In recent years, the increasing dominance of women in working life and the importance attached to career and business life as much as private life have led to an increase in the age of becoming a mother. This process, brought about by developing living conditions, has caused women to wait for their first baby in their 30s, leading to an increase in advanced age pregnancies. Although advanced maternity, which mostly involves expectant mothers aged 35 and over, is now easier and more common due to advances in medicine, it may involve a higher risk of complications compared to early pregnancy.
Medical Issues Affecting Advanced Pregnancy
Increasing maternal age can also lead to an increase in the incidence of certain diseases. For example, diabetes is one of the diseases whose risk increases with age. When the disease called type 2 diabetes coincides with pregnancy, it can have some negative effects on the expectant mother. Preterm labor, miscarriage, placental problems and stillbirths are more common in diabetic expectant mothers than in non-diabetic mothers.
Another disease whose risk range increases with age is high blood pressure. Blood pressure that occurs with or before pregnancy can cause serious problems during pregnancy. High blood pressure, which can lead to problems such as sudden infant death and premature placental separation, can endanger the life of the mother and baby.
Apart from all this, the age of the mother is increasing;
- Increases the chance of multiple pregnancy,
- Increases the frequency of miscarriage,
- Increases the risk of chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome,
- Increases the risk of ectopic pregnancy,
- Increases the risk of placenta previa and bleeding,
- Increases the risk of intrauterine growth retardation in the baby,
- Increases the risk of premature birth.
It is important for women considering pregnancy at an advanced age to first get their conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure under control. If she is overweight, she should definitely lose weight, eat foods rich in folic acid, and if it is not enough, she should take supplements to prevent nervous system anomalies that may occur in the baby. Today, with the advances in medicine, there is no age to become a mother, so if you are planning a pregnancy at an advanced age, it is possible to bring your baby into the world in a healthy and disease-free way by taking the necessary health precautions.