The risks of becoming pregnant after age 40

As the woman is turning years, and that especially is approaching 40, her fertility tends to decrease significantly. Therefore fertility specialists indicate that the ideal time to have a baby and have a baby is between the 20s and 30s, even advising those who turned 30 not to expect too much, especially if they want to have more of a child (and in fact have not had the first).

It's more, Fertility tends to be closely related to the age of the woman, in such a way that the woman will tend to be more fertile the younger she is. But this circumstance is not only related to fertility, but also to the quality of the pregnancy itself and the possible risks that may occur.

Thus, for example, when the woman approaches the decade of the 30 the chances of getting the conception are just a little lower than towards the end of the 20s (considered the most fertile stage), while the risk of spontaneous abortion or having a baby with Down syndrome is just a little higher.

However, as many specialists say and warn, from the age of 35, the decrease in fertility begins to grow, at the same time that the risk of suffering complications or congenital anomalies is much greater.

The risks to the fetus

According to a recent study conducted by the Sanitas La Zarzuela University Hospital in Madrid, 40-year-old pregnant women have a 6% higher risk of having a baby with chromosomal abnormalities, and 1% of structural malformations, compared to those women who become pregnant before the 1940s.

According to this study, structural malformations tend to multiply to reach 3.7%, while 34% of women who become pregnant at this age have high-risk combined screening, one-tenth chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus, and of these 6% had Down syndrome.

In addition, it is more common than at the time of delivery the baby presents a low birth weight.

The risks to the mother

But the risks do not affect only the fetus, also the mother. As the woman gets older, a series of physiological changes occur that make the development of pregnancy not so easy, which can cause an increase in placentation problems that ultimately affect the fetal diet.

As stated in the study, according to research published in Journal of Perinatal MedicineAbnormal placentation as a consequence of becoming pregnant after age 40 is one of the causes of uterine rupture.

As well the risk of gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension and hemorrhage is greater, the latter being one of the greatest risks, in addition to that in the moment after delivery the uterus does not contract. This article is published for informational purposes only. It can not and should not replace the consultation with a Physician. We advise you to consult your Trusted Doctor. ThemesConception

Pregnancy Beyond Age 35 – Reviewing the Risks (March 2024)