Some things that were very easy in our 20′s – losing those last 10 pounds, pulling an all-nighter and being bright-eyed and bushy-tailed for work at 9 AM, conceiving a baby – suddenly become difficult as we get older.

Why is it more challenging to conceive after 35, and even more so at or after the age of 40?

Women are born with as many eggs as we will ever have. As we age, we may have cycles where an egg is not released. These begin around the age of 35 and grow more frequent over time. The quality of existing eggs also declines, creating additional challenges. The chance of miscarriage in a woman over 35 is 20% to 35%.

Other factors that can lead to decreased fertility in “older” women are:

• Decreased cervical fluid which helps transport sperm through the cervix

• Increased chance of surgery, which created scar tissue around the cervix or fallopian tubes

• Endometriosis (which is a leading cause of infertility in women of any childbearing age)

• Heart disease, diabetes and other health problems that become more prevalent with age

It’s important to note that fertility declines gradually as we get older. It’s not like a switch flips on our 35th birthday and suddenly our odds of conceiving drop. For instance, all other factors being equal, a healthy 35-year-old woman has a better chance of conceiving than a healthy 40-year-old. This may sound depressing, but it’s actually good news. If you are over 35 and deciding on when to start trying for a child, the time is now! In fact, the March of Dimes Web site reports that 1 in 5 women has her first child over the age of 35. Women are waiting longer to begin their families, and this offers many benefits.

Women over 35 are:

• More financially stable, in general

• More established in their careers, so a break for maternity leave may not be as much of a setback

• Have done a lot more, so won’t feel as if they are “missing out” or “giving anything up” to have kids

Whether you are minutes away from menopause or years, there are things you can do to increase your odds of conception.

Be patient – While most couples conceive within 6 months, it can take a healthy couple over the age of 35 as long as one or two years to conceive. If you’ve been trying for six months with no luck, however, you may want to visit a fertility specialist for an assessment.

Have a preconception doctor’s visit – While this typically isn’t necessary in a woman under 35, a general health assessment from a professional can get you on the right track with a healthy diet and exercise program and the knowledge that there are no obvious obstacles to fertility.

Be healthy – Make sure your weight and BMI are within the healthy range, and give up bad habits such as smoking and drinking. A healthy diet can lead to an easier pregnancy for anyone, and especially for women over 35.

Track your fertility – Use any number of available methods to track your fertility so that you will know when – and if – you are ovulating. Be vigilant about having intercourse prior to and during your time of ovulation to increase your odds of conceiving during any cycle.

Take prenatal vitamins – Again, this is good advice for any woman trying to conceive, but can especially increase the odds of a rapid conception and a healthy pregnancy for a woman over 35. It is especially important to get enough folic acid, which decreases the risks of certain genetic disorders. For more tips on prenatal nutrition and exercise, read the article “Nutrition and Trying to Conceive.”

Also be aware that a pregnancy over the age of 35 carries increased risks of:

• Miscarriage

• Down’s syndrome and other genetic disorders

• premature delivery

• Twins

• Delivery by c-section

However, tests and screening can provide peace of mind that your baby is healthy, while a healthy lifestyle and positive outlook increases the odds that your pregnancy will go smoothly.

Author: Dawn Allcot

Statistically an increasing number of women are getting pregnant after age 35.  In fact, the number of older mothers or as some doctors like to call it, mothers of an advanced maternal age, is increasing not only in the USA but in other countries as well.

Why More Women are Delaying Pregnancy

According to statistics, one in five women today delays pregnancy until after the age of 35. In fact, over the last 15 or so years there has been a whopping 50 percent increase in first births to women over 40 years old. The reasons for this are many, but the most common ones are:

• Getting a career going – Many women delay childbirth to concentrate on building up a career first. Once on a career path, some women find it difficult to take time out for marriage and children.
• Ensuring that they are financially secure
• Improved medical treatment and prenatal tests

Improvement in fertility treatments have made it possible for women to
conceive and have a healthy, normal pregnancy and baby despite advancing age. Prenatal tests have also helped in that couples can know whether or     not a fetus will have any genetic abnormalities or defects such as Down     Syndrome.

Of course, one cannot forget the stories of celebrities who have given birth after age forty. The list includes actresses such as Halle Berry, Nicole Kidman, and most recently 48-year old Nancy Grace. They have given hope to legions of women who would have at one time thought they had let the opportunity of motherhood slip by.

The proliferation of online support groups of and for women who have successfully became moms after age 35, whether for the first or tenth time offers added inspiration.

Fertility and Older Women

One interesting fact about getting pregnant at an older age is that although fertility levels fall, the odds of having twins increases. While the use of fertility treatment increases the occurrence of multiples, older women can also naturally have twins without medical intervention.

Interestingly, despite what anyone may think, women over 35 and in their forties having babies is nothing new. If we check back into our family histories we will find that there have been many births to mothers who were well past 35. I know for a fact that my mom and at least one aunt had children while in their forties.

Risks Associated with Getting Pregnant After 35

While it is true that the risk to both mother and baby increases after age 35, it is really not as high as you may be led to believe. In fact, once a woman over age 35 is healthy and has no fertility issues, she has almost the same chance of a healthy baby as a 20-year old. Nonetheless, there are a few things to be aware of if you are over 35 and trying to get pregnant. The main ones are:

• The risk of miscarriage increases
• Fertility levels do start to drop drastically after 35
• Health problems for the woman after 35 include gestational diabetes and hypertension, as well as endometriosis and fibroids. But these can be managed with a combination of medication and lifestyle changes, such as improved diet and exercise.
• The need for c-section increases, however, many women over 35 have had normal deliveries without the need for surgical intervention.
• Increased risk of Down Syndrome. It is a medical fact that a woman aged 40 has about 9 times higher chance of having a baby with this chromosomal defect than a 30 year old woman. Don’t start to panic, in statistical terms that is still less than 1 percent, but does increase with age.

So, while age 20 to 24 is the most fertile period of a woman’s life, for many this is not the right time for them to become mothers. In  today’s world, most 20 – 24-year old women are still studying or focusing on climbing the career ladder and in fact, finding themselves. Few are ready at this stage to start a family.

Preparing for Pregnancy after 35

If you are over 35 and thinking of having a baby, here are a few things you can do to improve your chances:

• Get a pre-conception check-up, in fact, it is a good idea for the father-to-be to get one as well. It’s important to know from the get go that physically you are OK.
• Look at your diet to ensure that you are eating properly. Forgo caffeine, excessive alcohol, and drugs if you are serious about getting pregnant. If you are on any special medication talk to your doctor before trying to conceive.  Make sure to add folic acid to your supplements as it has been proven to help prevent some neural defects in fetuses.
• Maintain a moderate level of physical activity. If you used to exercise prior to getting pregnant there is generally no need to stop, but be guided by your doctor. However, it is not advisable to pick up exercising as a new activity while pregnant, except for walking.

The Pros and Cons of Later Life Pregnancy

Apart from the medical issues that can occur with pregnancy and motherhood later in life, other negative issues can occur. These are few however, and include being able to adjust to the changes a baby and young child will cause to a well-structured life. However, in many instances this is countered by the joy a new baby brings. Plus older mothers know that being able to have a child at an older age is a blessing and are more than ready for any change in their circumstances. In fact, older mothers tend to be less ambivalent about their pregnancies and children overall.

It is true that recovery can take longer in older women after delivery, whether by natural birth or c-section. However, because most older mothers have already achieved financial stability they can afford to get help to assist with household chores or caring for the baby if they wish.

Pregnancy at any age comes with risks, but the birth of a precious child is a joy and blessing regardless of the mother’s age.

Author: Jessica McCurdy Crooks