There’s a lot of debate over women having babies past the age of 35. However, it’s not that uncommon. In fact, one in 10 babies born to women over 35-years of age are born with zero complications to mom or baby.
However, doctors and midwives take extra precaution with pregnant women over 35 as they can be more susceptible to certain health concerns such as gestational diabetes, miscarriages, and delivering a baby with chromosomal abnormalities (i.e., Down syndrome). Here are ten facts to keep in mind if you plan to give birth past age 35…
1. Greater Risk of Pregnancy Complications
Women who get pregnant past the age of 35 are more prone to developing certain complications during pregnancy—most commonly gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. However, regular doctor’s appointments and quality prenatal care will help monitor and control both conditions if they arise during pregnancy.
2. Healthy Diet is Vital
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A healthy, balanced diet is vital for all pregnant women, regardless of age. Oftentimes, an older woman is more prone to pregnancy weight gain, which can contribute to further complications and energy drain during her pregnancy. But a well-balanced diet (plus prenatal vitamins) that focuses on whole, natural foods and quality proteins should do its part to prevent excess weight and ensure both mom and baby are properly nourished.
3. Risk of Chromosomal Abnormalities
If you’re pregnant past the age of 35-years, your doctor will offer a series of genetic testing to monitor for certain chromosomal abnormalities that increase with older pregnancies. For instance, chorionic villus sampling (CVS), a test performed at 9 to 11 weeks of pregnancy, is 99-percent accurate for detecting Down syndrome and Turner syndrome.
4. Heightened Risk of Miscarriage
It’s no secret that women over the age of 35 suffer higher risk of miscarriages and stillbirths compared to younger women. And risk of miscarriage only increases with age, for instance, while women who are 35-years old have a 20-percent chance of miscarrying; those 45-years or older have a 35-percent risk of miscarrying.
5.Higher Incidence of Twin Births
Older women also often find themselves with a double surprise—twins! It’s a fact that twin births are more common in pregnant women who are 35-years or older.
6.More Cesarean Sections
If you’re 35-years-old or older and pregnant, you have an increased chance of a cesarean section delivery as well. This can be due to the greater likelihood of complications during pregnancy and delivery, including labor issues such as excessive bleeding, prolonged labor (greater than 20 hours), and stalled labor.
7.Drastic Emotional Changes During Pregnancy
Hardly any new mother is quite prepared for the complete life transformation that comes with pregnancy or new motherhood. Hormone fluctuations are almost always the prime source of the emotional rollercoaster of pregnancy. However, the older the woman; the more stress the body will often experience.
8.Egg Quality Declines
As women age, we experience a decline in our fertility, which means we ovulate less regularly or miss the occasional egg release completely. Egg quality begins to wane between age 30 and 40, with genetic egg complications becoming more likely and reducing the chances of conception.
9.It May Take Longer To Conceive
In addition to lowered fertility after the age of 35, there are also more difficulties with timing conception. For instance, where it can take a couple in their 20s just a few months to conceive, couples over 35 often need years to become pregnant.
10.Remember,
Every Woman is Different When it comes down to age and pregnancy, 35 is just a number and every woman’s biological age differs from her number age. While many women have a family history of difficult conception; others will be able to conceive quite easily into their 40s due to stellar diet and regular exercise.
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