Many women choose to wait until after 40 until they conceive. Of course, everyone has their own choice as to why they want this to happen, such as being more financially stable, more mature, and in cases of repeated marriages.
If you choose to become pregnant after the age of 40, being knowledgeable about your body and the state of fertility is a very good idea. If you are over 40 and would like to have a baby, or become pregnant, rest assured there are many who do so with success. However, there are some risk factors to consider.
Fertility Drop as you Age
After the age of 40, you may have a more difficult time conceiving. The egg supply diminishes rapidly as you get older, and older eggs do have more of a chance of having problems with the chromosomes. Chromosomal abnormalities can lead to a higher risk of miscarriage and birth defects. One thing you may want to consider is using donor eggs to decrease these risks (Paulson). Also, if your partner is also over 40, his sperm quality is lower, thus contributing to the risk of genital defects as well.
Health Concerns
You’re more likely to have a difficult pregnancy. Pregnancy complications are another concern. In your 40s you’re far more likely to develop problems like high blood pressure and diabetes during pregnancy as well as placental problems and birth complications (Paulson).
When you increase in age and become pregnant, the risk is higher for developing problems such as gestational diabetes, placental abruption (when the placenta detaches from the wall of the uterus), preeclampsia, and placenta previa (when the placenta is too low in the uterus). Also, the chances of preterm labor are evident as well as the chances of having a cesarean section.
What you can Do
If you take good care of yourself by eating right, maintaining a healthy body weight, exercise, and have consistently done so prior to pregnancy, your chances do raise in having less complications. Staying stress-free, getting the right prenatal care, and living a healthy lifestyle can have a great impact on your ability to have a healthy baby after the age of 40.
Paulson, Richard. “What Are the Risks of Having a Baby If I’m 35 or Older? | BabyCenter.” BabyCenter. 2016. Web. 14 Jan. 2016. http://www.babycenter.com/404_what-are-the-risks-of-having-a-baby-if-im-35-or-older_3127.bc