CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — For many people, it can often be the other women in their lives that have had a direct impact, like moms or grandmothers.
According to the CDC, we're seeing, on average, a 2 percent increase of women "stepping out" of motherhood as compared to previous generations.
3News spoke with a group of local women to discuss the various reasons for what all may be contributing to the trend of more young women opting out of motherhood.
You may have heard motherhood is the best hood, but that's just not reality for every woman, including Kathleen Naderer who says she's known how she felt about motherhood since she was a teenager.
"I'd say I've known since about 15 that I didn't want children, and everyone kept telling me I would change my mind again as I got older. And I just.... I'm 35 now and I haven't changed my mind yet."
Naderer said being the oldest among her cousins growing up, played a major factor in her decision to not want children.
"Oldest girl usual ends up taking care of the younger ones."
The decision was influenced not just by her childhood - but also because of her responsibilities now as an adult.
"I am working full time and in grad school. So, I don't feel like I would be able to give them as much attention as they would deserve."
Her decision to not have children is also a financial one.
"They're pretty expensive to have. I mean I would want to give them the best life possible. I'm not capable of doing that right now, I'm aware of that."
Kathleen explained that she recognizes you're not just 'mom' up until your child turns 18. She respects that it is a life-time commitment.
"I just do not want the responsibility of being emotionally, physically, and mentally responsible for another person for the rest of their life."
Local OBGYN Dr. Melissa Chiasson says she's seen first-hand more women sharing those same feelings.
"So, we are seeing some more of those as well. Patients who just firmly say they want no further children. We have a long discussion with those patients because tubal's are permanent, they are not reversable, and they are a surgical procedure, so they do have risks as well."
Dr. Chiasson adds that sort of treatment has become more accessible.
"There's no age restrictions on tubal's or no kid restrictions on having a tubal."
Kathleen shares that while she enjoys children it's motherhood that just may not be for her and other women who feel the same.
"It's not that we dislike children or anything like that. I don't want to give that perception at all. It's just sometimes that children are not for everybody and that's okay. You can still be a happy woman and not have kids."