Motherhood is a unique and complex experience that has been celebrated and studied throughout history. From the physical and emotional demands of pregnancy and childbirth to the joys and challenges of raising children, mothers play an essential role in the lives of their families and communities.
I personally lost my mother in 2022 and it’s been one of the most difficult things I’ve ever gone through. Everything I am today is because of my mother and father. My mother always supported me no matter what I wanted to do in life and it’s one of the reasons I miss her so much. Mothers are incredibly special and it’s important to spend time with them while we’re lucky enough to have them in our lives.
So, in honor of Mother’s Day and all the incredible mothers out there, we’ve compiled a list of 25 fascinating facts about motherhood that you may not have known. Whether you’re a mother yourself or simply interested in learning more about this important topic, read on to discover some surprising and inspiring facts about mothers.
Let the facts about mothers begin!
1) Mother’s Day was first celebrated in the U.S. in 1908. [1]
2) The word “mother” comes from the Old English word “mōdor”. [6]
3) The average age of first-time mothers in the U.S. is 27.3 years old. [2]
4) In the U.S., about 72% of mothers with children under 18 are in the labor force. [2]
5) The longest pregnancy on record lasted 375 days. [7]
6) Mother koalas feed their babies, or joeys, their own feces because joeys have not yet developed the intestinal bacteria to detoxify highly poisonous eucalyptus leaves. [1]
7) In the U.S., about 36% of mothers are raising their children on their own. [2]
8) The African black eagle typically lays two eggs but only feeds one of the chicks. [1]
9) In 2021, Black and Hispanic mothers, on average, were younger at the birth of their first child than White and Asian mothers. [2]
10) Mother Earth, or Gaia, was the first goddess in Greek mythology and created herself out of primordial chaos. [1]
11) In the U.S., about 40% of households with children under 18 include a mother who is the sole or primary breadwinner. [4]
12) The first woman to go into space was Valentina Tereshkova, who was also a mother. [8]
A Quote for Moms…
“Your mother is your first friend, your best friend, your forever friend.” – Unknown
13) Every year, approximately 152 million Mother’s Day cards are sent. [1]
14) In the U.S., about 90% of mothers breastfeed their babies at some point, but only about 25% exclusively breastfeed for the recommended six months. [3]
15) In the U.S., about 70% of mothers with children under 18 are married or living with a partner. [2]
16) The world record for most children born to one mother is 69, but this is disputed. [9]
17) In the U.S., about 25% of mothers have a bachelor’s degree or higher. [2]
18) The mother elephant gives birth to the largest baby on Earth, weighing around 200 pounds, after enduring a 22-month pregnancy. [1]
19) In the U.S., about 23% of mothers were born outside of the country. [5]
20) The world’s oldest mother was 74 years old when she gave birth to twins. [10]
21) In the U.S., about 86% of mothers have at least one child. [2]
22) After having a baby, working mothers in Canada are entitled to a year-long leave and receive 55% of their salary during that period. [1]
23) In the U.S., about 28% of mothers with children under 18 are not in the labor force. [2]
24) Mothers who give birth at a later stage in life have an increased chance of living longer. [1]
25) In the U.S., about 72% of mothers with children under 18 are employed full-time. [2]
References
1 Karin Lehnardt. “57 Enlightening Facts about Mothers.” FactRetriever.
2 Katherine Schaeffer, Carolina Aragão. “Key facts about moms in the U.S.” Pew Research Center.
3 “Breastfeeding Report Card.” CDC.
4 “Breadwinner Moms.” Pew Research Center.
5 Gretchen Livingston. “Births Outside of Marriage Decline for Immigrant Women.” Pew Research Center.
6 Jamie Dwelly. “Mum, Mam, Mom: What do you call your mother?” History.
7 “Medicine: Prodigious Pregnancy.” TIME.
8 “First woman in space: Valentina.” The European Space Agency.
9 “Most prolific mother ever.” Guinness World Records.
10 Joshua Bote. “A 74-year-old woman reportedly gave birth to twins, may be the oldest ever to give birth.” USA TODAY.
I hope you enjoyed these fascinating facts about mothers!
Please share these mom facts with your friends and family.
