Pregnancy After 35 And Risks To The Mother

When it comes to having babies, everyone has different opinions on when they really want to have them. Some prefer to have it in their mid 20s, while others wait until their 30s. They say to each his own, but pregnancy after 35 comes with risks of its own. Now whether or not you plan to have your baby after this age is totally up to you. But based on facts and research you should always make an informed decision regarding this. Here are the possible things that could go wrong if you plan to have a baby after the age of 35 –

1Increased risk of preeclampsia

If you’re pregnant and 35 or above, you are more at risk of developing preeclampsia which is a condition that includes high blood pressure and significant amount of protein in urine. This usually occurs around the 20th week of pregnancy.

2Higher chances of ectopic pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancy or commonly known as tubal pregnancy is a kind in which the fertilized egg instead of attaching inside the uterus, implants itself outside of it. Although it’s a rare condition but getting pregnancy after 35 does increase your chances at it.

3Risk of preterm birth

Although preterm birth is not just limited to women over 35, it can happen to anyone given certain conditions. However, the risk of going into preterm labor and the subsequent birth are definitely higher.

4Higher chances of developing gestational diabetes

Advanced maternal age brings in a lot of difficulties to the mother. Gestational diabetes, another one of the risk factors for pregnancy after 35, develops only in the third trimester and mostly goes away after birth of the baby. However, when it comes to this age factor, women are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes later on in life.

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5Risk of pregnancy induced hypertension

Gestational hypertension is a common health risk factor in pregnancy. But when you combine it with age, the results can greatly vary. If you do get affected by it, it is highly likely that your doctor may suggest delivering the baby as soon as possible, only if the baby has developed that is.

6Increased risk of miscarriage

It goes without saying that women who are due over 35 years of age are more at risk of miscarrying their baby. At the age of 35, the likelihood of miscarriage or other type of fetal loss increases to 25% and even more after 37 and 40 years of age.

7Increased chances to undergoing a C-section

This may not be the only option for women over the age of 35 years delivering babies. The reason why the likelihood of a C-section increases is because of all the health problems that women come across and the impending risks that make C-section the in only possibility in a lot of cases during delivery.

It goes without saying that pregnancy demands a lot of care and attention especially when it happens in your late 30s. Keeping up with the treatments and medications for certain health concerns suggested by your doctor is the best thing you can follow to ensure the safety of both yourself and your baby.

Have you experienced pregnancy after 35 years of age? What was the experience like? What problems did you face? We’d love for you to share your experience with other expectant moms here.