‘It’s not a nice world to bring children into’: Births fall to the lowest level in 50 years

• Record low fertility rates: Live births in England and Wales have fallen to their lowest level in 50 years, reflecting significant demographic shifts in the UK population that may impact future service planning and workforce demands.
• Delayed motherhood: The age at first childbirth continues to rise, which has clinical implications for maternal and fetal risk assessment, prenatal screening, and counselling around age-related pregnancy complications.
• Healthcare planning implications: GPs and maternity services should anticipate reduced paediatric demand but prepare for increased complexity in older first-time mothers, requiring tailored antenatal and postnatal care strategies.

Live births in England and Wales are at their lowest since 1977, while the age of first-time mothers has also risen.

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