More people are starting their families later in life. In 2020, nearly 12 percent of first-time moms were 35 or older. The reasons for these increases vary, but it’s no surprise that improved assisted reproductive technology (ART) has played a role. These techniques include egg freezing to extend fertility and donor eggs for people who cannot use their own eggs.
Here’s what you can expect if you’re pregnant or if you’re thinking about pregnancy after 35.
What is advanced maternal age?
Someone who is over 35 is considered to be of advanced maternal age and to have a higher risk for pregnancy-related complications. While prenatal and postnatal care is important for any parent-to-be, those who are higher risk may be monitored more frequently from pregnancy onset through birth, and sometimes afterwards. Pregnant people with advanced maternal age may have more ultrasounds and blood tests to monitor both the fetus and the parent’s health.
While more and more people are having healthy pregnancies past the age of 35, it does carry some risks. Children born to parents of advanced maternal age have an increased risk of genetic differences. A certain number of eggs are present at birth, and as someone ages so do their eggs. Getting pregnant after 35 increases the risk that the chromosomes—the DNA and protein that make up someone’s genes—won’t pair up correctly or may become damaged. This may result in genetic differences.
Other risks may include:
- Miscarriage
- Difficulty getting pregnant
- Chronic high blood pressure even before pregnancy
- High blood pressure brought on by pregnancy
- Gestational diabetes
- Caesarean section
- Difficulty breast feeding
- Stillbirth
- Higher likelihood of twins, triplets or more, especially with fertility treatment
- Genetic disorders in the offspring, like Down Syndrome
If you’re over the age of 35 and thinking about becoming pregnant, be sure to schedule a preconception appointment with your OBGYN to discuss fertility and how you can take care of your body while trying to get pregnant. You and your healthcare provider can discuss your health, how to increase fertility after 35, and preparing your body for a healthy pregnancy with diet, exercise and supplements like folic acid.
Sources: Osterman M, Hamilton B, Martin JA, Drisc...
- Osterman M, Hamilton B, Martin JA, Driscoll AK, Valenzuela CP. Births: final data for 2020. Natl Vital Stat Rep 2021.
