The risks of miscarriage and stillbirth are higher in people who are older than 35. Also, multiple pregnancy is more common when you are older. As the ovaries age, they are more likely to release more than one egg each month. Some fertility treatments also increase the chance of a multiple pregnancy.
The risk of miscarriage – losing a baby up to 24 weeks of pregnancy – does unfortunately increase as you get older. The risk of a pregnancy ending in miscarriage for women aged 30 is 18% . That rises for women aged 35 to 22%. For women aged 40, this increases to 38% of pregnancies, and 70% for women aged 45.
Male fertility also decreases with age: although men don't experience a menopause in the same way as women, researchers pinpoint the 35-40 age bracket as the point at which sperm counts typically deteriorate.
We define advanced maternal age (formerly geriatric pregnancy) as those who are 35 years or older at their estimated delivery date. Historically, pregnancies at this age or older are considered at higher risk – for patient and fetus – for various reasons.
A woman's risk for general health issues and pregnancy-related health issues gradually increases every year — and there's not much difference between 34 and 35. However, 35 is the age at which medical research indicates that risk factors related to pregnancy merit some more discussion.
"Overall, the children of older moms were better behaved, well socialized, and emotionally healthy in their pre-teen years," says Dr. Salber. "In other words, older moms' more relaxed parenting behaviors appear to have paid off for these youngsters."
An adequate intake of folic acid during pregnancy, believed to protect against neural tube defects (NTDs) in babies, may also help prevent Down's syndrome, researchers report in The Lancet this week.
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.
FINDINGS. A new UCLA study is the first to demonstrate that Down syndrome accelerates aging in different parts of the body. The researchers showed that the biological age of brain tissue from someone with Down syndrome appeared 11 years older than the person's chronological age.
From a biological standpoint, experts recommend a man is best suited to fatherhood from his late 20s to early 30s. It is still possible for men to father a child in their 50s and older.
Those women who have late menopause and they have babies early and often have babies without difficulty, well into their early to mid 40s, but it's rare for any population you study that women have successful pregnancies after 45 with any kind of frequency.
Although most men are able to have children well into their 50s and beyond, it becomes gradually more difficult after the age of 40 . There are many reasons for this, including: Sperm quality tends to decrease with age.
In general: Female fertility begins to decline faster after the age of 30. It declines more significantly after the age of 35.
Diet and lifestyle can affect fertility. 9 Eating healthier, embracing healthy lifestyle habits, and maintaining a healthy weight can help you conceive faster and may even boost your odds for fertility treatment success if you do need treatment. Don't forget about mind-body therapies as well.
Am I too old? While certain risks may rise with age, men continue to produce sperm throughout their lives and can father healthy children into old age.
You can't prevent Down syndrome since it's a genetic condition. To learn more about your risk of having a child with a genetic condition, talk to your healthcare provider about genetic testing.
Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21. This extra genetic material causes the developmental changes and physical features of Down syndrome.
Down syndrome, also called trisomy 21, happens by chance, can't be prevented, and isn't caused by anything a parent did or didn't do. Fortunately, the health problems can be managed well, especially when found early, and many resources are available to help kids and their families.
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.
Benefits of waiting
Today older women tend to have achieved a higher level of education, and they're having fewer children. This means more financial security and resources within the family unit. The study also shows that children with older parents often have higher cognitive scores.
There's more to consider about pregnancy past your mid-30s. Older women are more likely to miscarry or have a stillbirth. They have a greater chance of developing gestational diabetes, preeclampsia, and of delivering a baby who is very small.