Having a baby after 35 – Everything You Need to Know

Having a baby beyond the baby after 35 or early 40s is becoming increasingly normal.The proportion of women giving birth later in life has skyrocketed in the last few years. Twenty years ago, only 9% of first births in the US were to women over 35. Today, that number has increased by 23%. Every year, more than 100,000 American women over 40 give birth. While many women are advised to have children before the age of 35, the numbers say otherwise.

Also, some popular celebrities have had children in their baby after 35 or early 40s such as Halle Berry, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Gwen Stefani, Cameron Diaz, etc.If you’d like to what it’s like having a baby in your late 30s or early 40s, here’s everything you need to know.

Now let’s get going.

What Are the Chances of Getting Pregnant in Your late 30s?

According to research, there is an 85% likelihood of becoming pregnant in your 30s or late 30s as well as a 44% chance of becoming pregnant in your 40s. If you become pregnant after the age of 35, experts refer to it as an “advanced maternal age” pregnancy. Nonetheless, it is still feasible to become pregnant in your 40s and give birth to a healthy child. Since the 1990s, birth rates among people aged 40 to 44 have risen. IVF treatment and prenatal care improvements have also made it simpler and more secure for women to conceive and carry healthy pregnancies later in life.

Why Age Matters?

Age matters for pregnancy due to several biological and health-related factors. Women are born with a finite number of eggs, and both the quantity and quality of these eggs decline with age. By the time a woman reaches her 30s and 40s, the number of healthy, viable eggs decreases significantly, making conception more challenging. Additionally, fertility rates naturally decline with age, with women in their 20s and early 30s generally having higher fertility rates compared to those in their baby after 35 and 40s.  Furthermore, the chances of miscarriage and difficulties during labor and delivery are higher for older mothers. Despite these challenges, advancements in reproductive medicine and prenatal care have improved the prospects for women seeking to conceive later in life.

Which complications are more common for pregnancy in the late 30s or early 40s?

• Premature Birth: According to one study, the likelihood of macrosomia, or having a kid who is born heavier than average, increases with age.
• Diabetic pregnancy: This occurs when a pregnant woman develops diabetes for the first time. It raises blood sugar, which can have an impact on both your pregnancy and the health of your unborn child.
• Miscarried child: The older you get, the higher your chance of miscarriage. Among women over 40, miscarriages account for 27% of pregnancies, but for women under 30, the percentage is 16%.
• C-sectional. When compared to vaginal births, C-sections are more common in women 40 years of age and above.
• Stillbirth: Women over 35 are twice as likely as younger women to experience a stillbirth if they give birth after their due date. After 40 weeks of pregnancy, the risk of stillbirth increases for all pregnant women.
• Chromosomal irregularities: Being an older mother increases your chances of having a kid with a chromosomal defect, such as Down syndrome or Patau’s syndrome. However chromosomal abnormality screening tests are provided to all pregnant mothers.

What are the advantages of pregnancy in your baby after 35 or early 40s?

There are benefits to having children later in life, even though there are greater health concerns while pregnant after 40. You could:

• Have a more stable job that gives you more time to spend with your kids.
• Have a better financial situation at an older age.
• You will be starting a family with someone you meet later in life and discover that you’re more responsible and capable of raising a child

Additionally, research indicates that having a kid later in age can delay mental decline, increase longevity, and improve your child’s academic performance (such as higher test scores and graduation rates).

How to improve fertility in your late 30’s?

To reduce your chance of problems, you can adopt several lifestyle choices before becoming pregnant.

• Don’t smoke or consume alcohol, and cut back on caffeine: These substances may make it more difficult to conceive. Furthermore raising the chances of miscarriage are smoking and alcohol consumption.
• Consume a diet high in nutrients: You can get lots of your nutrients from fruits, grains, vegetables, and low-fat or nonfat dairy.
• Lower your stress levels: you can do it by scheduling downtime and making sure you get enough sleep each night.
• Engage in physical activity: Aim for 30 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise five days a week. This includes swimming, jogging, and fast walking.
• Consume the right supplements: Folic acid offers some protection against congenital abnormalities. Consult a pharmacist or healthcare professional before beginning any supplementation.
• Consult an OB-GYN: This type of healthcare professional specializes in pregnancy and reproductive health. They can go over your medical history and talk about measures to boost fertility.
• Intrauterine insemination (IUI): If recommended by your doctor, IUI can be an option where sperm is directly placed into your uterus around the time of ovulation to facilitate fertilization.
• Assisted reproductive technology (ART): It includes procedures like in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), for late pregnancies to help individuals and couples achieve conception when natural fertility declines.

To Conclude

All in all, deciding to have a baby in your baby after 35 or early 40s can bring unique challenges, but also exciting possibilities.  While fertility may decrease with age, advancements in medical care offer hopeful options. It’s crucial to prioritize your health, seek regular prenatal check-ups, and consider consulting with specialists if needed. Remember, age shouldn’t overshadow the joy of starting a family.  Embrace this journey with optimism.