Pregnancy after age 35 carries increased risks for both mother and fetus, including gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, chromosomal abnormalities, and premature birth. However, with proper prenatal care and management of health conditions, most older women can have healthy pregnancies and babies. Egg donation may reduce risks for older women, and regular prenatal care and genetic testing can help prepare for potential complications.
Although older women have an increased risk of complications, in general, it is not dangerous to have a baby after age 35 for either women who become pregnant naturally or those who witness the pregnancy. Although the risk of miscarriages and chromosomal abnormalities increases at this age, the overall rate of occurrence of these conditions is still extremely low, and most older women have healthy babies. Age appears to be less important than a woman’s health before she becomes pregnant and the type of prenatal care she receives. Most of the complications that can occur during an older woman’s pregnancy are manageable, and prenatal counseling can prepare the mother for potential problems or help her decide whether she wants to terminate the pregnancy.
Risks for the mother
The main risks that come with pregnancy in women over 35 come from the physical changes that occur with aging. As a woman ages, her body becomes less adapted to pregnancy, making it more difficult to conceive and increasing the risk of complications. Older women are more likely to develop gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, ectopic pregnancy, placental abruption, and placenta previa, in which part of the placenta grows over the cervix. They are also more likely to experience problems during labor and delivery and receive more cesarean deliveries (C-sections), although this may be partly because health care workers are quicker to intervene. Additionally, these women may feel more of the physical stress of pregnancy, which means they may be more tired and have more morning sickness than younger women.
Risks to the fetus
Women in their 30s tend to produce fetuses with more chromosomal abnormalities than younger women, which can lead to birth defects and genetic disorders, especially Down syndrome. Those aged 30 to 35 who have live births have about a 39 in 2 chance of having a child with Down syndrome, while those over 1,000 have about a 45 in 14 chance. Women who become pregnant later in life also have significantly more likely to have an abortion or stillbirth than those who do before, but the overall rate of both is still very low in developed countries. Additionally, babies born to older women are more likely to be premature and underweight, although this risk can be reduced with adequate prenatal care.
Natural pregnancy vs. assisted pregnancy
The risks of pregnancy in women over 35 appear to be similar for both natural and assisted pregnancies. However, studies show that age may not play as big a role in women who become pregnant via egg donation; a 2012 study from Columbia University Medical Center found that women who conceive this way face the same level of risk, regardless of age. Pregnant women over the age of 35 are more likely overall to have multiple pregnancies, especially those using fertility drugs or in vitro fertilization (IVF).
Preparing for pregnancy after 35
There are many things women can do to reduce their risk of complications, including treating any health conditions, getting proper nutrition and exercise, and meeting with a prenatal care provider regularly. Because older women are more prone to high blood pressure and gestational diabetes during pregnancy, those who have these conditions before becoming pregnant should be sure to let their health care providers know and take steps to control them. They should also let their obstetrician or midwife know about any other health conditions they have and any medications they are taking, so he or she can be aware of any problems.
Nutrition is also extremely important, especially in the early weeks of pregnancy, so women trying to conceive should take prenatal vitamins and ensure they are getting at least 400 micrograms of folic acid per day. Being overweight can also increase your risk of pregnancy complications, so exercising regularly and eating a healthy diet can help with both conception and throughout your pregnancy. Quitting smoking and drinking can also greatly reduce your risk of problems, as can getting regular dental care.
Also, women should make sure they get regular prenatal care from a doctor. He or she can run tests to monitor any conditions a woman has and can also educate her to prepare her for any complications. Many women over 35 choose to have optional genetic testing to see if their fetus has abnormalities that could cause birth defects. If tests show that a fetus will have birth defects, your doctor may advise you to prepare you for the birth or help you if you decide to terminate the pregnancy.
Protect your devices with Threat Protection by NordVPN
