If you are thinking about having a baby in your late thirties or early forties, you are not alone. Women ages 35-45 are increasingly becoming first-time moms. And most healthy women in this age group have healthy pregnancies, births and babies.
Complications during pregnancy: Women older than age 35 have a higher risk for diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy. Older women are also more likely to be pregnant with multiples. Complications during delivery: Women in their 30s are more likely to need a cesarean section than younger women.
Geriatric Pregnancy Risks
Problems can arise no matter how old you are when you get pregnant. But some become more likely when you hit 35, including: High blood pressure, which can lead to preeclampsia (dangerously high blood pressure and organ damage) Gestational diabetes.
After age 35, there's a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications that might lead to a C-section delivery. The risk of chromosomal conditions is higher. Babies born to older mothers have a higher risk of certain chromosomal conditions, such as Down syndrome. The risk of pregnancy loss is higher.
The study found that pregnancy rates decreased progressively with increasing age of the recipient female patient 6. The cumulative pregnancy rate observed up to 12 insemination cycles was 74% for women younger than 31 years and decreased to 62% for women aged 31–35 years and to 54% for women older than 35 years 6.
Of course, as women age, the odds of conceiving also gradually lower. The ideal childbearing age is often considered to be in the late 20s and early 30s. Pregnancies later in life could come with some health risks. However, age is just one factor when it comes to giving birth to a child.
Advantages of getting pregnant in your 30s
You may have a higher income and more financial security because you've had more time to establish your career. Studies have found that women who became first-time moms at or after age 33 have greater odds of living to age 95 (compared to younger moms).
If you're 35 years old or older and pregnant, you're considered to be of advanced maternal age, or AMA. This can put your pregnancy in the high-risk category for a number of reasons, including an increased risk of complications for you and your baby.
If you are over 35 you are also more likely to have your baby early. And it's sadly more common for older mums to have a miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy. The chance of having a miscarriage rises from one in 10 for mums under 30, to one in five for mums aged 35 to 39 and one in two for mums in their mid-40s.
The main health complications for babies born at 34 weeks of gestation include difficulty with lung capacity and breathing. The earlier a baby is born, the greater the likelihood of bleeding in the brain. These hemorrhages may be mild; however, babies with more severe brain bleeding can have permanent brain damage.
In the United States, birth rates for women in their 30s are at the highest levels in three decades. However, an older mother may be at increased risk for miscarriage, birth defects, and pregnancy complications such as twins, high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, and difficult labors.
A gap of 3 years or more greatly reduces the chances of sibling rivalry. By this time the older child is secure in him or herself and quite independent. In addition, the mother's body is fully recovered from the challenges of pregnancy and birth of the first child.
While delivering at age 35 and older is officially considered “advanced maternal age,” Dr. Kalish notes that in reality, there's no “magic number” for being at-risk for complications. “A healthy 38-year-old could have an easier pregnancy than a 20-year-old who has multiple medical issues,” Dr. Kalish says.
According to the American College of Obstetrics & Gynecology (ACOG), the chances of conceiving are highest in 20 - 30 years of age. After 32 years of age the fertility in the women starts decreasing as they have fixed number of eggs in the ovary and the number of eggs decreases with advanced age.
So as you get older, you have fewer and fewer eggs, and the eggs you have aren't easily fertilized by a man's sperm. All this makes it harder for you to get pregnant. If you're older than 35 and have been trying for 6 months to get pregnant, tell your health care provider.
For example, a woman at 30 often has around 100,000-150,000 eggs in reserve. By 35, that number is likely around 80,000. Late into the thirties, that number could be 25,000, 10,000, or fewer.
In the United States (U.S.), this increase started in the mid-1970s and has continued to steadily rise over time. In 2018, 18% of birthing people were 35 and older, up from 15% in 2013, 11% in 2002 and 8% in 1990 (Martin et al. 2019; Martin et al. 2015; Mathews and Hamilton, 2014; Martin et al.
About 8 percent are born between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation (the time from conception to birth) About 1.5 percent are born between 32 and 33 weeks of gestation. About 2 percent are born under 32 weeks of gestation.
There are risks and challenges you should know about when trying for pregnancy after 35 years. It can be harder to get pregnant now than when you were younger. Females are most fertile in their 20s. If you've been trying to get pregnant for over 6 months, you should see your doctor to discuss your fertility.