Pregnancy is a beautiful phase of life and you can begin that journey at any point. With the advancements in science, there’s enough support today to have babies whenever you are ready. Pregnancy remains the same whether you are 22 years old or 37. What’s important is the fact that you’ve prepared yourself mentally and emotionally to be a mum.
Thankfully, more and more Millennials understand this now, which is why there’s been a steady incline in late pregnancy cases. From completing their education to focussing on their careers, there’s enough and more women want to achieve before beginning their parenthood journey.
However, pregnancy post 35 can bring its own set of challenges. There are several myths and misconceptions to address, and you should know about the ones that matter.
Pregnancy In Millenials After 35: Understand The Risks
The common myth that goes around women getting pregnant at an older age is that you can’t get pregnant. The “biological clock” is ticking as they say, and you have a better chance at conceiving at a younger age.
That’s partially correct but in no way conveys that women after the age of 35 years cannot bear children. At the same time, you do not enter a high-risk pregnancy after your 35th birthday.
Data shared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (US CDC) National Vital Statistics Reports show that in 2018, the birth rate for women between 35 and 39 years of age was 52.6 births per 1,000 women. It stood at 11.8 births per 1,000 women between the ages of 40 and 44.4 years. (Source: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr68/nvsr68_13-508.pdf)
Doctors call pregnancy post 35 as advanced maternal age or simply older mothers. These mums have been delivering babies in their 30s and beyond. But it’s also important to understand the risks that can have on the health of the mum and the baby.
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Decline In Fertility
While we’ve told you that having a baby post 35 is possible, it does come with its share of risks. Fertility itself becomes a concern for many women. On average, mums have a certain number of eggs in their bodies. These fertility eggs allow the sperms to latch on to them, which begins the process of pregnancy. However, with age, the number of eggs begin to decline and so does their quality.
That’s why it can get difficult to conceive at a later age. Not just in women but the sperm count also reduces in men after a certain age along with motility and semen volume. These factors can further complicate your pregnancy.
A study by The New England Journal of Medicine concluded that women who received artificial insemination under 31 years of age had a 74 per cent of pregnancy within a year. This chance decreased to 61 per cent for women between the ages of 31 and 34. It further declined to 54 per cent for women above the age of 35. (Source: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/7057832/)
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Miscarriage
There’s also a higher risk of miscarriage in a pregnancy post 35. A study published in the BMJ (Source: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC27416/) concluded that women between the ages of 20 and 24 years stood at an 8.9 per cent risk of miscarriage.
This increased to 74.7 per cent for women around 45 years and above. The study also concluded that the poor quality of eggs in women at an older age was responsible for the higher rate of miscarriage.
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Gestational Diabetes
Pregnancy post 35 can increase your chances of developing gestational diabetes. It’s most common with older women and occurs only during pregnancy. However, it can be controlled with some medicines and lifestyle changes.
However, not treating gestational diabetes during pregnancy can increase your baby’s size that increase the risk of injuries during delivery. It can also lead to preterm birth, high blood pressure, and post-birth complications in the baby.
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C-Section
Older mums are also at a higher risk of having to deliver via a C-section. In some cases, the placenta blocks the cervix that can force doctors to perform a C-section to get the baby out. While having a natural delivery is the norm, the possibility of a caesarian cannot be ruled out.
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Chromosome Abnormalities
There is a slightly higher chance of chromosome abnormalities in a pregnancy post 35. Babies born to older mothers are at a higher risk of certain chromosome problems, such as Down syndrome.
However, it is also important to note that the abnormality is small overall even at the age of 35. For instance, the risk of having a baby with Down Syndrome stands at 1 in 353 or 0.002 per cent at 35. Meanwhile, for mums delivering at a young age of 20 years, the risk stands at 1 in 1490 births or 0.006 per cent.
Pregnancy In Millenials: Understanding IVF Treatments
There’s a lot of ambiguity around how IVF or In vitro fertilisation works, especially at an older age. IVF also depends on the health of the egg to successfully begin the pregnancy process. Otherwise, you are increasing your chances of a miscarriage or the sperm not attaching to the egg.
Mums, you can plan for a late pregnancy by freezing your eggs ahead of time. This only increases your chances of achieving pregnancy at a later age. But do remember, your odds for pregnancy success with IUI treatment at the age of 27 will be very different from that at 37.
In 2017, nearly 70,000 women gave birth using IVF. At least eight million children have been born using this technology since its inception in 1978.
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Pregnancy Post 35: How To Increase Your Chances
Do remember, older age could be one of several factors lowering your chances of pregnancy. While conceiving after 35 can be a challenge, it’s not impossible. Some women easily conceive with little effort and go on to have normal deliveries too.
However, this does differ from person to person. Preexisting health concerns, accidents, genetic problems all play a role in conception. Lifestyle habits can have a major impact too. That’s why if you are seriously considering having a baby, you should make some active changes to your lifestyle.
Here’s what you need to know:
- Hold back on the alcohol and smoking
- Avoid sugar and switch to a healthy meal
- Measure your ideal weight and work out to stay close to it
- Cut back on coffee and tea
- Switch to making healthy eating choices.
While these are physical changes you can make, you need to be fit mentally as well. This includes:
- Maintaining a stress-free environment
- Working on your mental health
- Speak to your doctor or counsellor about any doubts
- Be mentally prepared for the pregnancy
- Keep a positive outlook
Contrary to social conditioning, pregnancy isn’t a time-bound activity. It needs planning preparation and mental strength. Mums can develop all of this at their own pace and then actively work on conceiving a baby.
Of course, not every late pregnancy needs to be complicated. But for those who are having issues, you can make lifestyle changes, eat well, exercise, quit unhealthy habits and more to increase your chances of conceiving.
However, during the entire process, do not forget to enjoy the experience of pregnancy. The good and bad days that it has and the feelings it leaves you with. A pregnancy in a pandemic turned endemic is nothing less than a miracle, which gives us all the more reason to cherish it.
