As most women want to spend their 20s focusing on education and careers, there has been a growing trend to push pregnancy to later life stages. Women can now have children even after 40 thanks to medical advances, and if they are willing, donor eggs may be an option.
Many studies show that having motherhood after 35 is a good idea. Children born to older mothers tend to be more able to cope with behavioural, emotional and social issues. These mothers are also healthier and more tall than other women. Even though late pregnancies can present unique challenges, many older women over 35 years can still have healthy outcomes. Good prenatal care is key.
The Health Effects of Late Pregnancy on Women’s Health
Although the biological clock is part of our lives, many risks are more important as we age. As women get older, they might have different health problems than younger women. Even if they have not had any previous conditions, it is possible to have difficult pregnancies in older women. Let’s look at some of the risks that come with late pregnancies.
- Women have a limited amount of eggs in their wombs. As a result, they lose both quantity and quality. It takes older women longer to fertilize their eggs than younger women.
- Ovaries release more eggs per month as they age. Multiple pregnancies could occur. In vitro fertilization and assisted reproductive technologies like in vitro fertilation may also play a part.
- Gestational Diabetes is a type of diabetes that is only present during pregnancy. It becomes more common as women age. It can cause your baby to grow larger than usual if it is not treated. This increases the chances of complications after delivery such as premature births, high blood pressure, injuries and even death.
- Pregnancy-related Hypertension is more common among older women. It is important to monitor your blood pressure, as well your baby’s development.
- An older woman is more likely to give birth prematurely or have a baby with a low birthweight.
- Pre-existing medical conditions and fetal chromosomal abnormalities may increase the risk of stillbirth or pregnancy loss in older women.
- A C-section is more necessary for older mothers due to increased risks of pregnancy-related complications. Placenta previa, for example, is when the placenta blocks your cervix.
- The chances of having children with Down syndrome or other chromosome issues are higher for older mothers.
Assisted Reproductive Treatment
Modern medicine has made it possible for couples to obtain fertility treatments that are more effective to help them have children. Assisted reproductive technology (ART), which includes simple treatments such as medication to induce ovulation in a woman to more complex procedures like IVF, is also known as assisted reproductive technology.
Role of In Vitro fertilization
In vitro fertilization (IVF), the most popular and well-known type of assisted reproductive technology, is the best. This involves the use of a combination medicine and surgical procedures to fertilize the egg and implant it into the uterus.
Women younger than 35 years old have a greater chance of success and the rate drops with age. With every IVF cycle, there is an average of 1 in 5 chance of becoming pregnant and having children. Some women may need 5 cycles to become pregnant while others may only need 5 cycles.
Summa sum, having a child is the greatest gift a woman could have. The choices you make before and after conception can have an impact on the future of your baby. As we age, the journey to motherhood can be difficult. However, pregnancy is an exciting chance to care for your baby and prepare yourself for the new challenges ahead.
(The article was contributed by Dr Archana Dawan Bajaj- Gynaecologist and Obstetrician, IVF Expert, Nurture Clinic).
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