If you are thinking about having a baby in your late thirties or early forties, you are not alone. Women ages 35-45 are increasingly becoming first-time moms. And most healthy women in this age group have healthy pregnancies, births and babies.
In the U.S., birth rates for women in their 30s are at the highest levels in 4 decades. But an older mother may be at increased risk for things such as: Miscarriage. Birth defects.
"It's normal to be concerned about later age pregnancy, and yet women at the age of 35 are generally healthy and can have babies," says Juli Fraga, Psy. D., a San Francisco-based psychologist specializing in reproductive health.
What's considered advanced maternal age? Advanced maternal age is basically a fancy way of saying pregnant at 35 or older. Keep in mind, though, that even if you're not 35, you may still be considered of an “advanced” age by the standards associated with various pregnancy risks.
Ages 19-26: 92% chance of conceiving in one year. Ages 27-34: 86% chance of conceiving in one year. Ages 35-39: 82% chance of conceiving in one year.
Yes, there can be challenges with having a baby later in your reproductive life. But there are some things you can control. First and foremost, getting early and regular prenatal care can increase the chance of having a healthy baby after 35. If you are under 35 and would like to have children, start planning now.
IVF Australia's medical director Peter Illingworth told The New Daily that it's highly unusual to see women starting a large family at 35 years old, but not impossible. “At age 35, fertility and the risks of pregnancy are little different from younger years, it's just that it all steadily slows down after that age.”
But as people get older, they face an increased risk of medical issues that can potentially complicate their pregnancy. While delivering at age 35 and older is officially considered “advanced maternal age,” Dr. Kalish notes that in reality, there's no “magic number” for being at-risk for complications.
Babies who are born after 34 weeks gestation have the same long-term health outcomes as babies who are delivered at full term (40 weeks). This means that if your baby is born when they are 34 weeks old, they have the same chances of being healthy as any other baby that wasn't born prematurely.
The study found that pregnancy rates decreased progressively with increasing age of the recipient female patient 6. The cumulative pregnancy rate observed up to 12 insemination cycles was 74% for women younger than 31 years and decreased to 62% for women aged 31–35 years and to 54% for women older than 35 years 6.
We define advanced maternal age (formerly geriatric pregnancy) as those who are 35 years or older at their estimated delivery date. Historically, pregnancies at this age or older are considered at higher risk – for patient and fetus – for various reasons.
Of course, as women age, the odds of conceiving also gradually lower. The ideal childbearing age is often considered to be in the late 20s and early 30s. Pregnancies later in life could come with some health risks. However, age is just one factor when it comes to giving birth to a child.
Advantages of getting pregnant in your 30s
You may have a higher income and more financial security because you've had more time to establish your career. Studies have found that women who became first-time moms at or after age 33 have greater odds of living to age 95 (compared to younger moms).
The American Psychological Association defines "middle adulthood" as beginning at 35 or 36, and many ranges do not end until 60 or 65. The Lancet considers midlife as starting from around age 40. Modern social scientists generally agree that midlife begins around 35 to 40 and ends around 55 to 60.
Later pregnancies are common, but the notion that one's fertility “falls off a cliff” at 35 remains a powerful cultural myth. It is supposedly backed up by statistics – the one frequently cited is that 1 in 3 women aged 35 to 39 will not get pregnant after a year of trying.
Pregnancy over 35 is actually quite common.
I had my first child at 33, my second at 36, and recently delivered my third at age 39. When I got pregnant at 32, I was one of the first of my friends to have kids. The rest joined the club after age 35, echoing a national trend of waiting longer to start having children.
About 8 percent are born between 34 and 36 weeks of gestation (the time from conception to birth) About 1.5 percent are born between 32 and 33 weeks of gestation. About 2 percent are born under 32 weeks of gestation.
Some may choose one or two kids, while others may want four or more children. There are pros and cons to both, but according to a study on happiness in family life, those who are in larger families are happier.
An adequate intake of folic acid during pregnancy, believed to protect against neural tube defects (NTDs) in babies, may also help prevent Down's syndrome, researchers report in The Lancet this week.
(De Graaf et al., 2022). There is no definitive scientific research that indicates that Down syndrome is caused by environmental factors or the parents' activities before or during pregnancy. The additional partial or full copy of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome can originate from either parent.
In a sample of 75 children with trisomy for chromosome 21, or Down syndrome, there were 42 males and 33 females. The sex ratio was 1.30 which is statistically not significant (p greater than 0.05).
Male Fertility Facts
Peak male fertility is around 25-29 years old. Sperm quality begins to decline at 30. At 45, men begin to experience a significant decrease in semen volume. Older men can also take longer to conceive a child.
A gap of 3 years or more greatly reduces the chances of sibling rivalry. By this time the older child is secure in him or herself and quite independent. In addition, the mother's body is fully recovered from the challenges of pregnancy and birth of the first child.
Women who become pregnant in their 30s and early 40s can have safe, healthy pregnancies, says Ellie Ragsdale, MD, director of fetal intervention at UH Cleveland Medical Center. But they do face a higher risk of some problems.