late childbearing may increase life expectancy

http://uk.reuters.com/article/healthNewsMolt/idUKTRE54D51U20090514 according to this In the sample of 14,123 Utah women, those who had their last child between age 41 and 44 were 6 percent less likely to die during any year after 50 than were women who had children earlier. For those who had babies at 45 or later, annual mortality risk was 14 percent lower.

a blog post i found in support of paid maternity leave http://womensrights.change.org/blog/view/next_year_give_mom_the_gift_of_maternity_leave
touches on the irony of using disability leave as materninty leave which is what i'm doing for most of my leave