Advanced maternal age is a term used to describe a woman who is pregnant at 35 or older. These individuals may be considered high risk due to their age, meaning that you are more likely than younger women to experience certain conditions and/or complications during your pregnancy.
While this is not always the case, it is important to speak with your OB/GYN regarding these possible risks to ensure that you and your baby are healthy. If you are 35 years or older and are pregnant, you may be at higher risk for the following:
- Twins or Multiples: The chances of having twins or multiples increase as you age. This is because changes in hormones can cause multiple eggs to release at the same time.
- Gestational Diabetes: This form of diabetes only occurs during pregnancy, and is more common in women as they age. It is important to treat gestational diabetes while pregnant with diet, exercise, and/or medication to avoid complications such as premature birth, high blood pressure, and more.
- High Blood Pressure: Also known as preeclampsia, high blood pressure during pregnancy must be monitored by your doctor in order to avoid complications.
- Premature Birth: Premature babies or babies with a low birth weight are more common for older women.
- C-Section: Those 35 and older have an overall higher risk of pregnancy complications, which may lead to a C-section delivery.
- Chromosome Abnormalities: Certain chromosome problems like Down syndrome are more common in babies born to older mothers.
- Pregnancy Loss: Unfortunately, the risk for miscarriage and stillbirth increases as you age. This may be due to a decrease in egg quality combined with chronic medical conditions that are more common in older women.