Pregnancy after 35
By Jennifer Meers

More women are waiting until they are older to start a family than ever before. Birth rates for women over 35 have increased dramatically in the past 30 years. According to the National Center for Health Statistics, the amount of women having children at age 35 or older has nearly doubled since 1978.

Waiting until you are older to have children has many benefits. Women in their late 30s and 40s are generally more mature and financially stable, with the means to provide a child with a secure upbringing. Additionally, children born to parents later in life are more likely to do well in school and become professionals.

Due to advanced medical care and increased awareness, women are able to have safer pregnancies in their late 30s and 40s than ever before. Statistics show that most of these women have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. However, risks associated with pregnancy do gradually increase as age advances.

For most women, fertility gradually begins to decline during their 30s, making it harder for women past 35 to conceive. This may be due to less frequent ovulation or other conditions, including endometriosis.

Once pregnant, women over 35 face an increased risk of miscarriage, at a rate significantly higher than women in their early 20s. By age 40, women face a 25 percent chance of miscarrying, due to a heightened occurrence of chromosomal abnormalities.

All pregnant women face the possibility of developing high blood pressure or diabetes for the first time during pregnancy. After the age of 30, women are at increased risk, making it extremely important to seek early and regular prenatal care. With proper treatment, these conditions generally pose no considerable threat to mother or baby.

Because women over 35 give birth to an increased number of children with birth defects, prenatal testing is strongly recommended. In addition to an ultrasound, many women choose to receive a quad marker screen. This blood test, performed between the15th and 20th week of pregnancy, screens for problems in the development of the fetus’ brain, spinal cord and other neural tissues of the central nervous system. The test also detects genetic disorders including Down syndrome.

After age 40, there is a 1 in 100 chance that the baby will be born with Down syndrome. This disorder, caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21, may be due to older women’s eggs experiencing more exposure to x-rays, drugs and infections.

Despite the risks, most women over 35 have successful pregnancies. Much of this can be attributed to women improving their odds through healthy lifestyle choices, both before and during pregnancy.

In addition to eliminating smoking and alcohol and caffeine consumption, a well-balanced diet with a variety of nutrients is vital for a healthy pregnancy. Experts recommend foods high in starch and fiber and at least four servings of dairy products each day.

Research has found that folic acid can reduce the risk of neural tube defects, such as Spina Bifida. Leafy green vegetables, oranges, peanuts, enriched grain products and fortified breakfast cereals all contain folic acid. Women are also recommended to take a daily supplement with at least 0.4 mg of folic acid prior to conception and up until the twelfth week of pregnancy.

Understanding the risks associated with pregnancy after 35, taking the necessary precautions and making healthy lifestyle adjustments greatly increases the likelihood of a complication-free pregnancy and healthy baby.