Age of first-time mothers hits record high in blue states as birth rates keep falling

American women are having children later than ever with birth rates hitting record lows and the divide between red and blue states becoming even more stark.

A new analysis of birth rates highlights Washington, D.C., and Mississippi as emblematic of trends among first-time mothers. The findings highlight how education, economic opportunities, costs of living and access to reproductive healthcare are reshaping when — and if — Americans start families.

But it's also hard to ignore the...