Pregnancy rates among younger women; in their 20’s is seen to fall in recent times; however more and more women over the age of 40 are getting pregnant and becoming mothers.
We look at changing trends and demographics in relation to motherhood.
Increasing numbers of older mothers
As women try to consolidate their professional and financial position in life, they choose to put off motherhood.
Many women delay motherhood for these and other reasons. Some women even choose to freeze their eggs for later use knowing that the quality of eggs can decline with age.
Statistics show that women under the age of 30 are delaying marriage and among this demographic, about half of all births tend to be outside marriage.
Statistics show that educated women tend to invest more in professional futures and hence protect their fertility by freezing eggs and so on.
In fact it is seen that the more educated a woman is, the more likely she is to have children later in life.
Tips for a healthy pregnancy even after 35
Most experts advise that women should try and complete their families before they turn 35, simply because there are fewer chances of complications and the pregnancy may be easier.
However, if you are among growing number of women who put of pregnancy till after 35, you should know about your risks.
You may take longer to get pregnant and the chances of suffering a miscarriage are also higher. Chances of pregnancy complications such as high blood pressure and gestational diabetes as well as chromosomal abnormalities are also higher among older mothers. It is more likely that an older mother will need a C section.
The risk also rises with older fathers. Fathers over the age of 50 can mean that there is a higher risk of certain birth defects in the baby such as learning or cognitive problems.
However older women can ensure that their pregnancy is as possible by making a preconception appointment to find out what precautions need to be taken and by getting regular prenatal care trough the pregnancy.
Make sure that you eat healthy consistently and stay active to be as fit and healthy as you can be. Also monitor how much weight you gain in pregnancy; gain the right amount of weight during pregnancy. Be sure to avoid risky substances (smoking, drinking, drugs and even medicines). Get tested for any chromosomal abnormalities that you may be advised.
