High Risk Pregnancy Age

Most of the pregnancies are healthy if the mother is healthy and proper care during pregnancy has been taken. But, unfortunately few pregnancies have some or the other risk associated to it. The cause might develop during the pregnancy or the possibilities are that one already has that problem since beginning.

High risk pregnancy age is one of the serious problems that might bring a pregnant woman in the danger zone. Other than this risk, there are many other complications like heart diseases, high blood pressure, kidney problems, autoimmune disorder, sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), diabetes, cancer, and many more. These are some of the chronic conditions for which you must take proper treatment and care. Here, we will be discussing the age as a high risks pregnancy factor.

How Does Age Affect Pregnancy?

Nowadays, many women start planning for their family when they are in their late 30s due to many reasons. According to the pregnancy age statistics, one woman out of every five women in the United States plan for their first child after the age of 35. The best thing is that, most of the women have healthy babies. But in some cases, the chances to develop certain medical disorders like hypertension, diabetes, or fibroid increases. It is reported that the increased age often leads to some high risk pregnancy complications like bleeding in the third trimester and low-lying placenta other than those mentioned above. The percentage of complications in pregnancy is about 10.43 for women who are between 35 to 40 years.

Risks at Age - 35
The cases of increased pre-eclampsia has been observed in women aged over 35. Other problems that might pop up during this age are gestational diabetes, dysfunctional labor, still birth, abruptio placentae and placenta previa. The pregnant women over 35 mostly have pre-existing disorders, for example, chronic hypertension (CHTN), diabetes, etc. Genetic testing is also suggested because the probability of fetal chromosomal abnormalities also increases with the increase in maternal age.

Risks at Age - 40
The pregnancy risks at the age of 40 are more or less similar to the risks at the age of 35. The fact that has to be considered is that the risks increase and become more complicated with the increasing age. It increases the complications in labor and delivery, genetic and birth abnormalities, medical illnesses that affects the fetus and mother and pregnancy loss in some rare cases.

The higher the age of the pregnant woman, the greater are the risks involved. The age not only affect the mother, but also the baby. The baby might become more prone to Down syndrome when the mother is between 35-40. The risks due to age are one out of sixty cases if compared to pregnancies during the age of 25. The cases of chromosomal abnormalities are rare for pregnancies at age 25. The tests like amniocentesis can give firm diagnosis and maternal serum screening can provide the approximation of the risks that will help in the treatment and care required for the mother and the baby.

The risk entirely depends on the health of the pregnant women. To avoid any age-related risks, one must visit the doctor for regular checkups. A proper and balanced diet, pregnancy exercises and the medicines prescribed by the doctor should be religiously followed. With proper prenatal care, would-be mothers can easily avert these situations and give birth to a healthy baby. Do consult the doctor before and after when you plan for a baby so that you receive proper guidance to take care of yourself as well as your baby.