Mature mums

THEY might get exhausted. They might find their energy levels lacking, and they may well find it tough having their peaceful lives turned upside down. But mums who give birth at 40, or older, have one huge advantage over their younger counterparts.

According to new research, their children are likely to be healthier and more intelligent than those born to younger mums. Their children will have less accidents too — and fewer admissions to hospital.

Research carried out at the Institute of Child Health, University College London, and Birbeck College, found that children of older mums showed more ability in developmental IQ skills, such as vocabulary, shape and picture identification, once social class was taken into account.