Pregnancy Questions and Concerns After the Age of Thirty-Five

More and more frequently these days, women have put off having children. Whether it's the desire to become established in a career, or to be better prepared for the responsibilities associated with having a child, many women are waiting till later in life to become pregnant. In fact, some women are waiting until well after thirty-five to have children. Now, with waiting come certain pregnancy concerns after the age of thirty-five as well issues surrounding the health and well being of any future children they may have.

Of much concern is whether age affects their fertility or not. Unfortunately, according to some researchers, fertility does declines as a woman reaches and passes the age of thirty. Some of the reasons for this decline include:

o The number of eggs produced lessens as a woman ages

o Less sex drive, therefore less opportunities to conceive

o The possibility of other gynecological problems

o A decreased number of sperm in their partner

With the advent of new technologies, pregnancy after the age of thirty-five is much safer than it ever has been in the past and becomes more and more so every day. Having said this, there may still be more complications associated with a pregnancy than there would be for a younger woman, but it is absolutely possible to conceive and have a healthy pregnancy. The need for greater precautions and testing will likely result that wouldn't be required for someone younger, but this increased screening is what makes having children after thirty-five much safer.

Another concern of would be mothers is the possibility of Down Syndrome. As it happens, the chances of birth defects such as Down Syndrome do increase somewhat as a woman ages. Normally the chance for chromosomal abnormalities is 1 in 1,400 babies born to women in their twenties. That number increases to 1 in 100 babies born to women nearing their forties. With greater testing, the ability to recognize these possibilities early on is increased dramatically.

Women over thirty-five are also apprehensive over the worry of whether or not there is a risk of miscarriage. According to a number of studies, the risk of miscarriage increases from 12%-15% for women in their twenties up to 35% for women at forty. Stillbirth is also more common in women over thirty-five, as are cesarean births.

For the women themselves, there are other health issues to be concerned about. High blood pressure and diabetes may develop in any pregnancy, but that risk increases for women over thirty-five. This increased possibility of health issues in the mother is even more reason to begin prenatal visits as soon as you find out you're pregnant. The sooner you involve medical care, the more you will benefit from our new medical advances and the better off you will be.

In order to help reduce any possible complications, both to the mother and child, there are a number of preventative steps you can take:

o Get the recommended amount of folic acid in your diet, preferably before becoming pregnant. So if you know you're trying, be sure to eat more leafy green vegetables, dried beans, and citrus fruit. Recommendations are to get at least 0.4 mg of folic acid each day.

o Don't drink alcohol or smoke during pregnancy.

o Limit the amount of caffeine you drink to no more than 300 mg per day. That's about two cups of coffee and a little more than three cups of black tea. Be sure to pay special attention to the caffeine in soft drinks and food items such as chocolate.

o Eat a well-balanced diet. Eat or drink four servings of dairy, and at least one of vitamin C, vitamin A, and folic acid each day. Don't forget to take your prenatal vitamins.

o Get plenty of sleep and rest, and try to stay free of stress.

o Above all else, make sure you attend each scheduled doctor's appointment and follow their directions.

So if you're over thirty-five and are thinking about having children, there obviously is some cause for concern. However, with proper nutrition, medical care, and effort, you can definitely have a healthy pregnancy and become the proud parent of a beautifully healthy baby.