Six risks of getting pregnant after age 35
Many women tend to put off pregnancy as a consequence of modern day lifestyle. Even though women can remain fertile till menopausal age, conception after the age 35 could be associated with certain risks.
However, most of these risks are minimal and can be managed to a great extent. If you are suffering from any chronic conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure, for example, make sure it's under control before and during pregnancy.
For pre-existing medical conditions, women should consult a healthcare provider specializing in high-risk obstetrics or a health care provider.
For all older moms, there remains a 95 percent chance in delivering a healthy baby, say health experts. A few of the normal age-related changes that may predispose to certain problems during pregnancy are:
1. Ectopic pregnancy: The chances of the fertilized egg getting implanted somewhere other than the uterus in a condition called ectopic pregnancy is relatively high in women conceiving after 35
2. Congenital anomalies: There is also a relative risk of congenital abnormalities for children born to older mothers. But this risk is modest. While the risk percentage stands at 3.5 for young mothers, it rises to five percent for the older moms
3. High blood pressure: Elevated blood pressure is one of the common problems associated with older women during conception
4. Diabetes: Diabetes is another common risk that needs to be addressed in older moms. In some cases the diabetes can go away after delivery
5. Problems with placenta: When the placenta partially or completely blocks the cervix it leads to a condition called placenta previa. There can be other problems as well with the placenta
6. Stillbirth: Fetal death could happen at or beyond 20 weeks of pregnancy. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, the risk of stillbirth for all pregnancies is less than 1 percent. For women aged between 35 and 39, this goes up to between 1.1 to 1.4 percent and for those above 40, the figure rises to 2.1 percent