Women are becoming mothers later in Brazil.

Agência Brasil – From the 60s to the beginning of this century, there has been a significant change in the profile of Brazilian mothers. Women are postponing motherhood and opting for much smaller families than their mothers and grandmothers had. Data from the 2010 Census of the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE) shows that the fertility rate in Brazil is falling every year: in the 60s it was over six children per woman, and in 2010 it reached 1,9 children per woman.

Several factors explain this change in the profile of mothers in Brazil, points out demographer and professor at the University of Brasília (UnB), Ana Nogales. "The main ones are the increase in women's education, urbanization, and stronger female participation in the labor market," indicates the researcher. The demographer believes that, in addition to factors linked to the evolution of women's role in society, there is a cultural influence that has changed the reproductive pattern. "In the 80s and 90s, there was a lot of talk about an ideal family model. The media and Brazilian soap operas always presented smaller families and how this model brought advantages to the children," she says.

Currently, Brazil's fertility rate is similar to that of European countries like Denmark, Switzerland, and Norway, and lower than that of the United States. "The reduction in Brazil was very rapid and without a government policy to control the birth rate, as occurred in Mexico or China. Developed countries did not experience this process as quickly as we see here, where the change occurs from one generation to the next," points out Ana.

The model of a family with few children, however, is not yet the standard in all regions of the country. While the national average in 2010 was 1,9 children per woman, in the North it was 2,47 – higher than the fertility rate the country recorded ten years earlier. The lowest rate was recorded in the Southeast: 1,7 children per woman, lower than the average of countries such as Belgium, the United Kingdom, and Finland. Even so, it was in the North and Northeast that the greatest reductions in the fertility rate were observed between 2000 and 2010 (21,8% and 23,4%, respectively).

The 2010 Census also highlights a change, albeit less accelerated, in the so-called age pattern of fertility. Until the year 2000, the trend was a "rejuvenation" in the profile of mothers, with a greater concentration of pregnancies among young women aged 15 to 24. But, in the last decade, according to the IBGE (Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics), a reversal of this movement was observed. In 2000, the groups of younger women, aged 15 to 19 and 20 to 24, accounted for 18,8% and 29,3% of total fertility, respectively. These levels dropped to 17% and 27% in 2010. At the same time, in the group of women over 30 years old, the share of total population fertility rose from 15,85% to 18% between 2000 and 2010.

"In the last decade we have seen that women are postponing the start of their reproductive lives. In addition to entering the job market and higher levels of education, we have seen changes in relationships. Women are more independent, and when you have children, this brings more responsibilities regarding your home and your family," explains Ana Nogales.

Agência Brasil interviewed mothers of different profiles – from young women who intend to have only one or two children to women who postponed their plans to get pregnant to dedicate themselves to their professional lives. They talk about the challenges of motherhood and the experience of being a mother.

Daniella Goulart, university professor, 43 years old. Mother of Gabriel, 1 year old.

I never planned to be a mother in my life. For me, motherhood wasn't about fulfillment. I always dedicated myself to professional achievements. Despite all the resistance, motherhood came at the right time. I feel mature enough; I don't have that feeling that I might be missing out on something, that I could be somewhere else, or that having a child limits me. After having my son, I discovered that I have a vocation for motherhood and I am very fulfilled. I think the positive aspect of being a mother at my age is that we are ahead in terms of information and maturity. The downside is that I keep calculating: when my son is 17, I'll already be 60. I'm considering that I'll only have one child. I know he'll ask for a sibling, that he might feel lonely, but that's his reality.

Poliana Santos Castro, physiotherapist, 42 years old. Mother of Lucas, 2 years old.

I spent seven years undergoing treatments and various tests to get pregnant. This period was marked by a lot of anguish and constant anticipation. I always dreamed of being a mother and, after many years of trying, I finally got pregnant. It was a very happy time. My first joy was when the test came back positive. The second, when I heard his little heart beating. And the third and definitive joy was when my little one was born. To this day, I look at my son and I get very emotional. He is a beautiful, smart, mischievous child. My son spends a lot of time with his half-brother, and that relieves me because he isn't so alone. Because of late motherhood, I don't know if I will have another child naturally, but I am very grateful to have such a blessed one. Motherhood represents one life before and another completely different one after. Before, I was just the daughter of a wonderful mother, and after giving birth, it feels like I was born again. My professional career is very important, but to be a complete woman I needed to be a mother.

Claudilene Meireles Torres, 21 years old, pregnant with her first child.

I'm pregnant with my first child and I don't plan on having any more. I had to stop studying and I'll be taking care of him at least until he's six months old. I'm happy to be pregnant, but I had to put my life on hold. I intend to go back to work and study as soon as possible. I think one child is enough. I want to become financially stable and, when he's older, dedicate myself to my professional life. Now I know I have a much greater responsibility; I have someone who depends on me. Nowadays, the cost of living is high, and I intend to give my son a good education. I didn't have opportunities, and I want to offer that to him. I prefer to have only one child and be able to give him a quality education. I want to teach him that he doesn't need siblings to be happy; if he wants to play, if he needs to talk, I'll always be there for him.

Rosa Dias dos Santos, 85 years old, homemaker. Mother of 11 children.

I had 17 children, but six died, and I only raised 11. I'm from Bahia. My husband and I came to Brasília to try to give our children a better education; they are my safe haven. For me, my children are my hands and feet; I feel fulfilled for having raised them all so well. When I was young, I thought being a mother was the greatest suffering in the world, but today being a mother is the reason for the greatest happiness. I had my first child at 20 and my oldest at 44. I never worked outside the home because, when I was young, my husband was obligated to support the household. And since I had so many children, it was impossible to work outside the home. Nowadays, parents don't always manage to raise their children properly because both need to work and can't keep up with what the children are doing. I've never regretted having so many children; it was worth it, and if I could, I would have happily raised all 17. The happiest days of my life are when we get the whole family together; it's a huge celebration.

Ana Maria dos Santos, domestic worker, 23 years old. Mother of Mel Ketleyn, 8 years old, and pregnant with João Luca.

I'm so happy to be a mother. I see many people trying to get pregnant for years, and I'm lucky. I already have a daughter, and she's my companion; we're very close, and sometimes people think I'm not even her mother. I got pregnant at 14, and it wasn't planned. I was a child, and it wasn't so bad only because I lived with my parents, and they were always by my side. They supported me and took care of my daughter until she was two years old. I myself had no preparation or the slightest idea of ​​how to take care of a baby. Now I'm pregnant with my second, and it's a boy, also unplanned. If it were up to me, I would only have one child because of the financial situation, especially now that I no longer live with my parents and my husband abandoned me in the fourth month of pregnancy. The people from the church I attend help me a lot. Raising one child alone is very difficult; two is even more complicated. I want to study and catch up on lost time, but I'll have to wait a little longer.