoking behaviour was unknown had risen from 5 per cent in 1995 to 10.7 per cent in 2010, and that this may include a proportion of smokers.

It is thought that many women do not report their smoking habits to health staff.

LYNDSAY BUCKLAND