Many women are delaying pregnancy well into their 30s and beyond. There are certain risks to be aware of for delivering a healthy baby. Take good care of yourself as you prepare for baby's arrival.
Being a healthy woman with a healthy lifestyle (exercise, diet, stress) promotes healthy pregnancies and babies. The biological clock is a fact of life - but there's nothing magical about age 35. It's simply the age that's considered the threshold for various risks.
Why do older mothers have higher risk of miscarriages and stillbirth?
Sources often list "maternal age" as a risk factor or cause for miscarriage and stillbirth, and it is true that the statistical odds of pregnancy loss are higher in a mother older than 35 than in a mother in her twenties. But why is this? What changes with age?
One reason for the link is that eggs are more likely to be affected by chromosomal abnormalities. Women have their lifetime supply of eggs at birth, and researchers theorize that the most robust eggs are the first ones ovulated. Then, by the time a mother reaches her mid-thirties, the eggs begin to decline in "quality." This same mechanism also explains why older mothers are more likely to have babies affected by chromosomal conditions such as Down Syndrome (trisomy of chromosome 21) and why doctors often suggest that mothers in this age bracket have an amniocentesis in their second trimester.
Another reason could be that, as women age, they are more likely to develop health conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes. These conditions aren't as highly associated with miscarriage as chromosomal problems, but they do increase risk of stillbirth and premature delivery.
There are definitely some obstacles and advantages to being an older Mom. Older moms tend to be more prepared and relaxed. Looking at all the things to do - parenting, career, housework, having the perfect lifestyle...are generally things well thought of with older women. In most cases it can be a more relaxed pregnancy - good for the baby - with the reward of good preparation and better planning. The obstacles should be discussed with your doctor for the same type of preparation and planning older moms are used to!