Age 28 is a very good age to have a baby from a biological standpoint. You’re squarely within the window of peak fertility, your risk of chromosomal abnormalities is low, and pregnancy complications are less common than they will be a decade from now. You’re also right in line with national trends: the average age of first-time mothers in the United States reached 27.5 in 2023, making 28 one of the most common ages to start a family.
Fertility at 28
Female fertility peaks in the early to mid-20s and remains strong through the late 20s before starting a more noticeable decline in the early 30s. At 28, your egg supply is still robust. A useful marker of ovarian reserve is AMH, a hormone that reflects how many eggs you have left. At 25, the lower end of the expected range sits around 3.0 ng/mL; by 30, it drops to about 2.5 ng/mL. At 28, most women are somewhere in between, well above the threshold considered low (under 1.0 ng/mL).
In practical terms, a healthy 28-year-old trying to conceive has roughly a 25% to 30% chance of getting pregnant in any given menstrual cycle. Most couples in this age range conceive within a year of trying. If you did need fertility treatment, the odds are strongly in your favor: women under 30 who undergo IVF have a 43% chance of a live birth after a single cycle, rising to 66% after three cycles.
Pregnancy Risks at 28
One of the biggest advantages of having a baby at 28 is that your risk of chromosomal conditions is quite low. The chance of having a baby with Down syndrome at age 28 is approximately 1 in 1,182. For comparison, that risk roughly doubles by 35 and increases sharply after 40. The risk of another common chromosomal condition, trisomy 18, is even lower at 28: about 1 in 11,351.
Gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and cesarean delivery are all less common in the late 20s than in the mid-to-late 30s. Your body is also more likely to bounce back from the physical demands of pregnancy and postpartum recovery. None of this means complications can’t happen at any age, but statistically, 28 puts you in a lower-risk category for most of them.
How 28 Compares to Other Ages
It helps to see 28 in context. The average age for all births in the U.S. (not just first babies) is now 29.6, up nearly a full year from 2016. So if you’re having your first child at 28, you’re slightly ahead of the national average. If you’re thinking about having more than one child, starting at 28 gives you more flexibility. You could space pregnancies two to three years apart and still complete your family well before fertility begins declining more steeply in the mid-30s.
Women who start at 28 also have a comfortable buffer if conceiving takes longer than expected. Even if it takes a year or two, you’d still be trying in your early 30s, when fertility remains strong for most people. That cushion shrinks considerably if you start at 33 or 34.
The Non-Biological Side
Biology is only part of the equation. Many people delay parenthood because they’re building financial stability, advancing in a career, finding the right partner, or simply don’t feel ready. These factors matter. Research consistently shows that parental readiness, relationship stability, and financial security all influence outcomes for both parents and children.
At 28, many people have had a few years in the workforce, which can translate to better health insurance, some savings, and a clearer sense of career direction. Others at 28 are still in graduate school, paying off debt, or navigating major life transitions. There’s no single “right” moment that applies to everyone. What the biology tells you is that 28 gives you options. You’re not racing a clock, but you’re also not wasting any of the biological advantage you currently have.
If You Want to Wait a Few More Years
Waiting until 30 or 32 doesn’t dramatically change your odds. Fertility declines gradually through the early 30s, and the increase in chromosomal risk is modest year to year. The sharper inflection points come around 35 for egg quality and 37 to 38 for egg quantity. If you’re leaning toward waiting but want to preserve your options, egg freezing is most effective when done before 30, since younger eggs survive the freezing and thawing process better and are more likely to result in a healthy pregnancy later.
The short answer: 28 is biologically excellent. If the rest of your life feels ready, there’s no medical reason to wait. And if it doesn’t, you still have several good years ahead of you.