Pregnancy after 35

 
Statistics show that in the last two decades the birth rate among women in their late-thirties and forties has more than doubled. Advances in medical care, coupled with the growing number of women entering professional careers have led to more women having babies later in life. Most women in their thirties and forties have perfectly normal and healthy births, void of complications. Older women, do however face some unique risks and problems during pregnancy. These problems can make conception difficult for older couples and can even make the decision to conceive much more difficult than it usually is.

The greatest effect that age has is on fertility. Both men and women become less fertile as they age. Aging is accompanied by reduced sperm counts, a decrease in the health and number of eggs released in ovulation, decreased sexual activity, and other medical conditions which can affect fertility. Physicians recommend that if a woman over 35 has tried to conceive for over six months without success, she should seek medical help and begin considering infertility treatments and alternatives to natural conception. A third of women between the ages of 35 and 39 have fertility problems, and two-thirds of women 40 and over have fertility problems. Advances in medical technology make infertility a manageable problem.

Despite the great advances in medical health technology, the risk to both mother and child is greater in pregnancies after the age of 35. Preexisting medical conditions is one of the key reasons that older mothers are put at risk. Women over 35 are more likely to have or contract a condition that makes pregnancy a hazard. For instance, studies have shown that pregnant women over 35 are more likely to develop diabetes or high blood pressure during pregnancy than are younger women. A preconception medical exam can go a long was in managing and preventing these conditions.

As a woman's age increases her chances of having a baby with a birth defect increases dramatically. This is due largely to the abnormal division of the woman's eggs and chromosomal abnormalities in male sperm. These abnormalities most commonly result in babies born with Down syndrome. For women in their twenties, the chances of birthing a Down syndrome child is 1 in 1400. Once over the age of 40, the chances increase to 1 in 100.

Aging also increases the likelihood of miscarriage. Studies have shown that women in their twenties have a 10 to 15% chance of miscarrying. This increases to 25% for women in their mid- to late-thirties, and increases again to nearly 50% for women in their early forties.

While it is true that women 35 and older tend to have normal and healthy pregnancies, their chances of having complications is much greater. They are more likely to suffer from placental problems, give birth to an underweight child, have an ectopic pregnancy, and their babies are more likely to have problems such as hemorrhaging and asphyxia. Despite all of these complications in the mother and child, they can be effectively managed and largely mitigated.

Older women are also more prone to complications arising during labor. First time mothers who are 35 and older have been shown to have a greater rate of complications during pregnancy than first time mothers in their twenties. Women who are over the age of 35 and are having their first child are also more likely to have a cesarean section.

Women 35 and older can reduce their risk of complications and birth defects by carefully following all of the steps outlined in the Health, Nutrition and Fitness section. Generally, regular exercise, a healthy diet, a lifestyle free of smoking, drinking and drugs, and proper vitamin and mineral supplementation can all help minimize the risk. Older women are encouraged to take a preconception medical exam and preconception health very seriously. It can mean the difference between a healthy, successful pregnancy, and one marked by complications and birth defects.

In addition to the decreased chances of conception and the increased rate of complications, the physical and lifestyle changes of pregnancy might be much harder to deal with when older. This should not deter the mother, but she must consider this fact before conceiving. Dealing with a child with physical or mental problems may also be much harder when older and should be considered when deciding whether or not to conceive if the mother is over 35.

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