Starting early, starting late: The Health and Wellbeing of mother and child

Abstract

This article examines indicators of health and well being of new mothers of different ages and their infants. Using data from Growing Up in Australia, the first Longitudinal Study of Australian Children (LSAC), five age groups of mothers are compared, ranging from teenagers to those who were 38 years or over when their first child was born. Together with related analysis published in the previous edition of Family Matters (no.73: 52-59), this article illustrates some of the challenges faced by such families. The authors look at these groups of mothers and their health related behaviours, personal health and well being, relationships with their partner (if they had a partner), and the birth circumstances and general health of their infant.