The prospect of parenthood is exciting, but it still comes with its fair share of anxiety and uncertainty. This might be especially true for women who have decided to have a baby later in life. However, studies show that first-time older moms are generally better educated and more likely to have resources such as a higher income and work flexibility. This is compared to those of younger reproductive age. It is also true that women across the country choose to have children later in life. According to the CDC, the average age of women at first birth has risen over the past four decades. This increase partly reflects the shift in first births to women 35 years and older.
So, deciding to have children after the age of thirty-five is an increasingly common decision. With that in mind, there are some risks and benefits to be aware of
The Benefits of Pregnancy at Advanced Maternal Age
- More Stability – Women in their thirties and forties are more likely to feel secure in their emotional, financial, and professional lives. For some new parents, this means having the freedom to spend more time raising their children.
- Ready for Parenthood – With more stability, women may feel in a much better position to tackle parenthood and everything that comes with it.
- Safety – Having a baby in later life is safer than ever before. Advances in maternal medicine, personal health, and prenatal care make having a baby past the age of thirty-five much smoother experience than it used to be.
The Risks of Pregnancy at Advanced Maternal Age
For all of the benefits and positive issues attached to being an older mom, it does come with some risks. These include:
- Declining Fertility – Although many women past the age of thirty-five successfully become pregnant, a decline in fertility past the age of thirty means that conceiving may be more difficult. For this reason, it is recommended that women in this age group who have not become pregnant after six months of trying to conceive make an appointment to see their doctor.
- A Higher Risk of Complications – According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, women in their late thirties and beyond have a higher risk of complications such as pre-eclampsia (high blood pressure during pregnancy), miscarriage, and stillbirth. While these risks highly depend upon each woman and her medical circumstances, the overall risk of complications increases as women age.
- Effects of Pregnancy – Pregnancy and labor will likely take a greater toll on the body. As we age, our bodies naturally take longer to recover, and that means healing from physical labor will be slower.
Steps You Can Take to Give Yourself the Best Chance of Conceiving
Before trying to conceive, it’s important to do some housekeeping- the pre-pregnancy type of housekeeping. This includes:
Setting Up a Preconception Appointment With Your Doctor
If you are certain (or almost certain) that you want to become pregnant, set up a pre-pregnancy appointment with your doctor or OBGYN. During this time, your doctor can give you pregnancy-specific advice tailored to your medical history and circumstances. This may include discussions about:
- Stopping birth control if you haven’t already
- Reviewing your medical and obstetric history as it relates to your upcoming pregnancy
- Discussing any concerns about conception or pregnancy itself
- Talk about any current medications or supplements that you are taking
- Discuss issues around pregnancy weight gain, exercise, and healthy diets before becoming pregnant
If you have a pre-existing condition like high blood pressure or diabetes, then a pre-pregnancy appointment is beneficial and should be scheduled sooner rather than later.
Starting Your Prenatal Vitamins
The ideal time to do this is while you’re trying to conceive. Taking vitamins early in the process gives your body the nutrients it needs when it needs them. This is crucial for those early weeks of pregnancy.
Stopping Unhealthy Lifestyle Habits
Alcohol, smoking, and recreational drugs are habits that should be given up as soon as possible if you are trying to conceive. Studies have shown that both smoking and drug use can lead to miscarriage, premature birth, and low-birth-weight babies.
Follow a Healthy Diet
It goes without saying that we should all stick to a healthy diet, but inevitably, we get roped into unhealthy eating patterns from time to time. Your pre-pregnancy phase is the best time to get back into healthy eating habits.
Exercise Regularly
Regular exercise has many benefits for our physical and mental health. It will also make it easier to adapt to your body’s changing shape and weight gain while pregnant. Try to keep active daily – 30 minutes of walking or light exercise daily would be great. If it is too difficult, then do what you can. Any exercise is better than none.
Get Help if You’re Having Problems Conceiving
Your threshold for flagging up any potential problems with conception should be low. Women who are 35 and older are advised to speak to their doctors within the first few months of trying to conceive if they haven’t had success yet.
Despite some challenges, many women past the age of thirty-five will go on to have successful and healthy pregnancies. Arranging preconception appointments, speaking to a healthcare provider, and sticking to a healthy lifestyle will help your pregnancy journey.
References:
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5633623/
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/does-being-overweight-affect-your-changes-of-getting-pregnant/
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/alcohol-use.html
