Women deciding to give birth at an older age is nothing new, and the average maternal age in the last decade has risen from 21 to 26. Becoming a mother for the first time comes even later in life for women with a college degree and a career, as reported by the New York Times. In general, women in their 30s, or even 40s, who decide to become pregnant are faced with a number of myths regarding pregnancy and maternity. Myths based on health reasons thrive, as do myths around social standing and becoming a parent later in life.
Myth of Infertility
Though it is true that fertility declines after the age of 35, that does not make it impossible for women to conceive after that age, nor does it mean that every woman who becomes pregnant after 35 has used IVF. The difficulties may be more, but they can be addressed with preventive fertility care, a healthy lifestyle, and prenatal planning with the support of your doctor. Keep in mind that issues leading to infertility are not always age-related, such as endometriosis. Therefore, there is no need to jump to conclusions about pregnancy over 35 as the challenges may have nothing to do with a woman’s age, and we can never know the capabilities of each body.
Myth of Putting the Child at Risk
Similar to the issue of infertility, the rumor that children born to mothers over 35 may be autistic or be diagnosed with Down Syndrome is alive and well. However, there is no evidence that directly links the mother’s age to such issues; there may be a higher risk of carrying a healthy pregnancy to term, or a risk of augmented complications, but only 1% of the cases of children born with autism since the 1990s has been due to maternal age. As with any maternal age, the mother’s overall health, diet and well-being has more of an impact on the baby’s health and on her pregnancy than her age per se.
Myth of Selfishness
Many women who decide to prioritize their education and career over starting a family fresh out of college, or even fresh out of high school, are criticized as being selfish. Another perspective on this issue, however, shows us that women who have kids early on face major difficulties in the workplace—from lack of childcare to limited opportunities to advance—and as a result have more trouble supporting their families. On the other hand, women who start their families having established a career earn about double the income than younger mothers and the opportunity to better support their kids.
Myth of Not Being Around
In addition to all of the above, women who give birth at a later age face the criticism that they will either be too old when their child reaches important milestones in their life or that they will not be around at all. Motherhood seems to provide such vitality to women that in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior in March 2005 it was reported that women who become mothers in their 40s are four times as likely to live to be 100! Additionally, we should remember that there are really no guarantees of “being around” at any particular age, as not everything always depends on natural causes.
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With many women opting for careers and stable relationships before starting a family, the average maternal age of first time mothers is on the rise. In fact, according to the CDC, around 9% of new mothers are over 35 years old. While the odds of conceiving drop with age, it’s still very possible to have children past 35.
Advanced maternal age generally refers to women 35 and older. Essentially women over 35 will face more risks and complications, including the following.
- Time to conceive: Because egg quality and quantity decreases with age, it often takes six to 12 months for women of advanced maternal age to get pregnant.
- Multiple pregnancy: Due to hormonal changes for older women, the body is more likely to release multiple eggs, leading to twins.
- Pregnancy conditions: In addition to issues conceiving, pregnancies risks include high blood pressure and gestational diabetes. Both conditions can lead to complications during pregnancy and during delivery, if left untreated.
- Chromosome abnormalities: Women over 35 will have a higher risk of chromosome issues such as Down syndrome.
- Pregnancy loss: The risks of miscarriages and stillbirths also increase for mothers with age. All of the above issues (egg quality, chromosome abnormalities, high blood pressure, and diabetes) can increase the risk of miscarriage.
While all of these risks are real and possible, many women have safe and healthy pregnancies after 35. The first step is always going to be diet and exercise. Get your diet in check with a focus on fruits, vegetables, lean protein, and whole grains. Aim to eat clean as much as possible, which refers to eating actual ingredients rather than pre-made foods. Find some quick and easy recipes that use real ingredients.
Exercise is also so important. Get moving! Almost anyone can take a 30-minute walk per day. It’s easy and available to most people’s current health condition. Walking is the most basic way to get moving, as it eliminates any excuse to skip exercising that day. Other ways to get in shape include swimming, aerobics, yoga, cycling, and circuit training. If you are new to working out, start by walking and work up from there.
It’s also imperative to severely limit or avoid alcohol and tobacco when preparing to conceive. While caffeine is okay, limiting the amount of caffeine is also a wise move.
In addition to diet and exercise, make an appointment to talk with your OBGYN to assess your own plan. Your doctor will discuss options for fertility testing, if and when it’s needed. Your doctor can also discuss DNA screening and testing for chromosomal abnormalities.
The real takeaway is that the best way to prepare for conceiving over 35 is to get healthy through diet and exercise in order to prepare your body.
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Over the past few decades, the average age of a first-time mother has shifted from 24 to 26. Moreover, many women will wait until their mid-30s or even 40s to have their first child. Of course, this number varies greatly based on a number of factors (married status, socioeconomic status, education level, geographical location, etc.). However, with a college education necessary to earning middle-class wages, many women are choosing to finish college and start a career before having children.
Generally, pregnancies up to 35 years of age are less risky. Once women hit 35, doctors begin to refer to this age range as advanced maternal age, as more risks can develop. However, many women of over 35 years of age can also achieve a healthy pregnancy. While deciding when to start a family is a uniquely personal decision, here are a list of aspects to consider.
Pros and Cons Regarding Advanced Maternal Age
Cons of Advanced Maternal Age
- Older eggs and chromosomal abnormalities: As the body ages with time, so does a women’s limited supply of eggs. As the eggs get older, chromosomes are more likely to become displaces, which can lead to genetic disorders. Additionally, down syndrome is more likely to occur in babies when mothers are over 35.
- Issues conceiving: With a limited number of eggs, getting pregnant may become more difficult past 35. Woman not ready for children before 35 may consider freezing eggs.
Pros of Advanced Maternal Age
- Cognitive development: Recent studies have shown that children with supportive care givers, do better cognitively. Thus, women who wait to find a suitable partner and/or stable career often have the means to foster a stable home life, which can lead to better cognitive development of the child.
- Establishing healthy habits: The best way to prepare for an advanced maternal age pregnancy is to start eating healthy, exercising, and limiting excessive habits (drinking, smoking, etc.). Many women achieve healthy pregnancies at 35 or 40 if they take care of their bodies.
The main takeaway is to plan accordingly. If having kids prior to 35 is within your means and interest, then there’s no reason to put it off. However, if you are approaching 35 or 40, there’s still time to figure it out. The best thing to do is begin living a healthy lifestyle as soon as possible. This starts with basic maintenance like eating five servings of fruits and veggies each day, limiting processed and high-fat foods, drinking plenty of water, and exercising 150 minutes per week. And remember to see your OBGYN before you plan on getting pregnant. He/she can help you come up with a healthy plan of action for pregnancy.
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