Pregnancy Over 35: Special Considerations

The number of people who choose to have their first child later in life continues to increase. Delayed motherhood comes with some advantages, usually greater life experience and financial stability. However, advanced maternal age carries some potential risks and complications for the mother and baby that should be taken into consideration. Having a baby after age 35 may also require some additional medical care to help promote a healthy pregnancy. 

Fertility Issues

Women reach their peak fertility level in their late teens to early 20s. Fertility begins to decline around age 30 and continues to decrease with age. Getting pregnant naturally becomes more difficult with increasing age, so it may take longer for women in their 30s and 40s to conceive. Infertility treatments may be needed to get pregnant. Without fertility interventions, women over 40 have a 5 percent chance of getting pregnant each cycle. 

Pregnancy Loss

The risk of pregnancy loss from miscarriage or stillbirth increases as maternal age increases. Aging, lower-quality eggs may be responsible for pregnancy loss, especially if the egg causes chromosomal issues in the fetus. Preexisting conditions, such as diabetes and high blood pressure, are more prevalent in older women and may cause pregnancy loss. 

Maternal Conditions

Women over 35 are at greater risk for developing gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes causes elevated blood sugar during pregnancy. High blood sugar can cause the baby to grow larger than typical, which can result in complications during birth. If not controlled, gestational diabetes can also cause high blood pressure and lead to premature birth. High blood pressure may require more frequent prenatal visits to monitor the condition as well as scheduling an early delivery to avoid complications. 

Complications for Babies

Women over the age of 35 have an increased risk of preterm labor and delivering babies with low birth weight. Infants born prematurely or born underweight have a greater risk of medical complications.  Advanced maternal age also increases the chance of having a twin pregnancy.

Chromosomal irregularities occur more frequently in infants whose mothers are over age 35. Damaged, duplicate, or absent chromosomes cause a range of defects in the developing fetus. The most common chromosome condition, Trisomy 21, causes Downs Syndrome. At age 35, the chance of having a baby with Trisomy 21 is 1 in 353. That number increases to 1 in 85 at age 40 and 1 in 35 at age 45. 

Minimizing Negative Outcomes

Taking care good of yourself can help to reduce some of the risks associated with advanced maternal age. If you are trying to get pregnant, stop using alcohol and tobacco, and start taking prenatal vitamins. Maintain a healthy weight by eating a balanced diet and exercising regularly. Get screened for chronic medical conditions and if diagnosed, get them under control.

During pregnancy, continue to eat healthfully, take your vitamins, and exercise. Also control your blood sugar and blood pressure if necessary. Attend all your prenatal appointments and have scheduled health screenings done. Working closely with your healthcare providers will help to ensure healthy outcomes for both mother and baby.

For more information, contact a gynecologist near you.