Today, more and more women are getting pregnant after the age of 30. There are so many things that may prevent you from having a baby earlier. You may want to be more financially settled or may have some personal goals that you want to achieve before becoming pregnant. No matter what the reason, you may have people talking to you constantly about the risks of pregnancy after 35. Also read: 10 Pregnancy Myths And Facts That May Surprise You Learning about these risks yourself is the best way to know what precautions you need to take and if you want to take the chance at all.

Risks of pregnancy after 35

When a woman is over 30 years of age, she enters the “advanced maternal age”. This is not considered the ideal age to plan a pregnancy. There are certain risks of pregnancy after 35 such as:

#1. Your fertility is lower

The eggs that the woman are born with are all they will have through their lifetime. As you age, the chances of getting pregnant lowers as the eggs reduce in quality and may also reduce in size. As for men, the issues of planning a family late include lower sperm count, reduced sperm motility and lower volume of the semen. So, overall, having a baby when parents are older is harder. In fact one of the pregnancy risks after 35 is that your chance of getting pregnant is actually lowered to 54%.

#2. Genetic risks are also higher

The risk of having a baby at 35 includes the higher possibility of development of certain genetic disorders. Some studies have showed that the chances of the fetus developing Down Syndrome is 1 in 1064 in case of women who are about 25 years of age. By the time they are 35 years old, these chances increase to 1 in 240. The pairing of chromosomes is affected when the parents are older, thereby increasing the chances of genetic disorders in the baby. Also read: 10 Most Common Complications During Pregnancy

#3. Chances of miscarriage are higher

As a woman ages, the quality of the eggs decline as mentioned above.  Therefore the biggest risk of getting pregnant after 35 is that the chances of miscarriage are higher. There are several studies that support this as well. It has been observed in several studies that the risk of miscarriage is about 8.9% when the woman is about 20-24 years of age. This increases to almost 75% by the time the woman is 45 years of age.

#4. Increased chances of stillbirth

When you are over 35 years of age, the chances of a stillbirth are almost doubled. This is one of the primary reasons why a doctor would suggest that you have an induced labor when you are closer to your due date when you are 35 years of age or older. This pregnancy risk at 35 is higher if you are having your first child at that age. Also read: Placenta: Development & Function During Pregnancy

#5. Other risks

The risk of having a baby at 35 includes higher chances of pregnancy related health issues and complications. When you are older, you are at a higher risk of developing issues like placenta previa, gestational diabetes, breeching of the baby, preterm birth, high or low birth weight and more. You are more likely to be advised to get an emergency Cesarean delivery when you are over 35 years of age because of these complications.

How do you reduce the risks of pregnancy after 35?

There are many women across the world, including your favorite celebrities who have had babies after the age of 35. You can reduce pregnancy risks over 35 by taking a few simple measures:

• Lead a healthy lifestyle. Eating well and following a good exercise routine will help you keep your reproductive health in good shape even when you are much older.
• Talk to your doctor. If you are planning a late pregnancy, ensure that you visit your doctor and have all the tests done as needed. This will help you understand if your body is ready for a pregnancy or not.
• If you have any pre-existing health issues like high BP or diabetes, you will have to address them first before getting pregnant.
• Take time off. Stress can increase these pregnancy risks to a great extent. If you need to take a break from work, do it. You can also look at relaxing exercises like yoga and meditation to help you stay calmer.
• Add nutrients like folic acid in your diet that will help you stay healthier during your pregnancy and even after.

Also read: Tests & Scans Before & During Pregnancy Want to share your experience as a mom with other moms through words or images? Become a part of the Moms United community. Click here and we will get in touch with you

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