But try not to let your age worry you. If you see your doctor regularly and take good care of yourself, chances are you will stay healthy and have healthy babies. And remember: If you get an abnormal screening test result, try not to panic. These tests only signal a possible problem.
What Are Your Risks?
Risks linked with having babies after age 35 include:
- Birth defects: Older women are at increased risk of having babies with a chromosome disorder such as Down syndrome. If you are 25, the chance of Down syndrome is about 1 in 1,250. If you are 35, the risk increases to 1 in 400 and to 1 in 30 at age 45.
- Miscarriage: Risk of miscarriage increases with age. In your late 30s, the risk is about 20% and by age 45, your risk is 50%.
- High blood pressure and diabetes: Because of your age, you may be more likely to develop high blood pressure or diabetes during pregnancy. These conditions can cause problems including miscarriage, poor fetal growth, or birth complications.
- Placenta problems: Placenta previa occurs when the placenta covers all or part of the cervix. This can lead to severe bleeding during delivery. If you are in your 40s, you are three times more likely to have placenta problems than a woman in her 20s.
- Premature birth and low birth weight: Older women are more likely to deliver their babies prematurely, before 37 completed weeks. As a result, older moms are at risk of having babies weighing less than 5.5 pounds at birth.
Although these risks are real, you can control many of them with proper prenatal care. You can't do much to change your genes. But genetic screening and testing is available so that you can learn if your babies have a problem before birth. Your doctor may suggest you speak with a genetic counselor beforehand. If you have any questions or concerns, be sure to bring them up before having any tests.