Preconceived ideas? A snapshot of preconception planning and pregnancy in the UK
Seven Seas have just launched a new whitepaper entitled ‘Preconceived ideas? A snapshot of preconception planning and pregnancy in the UK’. The whitepaper which surveyed 5,240 pregnant women and mothers reveals that parents say that the perfect age to have a baby is 26.
The whitepaper is authored by Seven Seas with expert contributors including Nutritionist Dr Emma Derbyshire, Midwife Nikki Khan and Clinical Psychologist and Parenting Expert Dr Claire Halsey and coincides with the launch of the new Seven Seas Pregnancy range.
Key findings:
New research shows that parents say the perfect age for a women to have a baby is 26. Although those without children say that the perfect age to start a family is 28,those that have experienced parenthood wish they had started their families earlier in life
41% of 18 to 24 year old mums planned their pregnancy. This shows that younger women are choosing not to delay childbearing until later in life. In addition parents aged 35 to 44 years old were more likely than any other age group to say that they wish they had children earlier in life.
Six in 10 parents say that earning a collective salary of just £25,000 is enough before starting a family. Considering this is £1,200 less than the national average salary for one personand the average cost of having a baby in the UK is estimated to be £10,400 each year,the current economic climate is likely to be playing a role in parents’ income expectations and perceptions of what is considered financially acceptable to raise a family
Financial stability before having children is considered paramount to mums with adopting a healthy attitude deemed less important. Mums were 30% more likely to be concerned about being financially stable (49%) before having children than being healthy enough to start a family (19%)
Despite government recommendations, new data shows that only half (56%) of mums and pregnant women took folic acid in preparation for their pregnancy.In addition 85% of mums and pregnant women didn’t take a conception supplement containing folic acid, omega-3 and vitamin D during their pregnancy.This is concerning as data shows that up to 72% of Neural Tube Defects could be prevented if all women took folic acid as recomended
In sum, the whitepaper compares and contrasts the attitudes of parents and those without children, explaining their beliefs and concerns about preconception planning, pregnancy and starting a family to show the lifestyle, wellbeing and nutritional choices they make when starting a family.