The Risks Of Pregnancy Over 40

Many women disregard the tick of their biological clocks, but the fact of the matter is they shouldn't. While men are constantly producing new "fresh" sperm, a woman's eggs are formed when she is in the womb. Every woman has a finite number of eggs. As she ages so do her eggs, making the chance of birth defects increase as aging occurs. For prime egg quality and the best chance of conception, it is advisable to attempt starting a family before the age of 30. After the age of 35, egg quality is reduced and chance for birth defects such as Down syndrome are heightened. In truth, conceiving with one's own eggs after the age of 40 could prove quite difficult. According to the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, approximately one-third of women between the ages of 35-39 have problems conceiving, and two-thirds of women 40 and up experience difficulties. A woman who is over the age of 35 and has tried to conceive for six moths or more is urged to see a fertility specialist who may recommend In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) or other alternatives.

Pregnancies can also prove more difficult for women over the age of 35. High blood pressure and diabetes are more common in older women, so there is an increased risk that these complications could hurt mother or baby.Also, there is a heightened possibility that these conditions may develop for the first time during pregnancy if the mother is over the age of 35. Complications from gestational diabetes or high blood pressure can cause a mother to be put on bed rest for weeks to insure the health of her and her baby. All of these factors make it especially important that a woman who is in her late thirties and forties to have pre-conception visits with her doctor to take any preventative measures possible before problems arise. Another risk associated with advanced maternal age pregnancies is a condition known as placenta previa, in which the placenta covers the cervix. This makes vaginal delivery difficult and may require a cesarean section.

No matter what their age, women should make every attempt to be as healthy as possible before getting pregnant. Taking a multi vitamin with folic acid, eating right and exercising are defiantly steps in the right direction on the road to conception. If you smoke, do yourself (and your unborn children) a favor and quit now before it even becomes an issue.Bringing a child into the world is difficult but by arming yourself with information and optimizing your health you could be well on your way to motherhood.