Family planning is a big topic. But we must not forget that many things cannot be planned as we would like. And that's a good thing. Because there is no such thing as the perfect time to have a child. On the one hand, there are couples who give birth quite early. On the other hand, there are women and men who want to get started in their careers or invest a lot of time in hobbies. And some couples don't find each other until they are over 40. However, if you believe the statistics, women should have a child at the age of 29, which is the German average. And the "magic threshold" is 35+, because this is when a woman is considered to be "at risk of pregnancy". Ultimately, however, these age figures are nothing more than numbers. Certainly, when it comes to fertility, the body undergoes certain changes with age. However, the ability to have children is very individual. Just like every person's life path.

Marietta (22) & Frieda (2): "Studying is the perfect time"

"'Don't you want to wait until you've finished your studies? I can't count how many times I've been asked this question. My husband Tim and I immediately agreed that we wanted to have children early. We both have quite young parents ourselves and think that's pretty cool. So why not start planning a family while still at university? Even though friends and family were skeptical, I got pregnant in my first semester, when I was 19. For us, studying is simply the ideal time to have children. As a student, I can decide when I work and for how long. I also receive BAföG for longer. Another practical aspect is that our university has its own daycare center. What I also think is pretty good: when I finish my studies and start working full-time, Frieda will already be quite independent. Tim and I would definitely make the same decision again."

Anita (33) & Justus (3): "I forgot to take the pill - that's when it happened"

"I always found children loud, dirty and exhausting. When we met in 2009, I told Bastian straight away that babies didn't play a role in my future plans. I loved traveling, my job in the book trade and my freedom. That wasn't a problem for him. A few years ago, we went on vacation to Italy. We traveled a lot, it was very exciting. With all the impressions, it happened: one morning I forgot to take my pill. Back home, I felt dizzy and my period stopped. The gynecologist then confirmed what would never have occurred to me: I was pregnant. Bastian was absolutely thrilled. My joy was limited, but an abortion was out of the question. So I got involved in the whole family thing. I thought to myself: if not now, then when? Bastian and I don't earn a bad living and had been happy together for years. What can I say? Justus is the greatest gift life could have given me. I now believe that some things can't be planned for a reason and just happen."

Kristine (54) & Arabella (11): "I never let myself get upset"

"Did I plan to become a mother so late? Not at all. I wanted to get pregnant shortly after I finished my training. But life had other plans for me. Because the prince charming just took forever to come along. It wasn't until I was 36 that I met Uwe. He was the first man I could really imagine having a family with. Of course, we didn't wait long to make a baby. But it didn't work out. At some point, I had resigned myself to not having children. And two years later, I held the positive pregnancy test in my hands, completely perplexed. I was incredibly happy. Even though some friends and relatives looked at me with disbelief or skepticism when I told them the news. I don't understand why people whisper about "older mothers". I believe that they bring a certain calmness that is really good for children."

Tips and information on the topic: Risk - late pregnancy

Dr. Margarita Kiewski is a gynaecologist from Berlin. Here she answers the most important questions on the topic of "late pregnancy".

When is the perfect time to have a child?

Every couple has to decide that for themselves. If we look at it from a biological perspective, an age between 20 and 35 is ideal for pregnancy.

Do women today tend to become mothers at a later age?

Yes, many women first want to pursue a career and establish a good financial situation. The desire to have children is put on the back burner for the time being. Today, women often have their first child between the ages of 30 and 40.

When does the chance of getting pregnant start to decrease?

At 25, a woman still has around a 30 percent chance of becoming pregnant per cycle. At 35, this has dropped to 25 percent, and at 40 it is five percent.

What are the risks of late pregnancy?

From the age of around 40, complications such as high blood pressure or diabetes can occur more frequently. The risk of miscarriage also increases with age. A 40-year-old pregnant woman has twice the risk.

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