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 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.
Contrary to what you may have heard, your fertility does not come to a screeching halt when you hit 35. In fact, the majority of people who try to conceive in their mid to late 30s go on to have a successful birth.
Most pregnancies after age 35 are healthy ones. But as you age beyond your mid-30s, some risks do increase. Your doctor or midwife will check you often to catch most problems early.
Up to 85% of women at this age will be pregnant within the first year of attempting conception. At age 35, there is a 15% chance per month of conception. At age 40, the chance of conception is 5% per month.
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.
Definition of geriatric pregnancy
We define advanced maternal age (formerly geriatric pregnancy) as those who are 35 years or older at their estimated delivery date.
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.
“The average time it takes a couple over 35 to conceive is one to two years; you may not become pregnant immediately but that does not mean you cannot have a baby,” he adds. If you are older than 40 years and want to get pregnant, doctors recommend a full medical evaluation.
Pregnancy over 35 is actually quite common.
I had my first child at 33, my second at 36, and recently delivered my third at age 39. When I got pregnant at 32, I was one of the first of my friends to have kids. The rest joined the club after age 35, echoing a national trend of waiting longer to start having children.
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.
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.
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.
If you're older than 35 and hoping to get pregnant, you're in good company. Many families are delaying pregnancy well into their 30s and beyond — and delivering healthy babies. Taking special care can help give your baby the best start.
Male Fertility Facts
Peak male fertility is around 25-29 years old. Sperm quality begins to decline at 30. At 45, men begin to experience a significant decrease in semen volume. Older men can also take longer to conceive a child.
The chance of having a child with Down syndrome increases over time. The risk is about 1 in 1,250 for a woman who conceives at age 25. It increases to about 1 in 100 for a woman who conceives at age 40. The risks may be higher.
Supplements containing Myo-inositol, folic acid and melatonin have been shown to help improve egg quality and ovarian function.
Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Exercise regularly. Recent studies have shown that women who exercise 30 minutes a day most days have a greater chance of being fertile than women who do not. Take 0.4 mg of folic acid per day starting two to three months before you conceive.
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.
(De Graaf et al., 2022). There is no definitive scientific research that indicates that Down syndrome is caused by environmental factors or the parents' activities before or during pregnancy. The additional partial or full copy of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome can originate from either parent.
In a sample of 75 children with trisomy for chromosome 21, or Down syndrome, there were 42 males and 33 females. The sex ratio was 1.30 which is statistically not significant (p greater than 0.05).
Your baby is around 46.2cm long from head to heel. That's approximately the size of a honeydew melon. Your baby is getting chubbier, which will help them to stay at the right temperature when they're born.