A fertility expert told Newsweek empty nesters may want another baby as kids grow, keeping the next chapter of parenthood open.
The 56-year-old writer and vice chair of Bezos Earth Fund reflected on married life with the Amazon founder and their blended family in an interview with... Sánchez has three children from previous relationships. Nikko Gonzalez, 25, is her eldest son with former NFL star Tony Gonzalez, and she has two children with her ex‑husband Patrick Whitesell: Evan, 19, and Ella, 18. Bezos, meanwhile, has four children from his previous marriage to MacKenzie Scott, making the couple’s household a blended family of seven children.
Experts say Sánchez’s comment suggests a broader demographic shift. For the first time in U.S. history, more than to teenagers, according to recent data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention .birth ratesIndeed, in 2023, women aged 30 and older accounted for just over half of all U.S. births—up from roughly 30 percent three decades earlier. Dr. Iris Insogna, a fertility expert at the Columbia University Fertility Center, said the desire to have children later in life often has as much to do with emotion and timing as biology—particularly for parents whose older children are already grown.
'There are many reasons why an ‘empty nester’ might feel compelled to expand their family later in life,' Insogna told.'As their younger children grow, there is a sense of a chapter being complete, of a door being closed. Having another child keeps that door open.' Insogna added that this sense of urgency can intensify as people approach the end of their reproductive years.'The biological drive to reproduce is undeniable,' she said. 'As the time approaches when reproduction may become impossible, a strong desire to try again may emerge before it’s simply too late.'
While those emotional factors play a powerful role, Insogna said delayed childbearing also reflects modern pressures rather than a lack of interest in parenthood. 'Many women today may choose to delay childbearing due to competing demands on their time,' she added, pointing to education, career advancement, financial stability and other personal priorities.'In the past, delaying childbearing often meant sacrificing the ability to have a biological child.' By a woman’s mid‑40s, spontaneous conception—and even IVF success using eggs—drops to below 5 percent. However, Insogna said the growing use of fertility preservation has dramatically reshaped what is biologically possible.or 50s using eggs or embryos that they froze at a younger age,' she said.'This is an example of reproductive autonomy, allowing for much greater flexibility and control over the timing of family building.' That combination of emotional readiness and medical possibility, Insogna said, helps explain why more parents are openly discussing later‑in‑lifeNewsweek’s reporters and editors used Martyn, our AI assistant, to help produce this story.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
US intel officials scramble to keep surveillance law running amid Iran war tensionsWith just days until a powerful surveillance law lapses, US national security officials are scrambling to prepare for potential blind spots in intelligence collection amid the US’ delicate ceasefire with Iran, current and former officials told CNN.
Read more »
Pope vows to keep speaking out against war after Trump criticismIn recent weeks, Leo has emerged as an outspoken critic of the US-Israeli war on Iran.
Read more »
The Artemis II mission worked—but should we really keep returning to the moon?Artemis II’s safe return from lunar orbit sparks a debate over the costs, climate effects and long‑term value of going back to the moon
Read more »
Denver7 Everyday Heroes work to keep Parker senior center runningRichard Butler joined the Denver7 news team in July of 2021. After almost three years as a news photographer, he moved into the role of specialty multimedia journalist.
Read more »
Curtain Calls: Orinda Starlight Village Players keep tradition to open 43rd seasonEast Bay theater group presents a work by Agatha Christie, “The Murder of Roger Ackroyd,” June 5 through July 3.
Read more »
Why Both Parties Keep Getting Latino Voters WrongMike Madrid tells the 1600 why Republicans and Democrats misunderstand Latino voters and what it means for 2028 and beyond.
Read more »