Pregnancy After 35

Do you hear your biological clock ticking? Or do you feel like you still have time to have a healthy baby, even though you’re “getting along in years”? If you’ve waited to get pregnant until your mid-30s – or even later - you’re definitely not alone! In today’s world, more and more women are choosing to have children later in life. Over the past fifteen years, the number of women that are having children after 35 has increased more than 200 percent.  With that said, there are important things you should know about getting pregnant after that “milestone” age.

Conception Concerns
Even though you’ve made the decision that you want to get pregnant, you may need longer to conceive than a woman who is younger than 35.  Since you are born with all the eggs you will ever have, the theory is that eggs that have “been around” longer will begin to decline in quality with age.  Also, an older woman may ovulate less, even if she is still having regular periods.  However, at the same time you also increase the chance of a multiple pregnancy with age, as hormonal changes tend to make the release of more than one egg during ovulation much more common.

Pregnancy Problems
In addition to increased risk of high blood pressure, preeclampsia, and gestational diabetes, placenta previa, or a placenta that implants very low in the uterus, is also more common among mothers over 35.  Usually this problem corrects itself during the second trimester. 

There are several medical warnings issued to mothers over 35, and one of the more common ones is that the baby will be at considerably higher risk for chromosomal abnormalities, the most common being Down Syndrome.  Also, the potential for miscarriage is higher for older mothers.  For this reason, many health-care professionals recommend either chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis to provide important information about potential chromosomal abnormalities.

Delivery Downsides
During delivery, mothers over 35 run a greater risk of Caesarian delivery.  First-time mothers in their 20s deliver by C-section an estimated 14 percent  of the time, with the number spiking to 40 percent for first-time mothers over 35, and 47 percent for mothers over 40. 
 
Healthy Pregnancy Tips
To minimize the health risks of a pregnancy after 35, healthcare professionals recommend seeing a healthcare provider before conceiving, and continuing consultations all the way through the pregnancy.  If you are taking over-the-counter medications, check with your doctor to make sure they are not contraindicated for pregnancy.

A healthy, varied diet including orange juice, lentils, peanuts, leafy greens, and any other food with folic acid is recommended, along with a multi-vitamin and 400 micrograms of a folic acid supplement daily.  A pregnant woman needs an estimated 300 extra calories per day, and should seek out foods rich in calcium, iron, and protein.  To avoid risk of contamination by harmful bacteria, avoid unpasteurized dairy products, and raw or undercooked meat, sushi, eggs, or shellfish. 

Of course, stop drinking alcohol and quit smoking before you try to conceive.  Also, try to begin the pregnancy at a reasonable weight – not too heavy and not too thin.

The risks are a little bit higher for women who get pregnant after 35, but as the statistics clearly show many women are having healthy babies all the way into their early 40s.  A combination of planning, diet, and awareness can increase the chances of having a healthy baby.