Jersey mothers waiting until 30s for first child, report finds

A Public Health Intelligence study found 66% of women had their first child aged 30-39 in 2023

Women in Jersey are waiting until their 30s to have their first child, a report has found.

A Public Health Intelligence study found 66% of women had their first child aged 30-39 in 2023.

It said a total of 799 babies were born to resident Jersey mothers in the same year.

It found Jersey mothers also had fewer children on average at just under 1.3 each, compared to more than 1.5 each for those in England and Wales.

It said 43 woman per 1,000 gave birth in Jersey in 2023, compared to 52 per 1,000 in England and Wales when last surveyed in 2022.

In 2023, 5% of babies were born at home, and 9% of all live births were classed as pre-term when born before 37 weeks.

A total of 42% of all deliveries were c-section in 2023, compared to 35% in England between 2021 and 2022.