U.S. Birth Rate Reaches Record Low [why have the women given up?]

HHS | June 2003 | Centers for Disease Control

[ex-snook]

U.S. Birth Rate Reaches Record Low
Births to Teens Continue 12-Year Decline; Cesarean Deliveries Reach All-Time High

For Immediate Release
Wednesday, June 25, 2003

The U.S. birth rate fell to the lowest level since national data have been available, reports the latest Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) birth statistics released today by HHS Secretary Tommy G. Thompson.  Secretary Thompson also noted that the rate of teen births fell to a new record low, continuing a decline that began in 1991.

The birth rate was 13.9 per 1,000 persons in 2002, a decline of 1 percent from the rate of 14.1 per 1,000 in 2001 and down 17 percent from the recent peak in 1990 (16.7 per 1,000), according to a new CDC report, “Births: Preliminary Data for 2002.”  The current low birth rate primarily reflects the smaller proportion of women of childbearing age in the U.S. population, as baby boomers age and Americans are living longer.

There has also been a recent downturn in the birth rate for women in the peak childbearing ages.  Birth rates for women in their 20s and early 30s were generally down while births to older mothers (35-44) were still on the rise.  Rates were stable for women over 45.

Birth rates among teenagers were down in 2002, continuing a decline that began in 1991. The birth rate fell to 43 births per 1,000 females 15-19 years of age in 2002, a 5-percent decline from 2001 and a 28-percent decline from 1990. The decline in the birth rate for younger teens, 15-17 years of age, is even more substantial, dropping 38 percent from 1990 to 2002 compared with a drop of 18 percent for teens 18-19 years.

“The reduction in teen pregnancy has clearly been one of the most important public health success stories of the past decade,” Secretary Thompson said. “The fact that this decline in teen births is continuing represents a significant accomplishment.”

More than one fourth of all children born in 2002 were delivered by cesarean; the total cesarean delivery rate of 26.1 percent was the highest level ever reported in the United States. The number of cesarean births to women with no previous cesarean birth jumped 7 percent and the rate of vaginal births after previous cesarean delivery dropped 23 percent.  The cesarean delivery rate declined during the late 1980s through the mid-1990s but has been on the rise since 1996.

Among other significant findings:

In 2002, there were 4,019,280 births in the United States, down slightly from 2001 (4,025,933).

The percent of low birthweight babies (infants born weighing less than 2,500 grams) increased to 7.8 percent, up from 7.7 percent in 2001 and the highest level in more than 30 years.  In addition, the percent of preterm births (infants born at less than 37 weeks of gestation) increased slightly over 2001, from 11.9 percent to 12 percent.

More than one-third of all births were to unmarried women.  The birth rate for unmarried women was down slightly in 2002 to 43.6 per 1,000 unmarried women, reflecting the growing number of unmarried women in the population

Access to prenatal care continued a slow and steady increase.  In 2002, 83.8 percent of women began receiving prenatal care in the first trimester of pregnancy, up from 83.4 percent in 2001 and 75.8 percent in 1990.

Data on births are based on information reported on birth certificates filed in State vital statistics offices and reported to CDC through the National Vital Statistics System.  The report is available on CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics Web site.

[Siamese Princess]

At one time, a couple wanted and needed several children to help on the farm or business. Even in the early 20th century, children normally went to work at a young age, so they weren't the financial drain they are today. This is still true in third world countries.

Another reason for the very low birthrate is that the welfare state renders the family unnecessary. Why have kids -- You can spend all of your money on yourself and the government will take care of you in your old age, disability, etc. On the other hand, in most of the countries of the world today, the family is still the primary, if not the only, source of welfare assistance. In these countries, if you are old or sick, and have no family to take care of you, you are in trouble.

In some countries, people still want -- and need kids. And they are reproducing.

[MinorityRepublican]

Another reason for the very low birthrate is that the welfare state renders the family unnecessary.

Which is why it must be abolished.

[honeygrl]

"A secondary result is that today's woman can't find many real men"

I was lucky enough to find a real man. And I met him on internet in a chat room. The internet is a *great* way to meet potential mates because when you are chatting online, you really get to know the other person's thoughts and aren't held back by appearances. When you get to know someone via dating in person, you get their fake date personality and it takes a long time to get past worrying about what you are going to wear and where to go to dinner to get to the really important stuff like getting to know the person and how their vlues measure up to yours. My hubby and I never even went on an actual date together until after we married. In fact, we swapped photos, chatted on the net and on the phone and 4 hours after the first time we met in person, we were married. It'll be 6 yrs on the 24th of this month and we are just as happy now as we were to begin with. And the added bonus of eloping is that our wedding cost a mere $40, yet it was/is still very special to us. Our families got a bit upset with us over it since neither family had a clue of who their child had just married, but they got over it and all is well now. Moral to the story: if you can't find a man/woman in your town, get online and meet people. Just be safe about it and meet in public places AFTER you get to know them well online first. If you don't get to know them online first, then it's no different than regular dating and you still have trouble getting past the showy stuff to see what the person is really like and if they share your values.

[Age of Reason]

My German Grandmother didn't come to the U.S. with my Irish immigrant American soldier father and my infant mother in the late 40's to escape overcrowding. Did my formerly Soviet friends come to escape overcrowding?

Ahiyikue wasn't working on his citizenship because Gabon was overcrowded...it was because -- despite the fact his diplomat father insisted he spend summers in Africa -- he had brains and skills (chemistry degree) and wanted to be part of the greatest country in the world. My ex-girlfriend "Kelly" Yu-Jong Han's family left South Korea because they put bankrupt businessmen in prison there.

To the rest of you: Your only problem is that when I barbequed with my patriotic Russian-speaking Ukrainian-American friends this Fourth of July, I ate dried fish, pickled mushrooms and peppers, caviar mixed with cream cheese, and some weird kind of wiessewurst (natural casing white-hots.)

Olga told stories about fixing helicopters for five years in the Marines. Her older cousin told stories about the horrible things he saw during compulsory military service in a Russian prison. (He received a computer programming degree this Spring -- in his late thirties.)

Ahiyikue?

Olga?

Yu-Jong Han?

Kelly?

wiessewurst? (tanks for explainig that one to us)

LOL.

We are so impressed with your rainbow of acquaintances--surely, your life must be a shining example of someone who basks in the sunshine of diversity by having so many wonderful friends from all corners of the earth.

Please, oh please, make up--I mean--gush--I mean--tell us some more tales--err--stories of your wonderful melting pot of friends and their fascinating foods and quaint activities.

They are so convincingly true!

[glory]

At first I shake my head with your post and then I read this


they contribute to society in many more ways than just being reduced to a "vessel".


Well, let's just say, it ruins any credibility the rest of your post had since it tells us loud and clear how you view motherhood. Women with children, the one's who take their children seriously, are not just vessels, they are the hand that rocks the cradle and that contribution is the most intense on the planet!

[honeygrl]

The only place America is overcrowded is in big cities. There is quite a lot of open spaces, alteast down here in GA, AL, and TN, but people don't want to live in the country anymore. They apparently WANT to be overcrowded in places like NYC. If we ever get the money to do it, we'll be out in the country with a farm as soon as possible.

[honeygrl]

My parents home is valued at about $225k if I remember right. But they probably have atleast 3000sqft, plus an attic, plus a nice inground pool and deck, and a good size yard in a great neighborhood. Supposedly though property tax around here is pretty high. Alabama is very cheap though in pretty much all aspects. Lower property tax and much cheaper houses. That is of course living a bit out in the country rather than right in town. The schools for the most part aren't too great though. I think it's likely because they don't value education as much as some other places do. It's not that the schools are dangerous or have high drug user rates but that they have high drop out rates. TN was fairly cheap in housing and food costs when we lived there and had better schools because the people I think value a good education a bit more. Both states tend to have very christian communities as well. I think I prefered TN over GA or AL but hubby's job is here in GA so we are stuck here for now and my family is here too. His family is wayyy out in the country in AL with a farm that we will likely inherit one day. I really loved living out where they do but the commute to a city large enough for my hubby to find a job is over an hour.

[Age of Reason]

They apparently WANT to be overcrowded in places like NYC.

The majority of people WANT to do a lot of things that are not good for them.

If as we all hope, this country will rise to be more enlightened then it is now, it will someday realize that crowding is bad for people.

And then, as they recenlty have turned from tobacco and eating too much fat, they will seek to turn from cities and suburbs.

Will we then have room for those people to disperse?

We'd better keep a huge reserve of space for the day when people realize that living an urban lifestyle--even a suburban lifestyle--is not good for them.

Were that enlightenment to occur today, I suspect we would not even now have enough room (we certainly wouldn't have enough of the best room) for everyone to be happy.

Bringing in more people doesn't not help the problem.

[honeygrl]

"Exactly. The courts have destroyed fatherhood."

Actually, I think it would be high divorce rates allowing the courts to get involved detroying fatherhood. Sticking it out through thick and thin (which takes both halves of the couple to do of course) would eliminate that problem.

[Age of Reason]

There is quite a lot of open spaces, alteast down here in GA, AL, and TN

I have seen how quickly a place can go from farms and fields to asphalt and steel.

If you go here: http://www.forgotten-ny.com/forgottentour12/12tour.html

You will see on that page a photo of adjoining buildings with the following caption under it:

"When these buildings on 9th Avenue were erected in the 1890s, the architect felt that it was as far out of town as development was likely to go and he playfully named them 'Maine' and 'Oregon.' In a similar spirit, Henry Hardenburgh's grand apartment building on Central Park and West 72nd Street was named the Dakota."

Those buildings are in Manhattan.

What are now Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx, were then mostly farms.

Let alone areas like Long island, etc.

You will be amazed at how fast areas can be changed forever--and there is no stopping it once the change begins, it is too late.

The stopping must be done decades in advance.

You cannot think any place too remote to be bulldozed.

[honeygrl]

"My son is 9 mos. old next week."

My daughter will be 9mths old on the 18th of this month. This is just the cutest and sweetest age. I could just sit and play with her all day but I have a 2 1/2yr old son who would never allow that LOL. Just make sure you remember how sweet and cute he is now so that you can keep the sweet image in your head when he hits 2 or 2 1/2 yrs old. They turn into little devils around that time. Mine lately has been testing his limits in every way possible. Today he actually SAT on his little sister thinking he'd ride her back like a horse while she was crawling around. He also thought it was hilarious when it made her cry until he got spanked for it and started crying himself.

[vikingchick]

You want the women to work fulltime, and have kids? Forget it. Sorry. Some of us aren't superwomen. And have no interest in being superwomen.

[honeygrl]

I honestly don't know what the Mexican communities are like in Texas, but in my city they are almost all dangerous. They are almost as dangerous as the government housing ghettos we have. Of course, our city has a huge number of people on welfare that are perfectly healthy and young enough to work real jobs. They are just too lazy to do it and were raised by parents and grandparents who were also on welfare so they weren't raised to learn the importance of providing for your family on your own and being a responsible adult. It is places like my town that creates the bias against Mexicans. Quite a lot of them are on welfare here too. And a large number are illegal as well. I have never understood how illegal aliens are able to get on welfare, but apparently it's possible.

[honeygrl]

"Here in Atlanta too. All my whitey friends (lots of them) are having babies! Some more than 2! Good for them! "

I'm not far from you. I live in Athens.

[Tall_Texan]

The greatest civilization in history is effectively committing Harry Carrey.

"It might be...it could be...IT IS a home run!"

[Joe Hadenuf]

Hell, the damn government has most of the married women working just to help pay the taxes and to make ends meet. What married woman can afford to sit around and have kid after kid? The only people I see doing this are illegal aliens, that are doing this at the expense of taxpayers.

[honeygrl]

I really meant my post about there being plenty of room in regards to room for Americans to reproduce and add to our population. I am without a doubt all for shutting down illegal immigration though and making legal immigration more difficult. I didn't realize until I went back though that it sounded as if I wanted more immigrants moving in and taking over.

[Tall_Texan]

Bad assumption. Marrying and making babies are two entirely different topics. Even the statistics in the article state a third of all births are to unmarried women.

For all the men sitting out the "marriage" idea, there are plenty of lotharios planting their seeds all over town, many with no means to provide for the children they sire and not caring if anyone else will either.

I ain't one and I ain't suggesting there's anything good about them but they are certainly out there. Many, apparently, play in the NBA.

[wazoo1031]

First of all, your grammar is incorrect in using a possesive "one's". Second, I AM NOT attacking motherhood. I am saying that one has to be responsible enough to tackle the job of motherhood. Please do not put words in my mouth. Having children is a privilege, not a right or a duty. Yes, it's natural, but nature does not always compensate us, does it?

[Cacique]

The womb is a weapon of mass destruction historically more efficient than any other. The ability of an enemy to out-breed and outlast his opponent is what makes cultures survive.

Our culture has decided it's time to disappear via the "Tyranny of small decisions". The only groups in the US that are bucking that trend are the Mexican illegals with a birthrate of 6+ children, comparable also to Hasidic jews which is similar. Muslims have a rate of 7+ and other groups such as the Amish and Pennsylvania Dutch are up there as well.

It is argued that once a group assimilates to industrial society their birthrates will go down. That is Bunk, it's culture that determines birthrates more than any other factor. The Amish and Hasidic jews for example have been here for generations and while they have adapted to the modern world in their own ways they have not compromised their values to do so. The result is that they will be around long after Caucasoids, Japanese or any other group that adopts a lifestyle that results in a birthrate lower than replacement at 2.1.