Geriatric Pregnancy: Risks and Ways to Conceive Naturally Later in Life
If you've started planning a family later in life, you've probably heard the term "geriatric" pregnancy. This term, used to describe advanced maternal age has scared people for years. But is conceiving after 35 as risky as we're led to believe? Learn more about pregnancy after 35, its risks, benefits, and ways to have a healthy pregnancy.
The average age at which women give birth has been increasing in the past few decades. In Europe, the average age for the first child is between the ages of 27 and 31. In the USA, most women have their first child at 27.
Better education and career opportunities, as well as growing child-raising costs, push the age even higher. However, according to health data, pregnancies and childbirths later in life can have certain risks to the mother and baby. The term advanced maternal age, formerly known as geriatric pregnancy, is being used more and more as many soon-to-be mothers are having their first babies later in life.
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What is considered geriatric pregnancy?
Getting pregnant at 35 or later used to be called a geriatric pregnancy. Nowadays, the medical community tries to avoid this term as it has a negative connotation. The term “advanced maternal age” is used instead.
This name doesn’t only describe the age at which you get pregnant, but rather the fertility situation and pregnancy risks associated with it. The number of viable eggs drops a lot once a woman reaches her mid-thirties, which can make it more difficult to get pregnant, cause pregnancy complications, or impact the baby’s health.
What are the risks of pregnancy later in life?
Pregnancies later in life are common, and many women in their 30s and even 40s get pregnant naturally and give birth to healthy babies.
However, there are some risks to consider:
- Chromosomal abnormalities: The chances of having a baby with chromosomal disorders, such as Down syndrome, increase with maternal age. For example, 1 in 1,480 pregnancies is detected with Down syndrome at age 20 compared to 1 in 353 at age 35.
- Miscarriage: The risk of pregnancy loss increases as a woman gets older. At the age of 35, you have about a 20% risk of miscarrying. At 40, the risk is about 33% to 40%. And at age 45, it ranges from 57% to 80%.
- Gestational diabetes: Women over 35 are more likely to develop diabetes during pregnancy.
- Hypertensive disorders: There's an increased risk of high blood pressure and preeclampsia during pregnancy.
- Placental problems: Issues like placenta previa (when the placenta covers the cervix) are more common in older mothers.
- C-section: Older mothers are more likely to require a C-section.
- Preterm birth: There's a slightly higher risk of delivering before 37 weeks.
- Low birth weight: Babies born to older mothers are more likely to be smaller than average.
- Fertility challenges: It may take longer to conceive, and the risk of infertility increases with age.
Should you be worried about getting pregnant after 35?
While the risks of pregnancy and birth complications increase with advanced maternal age, many women have healthy babies later in life without any complications. So, just because you've reached a certain age, you shouldn't change your plans about getting pregnant for the first time or having more kids. With medical care advancing every day, your chances of a healthy pregnancy still outweigh the potential complications.
To increase your chances of a healthy pregnancy, it's recommended to do additional screening and prepare before you get pregnant.
Tests and examinations to do before getting pregnant:
- General physical exam to assess your overall health and identify any underlying conditions.
- Gynecological exam, including a Pap smear and screening for sexually transmitted infections.
- Blood tests to check for:
- Complete blood count (CBC)
- Blood type and Rh factor
- Rubella immunity
- Hepatitis B and C
- HIV
- Thyroid function (TSH, T3, T4)
- Vitamin levels
Are there any benefits to getting pregnant later in life?
Fearmongering and societal pressure are common when it comes to women's fertility. It might sound as if you missed out on life if you didn't have kids in your 20s. But if you have access to quality medical care, there are some benefits to getting pregnant later in life.
Benefits of getting pregnant later in life:
- You're more likely to invest in and prepare for the pregnancy. Statistics show that people who plan and prepare for pregnancy tend to give birth to healthier babies.
- You can provide better financial stability for your future kids, as you have more time to establish your career and build wealth.
- As you age, you become more prepared to deal with life's problems and solve them in a mature and logical way.
- Couples who have kids later in life might have longer and more established relationships, which is important to create a safe and nurturing environment for the baby.
- Studies suggest that children of older mothers may perform better on cognitive tests and have fewer behavioral problems.
- Pregnancy and motherhood might feel more fulfilling, as you already have an established career, relationship, friendships, and hobbies before you get pregnant.
What about male fertility?
If you’re a woman of a certain age, probably all you can hear in the media, family gatherings, and social events is how your biological clock is ticking and you’re losing viable eggs every second.
But not that many people talk about the fact that male fertility, genetics, and health determine the health of the baby just as much. It’s true that males remain fertile for longer or even for their entire lives. But that doesn’t mean they remain just as fertile as in their 20s and 30s and can have healthy babies throughout their lives.
Just like women, more men opt for parenthood later in life. But male fertility starts dwindling down in their 40s.
According to the National Institutes of Health, as much as one-third of all fertility challenges are because of the father. The study states:
As you can see, the father’s genetics and health not only impact the baby but also the mother’s health during pregnancy. It’s important not to put all the responsibility on mothers, because it takes two to tango.
What are your chances of getting pregnant later in life?
One of the reasons there’s still so much controversy about starting a family later in life is that a woman’s fertility starts to decline in her 30s. A woman loses about 300,000-400,000 eggs in her fertile years. As you get close to menopause, you have very few eggs left, and those that are left are more likely to have chromosomal abnormalities. On top of that, your ovulation might become irregular and your ovaries release less oestrogen and progesterone.
According to the statistics, while women under 30 have about a 25% chance of getting pregnant naturally each cycle, that chance drops to 20% for women in their 30s. By 40, the chance of getting pregnant naturally each month is just 5%.
How to conceive later in life?
You can still conceive naturally and have a completely healthy baby later in life. Even in your 30s and 40s, overall you have a much higher chance of a healthy pregnancy than complications. At this age, though it’s much more important to plan and prepare for the pregnancy, not only to increase your chances of natural conception but also to take care of your health during pregnancy.
Track your menstrual cycle
Keep an eye on your monthly cycle – it's like your body's personal fertility calendar. Knowing when you're ovulating is key to timing your fertility window and maximizing your chances of getting pregnant. Apps like WomanLog help you track your cycle and indicate ovulation days when you can get pregnant.
Eat healthily, sleep well, and exercise
Treat your body right. Load up on fruits, veggies, and whole grains. Make sure you're sleeping at least 7-9 hours a night and resting properly. And don't forget to move your body. Regular exercise keeps you healthy and can boost fertility.
Stop harmful habits
Smoking is a big no-no when you're trying to get pregnant. It's not just bad for you, but it can also make it harder to conceive and increase the risk of pregnancy complications. You should also limit your alcohol intake as it can increase stress, cause nutrient loss, and mess up your cycle.
Take supplements
Folic acid is a must – it's crucial for preventing birth defects. A prenatal vitamin can cover your bases, but it's always best to talk with your doctor about what's best for you. They might recommend additional supplements based on your specific needs.
What if you can't get pregnant later in life?
Assisted reproductive technology (ART) helps couples conceive or have a baby when they can't achieve it naturally. Usually, couples start thinking about any form of ART when they can't get pregnant after 1-2 years of having unprotected sex during ovulation. You might also consider ART if you or your partner have certain health or genetic conditions you don’t want to pass on to your future kids.
Here are some options:
- In vitro fertilization (IVF) is used to fertilize a woman’s egg with a man’s sperm outside of the body. Eggs are fertilized with sperm in a lab and then implanted in the uterus. This can be done with your own eggs or donor eggs in the case of genetic and health conditions.
- Surrogacy is another option to have a baby. There are two types of surrogacy:
- Traditional surrogacy is when the surrogate's egg is used and she carries the pregnancy and gives the baby to the intended parents after birth.
- Gestational surrogacy is when the intended mother's or a donor's egg is used and implanted in the surrogate’s uterus.
- Adoption is another way to experience parenthood. It’s a fulfilling experience for both parents and adopted kids.
- If the issue is egg quality or quantity, you can use egg donation to receive healthy eggs from donors. In this case, donor eggs can be used with IVF and implanted in another intended mother’s uterus. You'd be carrying the child, but genetically, the baby wouldn't have your genes.
Healthy pregnancy and baby later in life
There’s a lot of fearmongering in society about ageing women and the associated fertility risks. If you feel ready to start having kids later in life, don’t feel discouraged or afraid. Throughout history, women have been giving birth up until menopause. Just make sure to plan and prepare for your pregnancy and don’t feel defeated if you don’t get pregnant right away.
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