More older U.S. women having babies

The birth rate for U.S. women between 40 and 44 increased 5 percent 2002-03 from 8.3 to 8.7 births per 1,000 women, a national survey indicates.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report, "Births: Preliminary Data For 2003," shows the rate for women 45 to 54 remained unchanged at 0.5.

This is the first time births to women over 40 topped 100,000 in a single year, the report said.

Among other statistical findings, the teen birth rate fell for the 12th straight year, from 43 births per 1,000 teens 15 to 19 in 2002 to 41.7 in 2003.

The Caesarean delivery rate rose for the seventh straight year. Preliminary 2003 data show that 27.6 percent of all births were Caesarean deliveries, a 6 percent increase from 2002.

The data was based on more than 95 percent of birth records reported to vital statistics offices in all 50 states as part of the National Vital Statistics System.

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