Statistically an increasing number of women are
getting pregnant after age 35. In fact, the number of older mothers or as
some doctors like to call it, mothers of an advanced maternal age, is increasing
not only in the USA but in India as well.
Why More Women are Delaying Pregnancy
According to statistics, one in five women today
delays pregnancy until after the age of 35. In fact, over the last 15 or so
years there has been a whopping 50 percent increase in first births to women
over 40 years old. The reasons for this are many, but the most common ones are:
- Getting a career going – Many women delay childbirth to
concentrate on building up a career first. Once on a career path, some
women find it difficult to take time out for marriage and children.
- Ensuring that they are financially secure
- Improved medical treatment and prenatal tests
Improvement in fertility treatments have made it
possible for women to
conceive and have a healthy, normal pregnancy and baby despite advancing age.
Prenatal tests have also helped in that couples can know whether or not
a fetus will have any genetic abnormalities or defects such as Down syndrome.
Of course, one cannot forget the stories of
celebrities who have given birth after age forty. The list includes actresses &
celebrities who became mother after 35 years of age as. They have given hope to
legions of women who would have at one time thought they had let the
opportunity of motherhood slip by.
The proliferation of online support groups of
and for women who have successfully became moms after age 35, whether for the
first or tenth time offers added inspiration.
Fertility and Older Women
One interesting fact about getting pregnant at
an older age is that although fertility levels fall, the odds of having
twin’s increases. While the use of
fertility treatment increases the occurrence of multiples, older women can also
naturally have twins without medical intervention.
Interestingly, despite what anyone may think, women
over 35 and in their forties having babies is nothing new. If we check back
into your family histories we will find that there have been many births to
mothers who were well past 35. I know for a fact that my mom and at least one
aunt had children while in their forties.
Risks Associated with Getting Pregnant After 35
While it is true that the risk to both mother
and baby increases after age 35, it is really not as high as you may be led to
believe. In fact, once a woman over age 35 is healthy and has no fertility
issues, she has almost the same chance of a healthy baby as a 20-year old.
Nonetheless, there are a few things to be aware of if you are over 35 and
trying to get pregnant its required to get in touch with the Gynaecologist.
- The risk of miscarriage increases
- Fertility levels do start to drop drastically after 35
- Health problems for the woman after 35 include
gestational diabetes and hypertension, as well as endometriosis and
fibroids. But these can be managed with a combination of medication and
lifestyle changes, such as improved diet and exercise.
- The need for c-section increases, however, many women
over 35 have had normal deliveries without the need for surgical
intervention..
Preparing for Pregnancy after 35
If you are over 35 and thinking of having a baby, here are
a few things you can do to improve your chances:
- Get a pre Conceptional check up, in
fact, it is a good idea for the father-to-be to get one as well. It’s
important to know from the get go that physically you are OK.
- Look at your
diet to ensure that you are eating properly. Forgo caffeine, excessive
alcohol, and drugs if you are serious about getting pregnant. If you are
on any special medication talk to your doctor before trying to
conceive. Make sure to add folic
acid
to your supplements as it has been proven to help prevent some neural
defects in fetuses.
- Maintain a
moderate level of physical activity. If you used to exercise prior to
getting pregnant there is generally no need to stop, but be guided by your
doctor. However, it is not advisable to pick up exercising as a new
activity while pregnant, except for walking.
