0.0 Children
on 28/10/09
One of the most important issues taking place at the moment, especially for women, is that of fertility.
Ever since the 1970’s women have been making choices about what point in their life they may want to have children, and this has steadily pushed the average age of motherhood upwards until we reach where we are today with the average age a woman has a child is 29.3 years old. We find that in most developed countries that we are making key decisions about the way that we live our lives that are also having an impact on our ability to have children, from careers, exercise & fitness, financial security, to choosing our partners.
Already featuring in storylines for major films, TV programmes and soaps we have gone from the cursed inadequacies of the 'singleton' in the likes of Bridget Jones Diary to the almost psychotic female characters recently featured in the Eastenders with not just one desperate character but two, with both Jane and Ronnie turning to increasingly desperate measures to have a child. The Trend Boutique feel this is just reflecting this underlying social shift.
The problem is that the lifestyle choices are leading to an increase in fertility problems within men & women as they leave having children to later in life. This in many developed countries, may result in many couples or single women wanting children being faced with the bleak prospect of ‘0.0 children’ if we do not make radical changes now. For future generations we may have to dramatically change the way in which we prioritise our aspirations in life, and as many students fall within the 18-25 bracket it will be this group of people that will experience this initial wake-up call surrounding fertility.
Milk bottle lamp for Droog by Tejo Remy
Photographer: Robaard/Theuwkens (Styling by Marjo Kranenborg, CMK)
Fertility – Facts & Figures
Most of the focus on fertility centres on women and for at least the last decade there has been the talk of women’s biological clocks ‘ticking’ and desperate ‘singletons’ that have put their careers before motherhood. This has all seemed fairly light hearted and predominately anecdotal up to now; however the reports by specialists in the media are becoming more alarmist and increasingly prevalent.
So what are the facts?
- The number of births reached 1.96 children per woman in 2008; in 1970 it was 2.4 (the UK has, however, increased each year since 2001, when it hit a record low of 1.63).
- The number of children needed to be born to replace and support the economy (taking into account the ageing population and migration) is 2.1.
- The number of pregnancies for women aged 20–24 fell by 20 per cent between 1976-1998, whilst for women aged 30–34 and 35–39 they increased by 62 per cent and 82 per cent respectively.
- In 2008, the mean age for giving birth in the UK was 29.3 years, while in 1978 the mean age was almost three years lower (26.7 years).
- The chances of conception after 1 year of unprotected sex are 75% in 30 year olds, 66% in 35 year olds and drop to 44% in 40 year olds.
- Approximately 1 in 5 women reaching the end of their fertile life is now childless, this compares with 1 in 10 in the mid-forties.
- Men have an equal level of infertility as women; with 32.5% of men & 32.5% of women individually having fertility problems and 10.8% experiencing joint infertility (the remaining % is put down to ‘unexplained’ or ‘other’ reasons).
- IVF success rate is that 30% will give birth at the age of 30, 24% at the age of 35, and 17% at the age of 45, and just 5% at over 45.
- The average cost of a single cycle of IVF is £5,000 and there are 40,000 cycles of IVF performed in the UK each year making this a £200 million a year industry in the UK alone.
For women it may be surprising that a woman’s biological clock actually starts ticking from when she is inside her own mother's womb (as all the eggs a woman ever produces are already present in the ovaries of a developing foetus). This starts to reduce from 6 or 7 million eggs (at 20 weeks of pregnancy) to 1-2 million by the time the child is born, to approximately 300,000 when a female periods start. By the time women reach 38-40 years of age this loss even more profound as in addition the quality of the eggs deteriorates.
For men according to www.malefertility.co.uk ‘statistics vary but it would seem that around 30% of men are sub-fertile and at least 2% of men are totally infertile’ and ‘will be at risk of being infertile if their sperm count is less than 20 million per mL of semen’ as defined by the World Health Organisation.
Maternity Lingerie Range by Cake Lingerie
http://cakelingerie.com/au/
What is driving this trend?
So if the facts are this stark and fertility is such a problem, why don’t we as individuals know more about our own fertility so that we can make more informed choices? Well this is exactly what has happened with recent calls in the press for us to be able to have fertility ‘MOTs’ before we hit 30 and for fertility to be taught alongside sex education in schools
At the heart of the issue is men’s fairly high level of potential infertility (caused by a mixture of lifestyle & natural causes) that when linked with a woman’s lifestyle choices to have babies at a later stage of their life, when their own fertility and ability to have children is on the wane, can cause the problem to be more severe. Especially, as treatments such as IVF, are a lot more unsuccessful in older women. Basically we are leaving the decision to have children far too late and we are not as informed as we should be.
“We spend our twenties trying not to get pregnant and our thirties trying very hard to get pregnant”.
Susan Seenan, Infertility UK
Men’s potential infertility (or low sperm count) can be linked to some very obvious causes and which the man can influence or change, such as testicular heat (caused by the likes of being too stationary, obesity, hot baths & laptops!), smoking & alcohol, fatigue, infections, and too frequent intercourse or ejaculation all of which a man can potentially control. Hence the spotlight does not fall very often on the man, particularly within the media.
Artist Ateleir Van Lieshout - Fertility Lamp
Women, however have as we have already found out are increasingly leaving childbirth to later in their lives, since the 1970’s when contraception methods improved, which were combined with multiple lifestyle changes and new aspirations. Statistics show that there has been a growth in older mums, but also we have seen the growth in the number of celebrities that are having babies in their late 30’s & 40’s, all of which it is felt is fuelling this feeling that it is OK to leave having children to later on in life.
The following were listed as having children on the ‘Mothers 35 plus’ website:
Cherie Blair (baby at 45), Madonna (2nd baby at 41), Sarah Brown (wife of Gordon Brown - babies at 40 and 42), Jane Seymour (twins at 45), J K Rowling (baby at 37 and 39), Susan Sarandon (baby at 46), Iman (baby at 44), Jerry Hall (baby at 41), Mariella Frostrup (baby at 41 and 43), Christie Brinkley (baby at 46), Geena Davis (baby at 46), Courtney Cox Arquette (baby at 39), Sarah Jessica Parker (baby at 37), Salma Hayek (baby at 41), Ulrika Jonsson (baby at 40), Nicole Kidman (baby at 41), Gwen Stefani (baby at 38), Jo Whiley (baby at 43), Kate Garraway (baby at 42) & Elle Macpherson (baby at 39).
Many women cite the following as reasons they have delayed having children
- Enjoying independence
- Wanting to travel
- Not finding the right partner
- Career choices
- Financial pressures
However linked to these are some more fundamental and ‘darker’ issues that need to be addressed, examples of these are:
- Changes in the way we work, increasing stress levels, exercise and dieting are leading to women’s body shapes changing to less curvy or hourglass shapes, it is has been found that the lower the waist to hip ratio the lower the level of the female hormones oestrogen & progesterone. This may make us less attractive to the opposite sex as men have an innate attractiveness to curvier women, but also studies have shown that they also exhibit lower levels of fertility. What is scary that in the case of dieting that the amount of weight loss can be fairly minimal for the result to be very dramatic.
“A drop of just 3lb can tip a normal-sized woman into infertility without her realising it”
Rose Frisch, Associate Professor, Harvard School of Public Health
- Women are often worried about stepping out of their careers to have children as they believe their pay & work conditions will be adversely affected and unfortunately this is backed up by the recent study by the Fawcett Society entitled ‘Not having it all: How motherhood reduces women’s pay & employment prospects’ where even the title of the report seems to sums it up. It states that women already experience a 9% inequality in wage rates, but when they have 2 children this leaps to 21%.
As with most socio-economic or lifestyle trends we are about to reach a ‘tipping point’ where an existing trend shifts from one direction to another as fertility issues gain predominance on our personal agendas and many of us start to grasp the potential impact our life decisions will make. Will there be over the next decade a fundamental shift from having babies in our late 30’s & 40’s to a more ‘biologically natural’ younger age fed by the growth in fertility awareness. Or will we just see us developing new fertility techniques, increased fertility planning, and the explosion of the fertility product market?
Trend Directions
THE 40-SOMETHING MUMS: The current climate for older ‘yummy mummies’ will continue for a while until the messages surrounding some of the heartache and difficulties of having children later in life permeates through, and also society and political changes happen to make it more conducive to have children at a younger age. This will also continue to be driven by older celebrity role models, although with the recent surrogacy case of Sarah-Jessica Parker & Mathew Broderick maybe motherhood will come by a variety of methods. In addition, the growth in ‘beanpole families’ a term coined by The Future Laboratory to describe extended families mean that we will inevitably see ‘second’ families where the parents are much older than the first time around.
For this group parenthood can’t be taken lightly with the growth in associated risks of increased diabetes and high blood pressure in mothers and increases in chromosomal abnormalities (with Down’s Syndrome increasing to a 1 in 100 chance in the over 40’s), increases in birth intervention and more Caesareans.
Potential Design & Product Trends:
- Growth in social network & support websites for older mums i.e. www.mothers35plus.co.uk www.mothersover40.com www.midlifemom.com and www.oldermoms’cafe.com
- We also found Plum, a bi-annual magazine in the USA targeted at new mothers over the age of 35 (1 in 5 women giving birth in the USA are 35 years or over) containing advice & support, fashion, and blogs etc.
- Spas & alternative medicines (such as acupuncture & herbal remedies ) are also being used to aid wellbeing and potential fertility.
- Simple potential design developments within this field could be maternity wear & nursery products targeted at older mothers, for ease of mobility or just to suit the tastes of an older mothers & fathers.
- More radical plans may the introduction of 'dating agencies' for sperm / egg donors or surrogates as many older parents (including celebrities - whether they admit it or not) require intervention, or even 'womb donors' as the first womb transplant has recently taken place.
- Increased childcare facilities to help older parents cope especially as these older parents will not be able to use their own parents for babysitting duties.
- In the workplace their will be the need for later-life career breaks, plus extensive insurance & wills in place to protect their children incase they die having no other relatives able to care for their children. We may need to record messages & make 'children time-capsules' so that they can get to know us after we die, as cases like that of once the world's oldest mother Maria del Carmen Bousada and her unfortunate twins increase.
Highchair for Droog by Maartje Steenkamp
Photographer: Robaard/Theuwkens (Styling by Marjo Kranenborg, CMK)
THE FERTILITY PLANNERS: From a situation where we currently show a lack of understanding of fertility and the reasons or causes surrounding it, we will inevitably start to see a shift towards greater planning for those that want to still have children later. This may include the fertility ‘MOT’ previously described, but may also some more radical directions such as freezing sperm or eggs ‘just in case’, the increased use of IVF & surrogacy and new advancements such as ovary transplants, or instead of the ‘pre-nup’ asking for fertility testing of partners before getting married.
The worry will be if measures are not put in place early enough, they will also not negate all problems with fertility. It is important though that the current ‘burying our heads in the sand’ approach doesn’t continue.
“They think, ‘It won’t happen to me I’m 37, I go to the gym twice a week, I don’t drink, I don’t smoke. I’m fit – everything about me is young’. Well it is, except your ovaries.”
Professor Bill Ledger, of Sheffield University.
Potential Design & Product Trends:
- The growth in specialist organisations, events & fairs (such as the www.fertilityshow.co.uk) and specialist clinics offering advice on anything from freezing sperm & eggs to do-it-yourself IVF, it may become par for the course for us to automatically freeze our eggs & sperm for later life.
- Fertility being taught alongside sex education in schools, so that both boys & girls will be able to make more informed decisions in later life, probably accompanied with 'Drink / Drive' style educational adverts on TV. 'Fertility plans' could be set up alongside career planning in the final years of school.
- Complete rise in fertility related products so that can test your own fertility, but these may come in the form of kits that can carry in your purse to mood changing lights that actually are linked to personal fertility levels.
- There will also be a similar growth in fertility enhancing products from superfoods to injections to boost & aid fertility (similar to those provided to teenage girls to prevent cervical cancer).
- 'Dating agencies' where they specify fertility level and also instead of pre-nups that we have automatic divorces if they lie about their fertility levels.
Going Dutch | VanBerlo Strategy + Design, VanBerlo Strategy + Design
Exhibited at Dutch Design Week
THE NEW BREED: Another potential direction is that of a shift towards having children earlier in life, with people in their 20’s and early 30’s being encouraged & supported to have children earlier in life when they are more fertile. This would also allow them to have larger families as it would allow them time to have 2-3 children during this period, whereas those in the late 30’s will find it more difficult. This approach could have economical benefits as increased birth rates could lead to more people working, increasing economic GDP, and balancing the cost of an ageing population.
It also could make financial benefits to the parents themselves, especially women as they would have a longer uninterrupted career once they have had their children.
“If you start work at 18 and drop out at 30 then you have only had 12 years. You could argue that if you have your kids in your 20s,
then start in your 30s you have decades uninterrupted in which to build your career.”
Dr Ros Altmann, Downing Street Advisor.
The problem with this though is the increasing amount of debt that young people have from university and the difficulty surrounding getting their ‘foot on the property ladder’ that this is unpractical and the very reason many have delayed having children. It would also need a major change in attitudes and support structures from the Government to the individuals themselves.
Potential Design & Product Trends:
- The likes of more & more younger brands catering for expecting and new mums, as seen at Topshop who introduced its own 'high fashion' babywear range in 2006 to capture some of the £4.3 billion kidswear market. Look out for kidswear at American Apparel, Urban Outfitters, and many other traditional 'student' stores. Plus many more collaborations between designers and the high street as seen at Gap Kids and their range designed by Stella McCartney.
- Products will likely become more technology-focused, trend-driven, and ecologically-friendly in line with the new younger mums & dads, 'Baby Facebook' could be around the corner, or toys / buggies with built in webcams or cameras so that photos can be uploaded straight away, or 'designer' / customised nappies, dummies and baby bottles.
- The death of the 'partner for life' as you choose your early partner based on their baby-making potential i.e. looks, intelligence, whereas later-life partners are chosen for their compatibility, friendship etc and it could even lead to the end of the 'stigmatisation' of single parents.
- Clubs & pubs that offer babysitting facility or even allow children in to their own 'chill-out' zone to allow younger parents the opportunity to still enjoy their social life.
Current Design & Product Trends – design older market / networks on line /
Future Scenarios – Fertility tests – dating based on fertility – choose for baby – choose later for life partner – changes in work place – body shape – ultimate status symbol – growth in couples only holidays & products
Products already out there + those in future
Highchairs for Droog by Maartje Steenkamp
Photographer: Robaard/Theuwkens (Styling by Marjo Kranenborg, CMK)
0.0 CHILDREN FAMILIES: The last group is one where the realities hit home and we start to take into account that we do not have a 'right' or even the 'ability' to reproduce. With the worldwide population figures estimated at 6,795,527,701 (US Census Bureau) and the planet no longer having the resources to sustain us all, let alone the numbers of malnourished, underdeveloped and uneducated children out there, this may be the ultimate act in protecting future generations.
It is well documented that if we carry on consuming to the level we are that the planet will hit 'self-distruct' mode, the problem would be if this was maybe inforced on families as happened in China where families were restricted through a 1 child policy to curb the population explosion in that country. It does, however not need to be so draconian but again maybe a point of education about the rising population and the needs of individual countries.
Potential Design & Product Trends:
- The growth in singles or child free activities from holidays & restaurants, but also general products for the home & individuals targeted at the new 0.0 family.
- Holiday & travel gap years for adults as they no longer have to worry about paying for their children to go to university etc.
- Borrow a 'child' or communes where childless couples can become involved in helping to raise other people's children.
