Experts express different opinions about the possibility of having a third child at 40 years old. Some argue that at the age of 40 a woman is at great risk of her own and the health of her child. But others are sure that with a competent approach, no problems may arise at the age of 40.

What experts say about having a baby at 40

In the last few years, there have been many women who are ready to have a baby at 40. But when this is the third child in the family, it causes less negativity than the first-born at 40 years old. Modern medicine does not express its categorical no, but warns women at such an age that this is a risk. What are the disadvantages of late pregnancy experts say.

1. Many experts say that there is the most optimal psychological age for the birth of a baby - it is 27-33 years old and physiological - it is 22-29 years old, when the body is the most resilient and can easily cope with pregnancy. At 40, it is physiologically difficult to endure pregnancy, and then it is psychologically difficult to raise a child.
2. The health of a woman by the age of 40 changes noticeably for the worse. She has already acquired some diseases. And certain of them can have a negative impact on the ability to bear and give birth to a healthy child. Of course, it cannot be argued that this is always the case, but experts say that more often it happens. Here everything is individual.
3. By the age of 40, there are significant changes in the musculoskeletal, cardiovascular, autonomic and nervous systems, which is fraught with certain conditions and diseases for both women and children.
4. What is most dangerous for women in labor at the age of 40 is to give birth to a child with genetic abnormalities - Down syndrome and other genetic diseases. Doctors warn that this can happen to women after the age of 35.

How can a woman protect herself and her child from serious problems

It must be remembered that it does not matter which child a woman is going to give birth to - the first or third - but pregnancy at 40 must be approached responsibly. After all, the life and health of not only the expectant mother, but also the child is at stake. Therefore, you need:

• Before pregnancy, it is necessary to undergo a complete examination of the body. It is better to check if a woman is sick with any disease so that during pregnancy she does not harm herself and her baby. Any of the diseases can worsen during pregnancy. Therefore, it is important to find out what condition a woman's body is in before pregnancy. If any of the diseases is detected, then it should be treated;
• a healthy lifestyle and sports are the key to a well-running pregnancy and the health of mother and child;
• it will be great to drink a special vitamin complex for pregnant women, folic acid and vitamin E. All these drugs are recommended by the doctor in a course 3 months before pregnancy when planning it;
• a very important point is positive thinking, good mood and a lot of kind and cheerful emotions.

Why many women don't mind having their 3rd child at 40

Of course, everyone has their own reasons, but there are common ones for all late mothers:

• for such a mother who already has several children, the 3rd pregnancy is simply not terrible, because she has valuable experience in everything. In addition, older children can be excellent helpers in raising a younger brother or sister;
• such a mother at the age of 40 does not have a panic fear of terribly getting better. Gaining too much, and then throwing it away without a trace was more than once in my mother's life. So you won’t scare her with this for sure;
• children are encouraged to always be in shape and look young. Pregnancy updates all systems in a woman's body. And after the birth of a child, you will have to put yourself in order so that the baby can be proud of his mother.

To give birth or not at the age of 40 to a first-born or a third child is all individual. But pregnancy and childbirth must be treated with great responsibility.

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Even 20 years ago, women after 28 years of age were considered postpartum. Now, when the fair sex is trying to do everything, they often postpone motherhood until later. First, education, career, material base are of paramount importance. And more and more often, the time for the first birth is only 30-35 years.

Closer to forty, when the first-born is growing up (or has already grown up), many women are wondering if they should become a mother again. More and more often they look back on the street at women with strollers and catch themselves thinking that they would love to visit a children's store.

But many are afraid of age, and just a huge assortment of "terrible" stories about aged mothers and their children that the Internet is crammed with. Let's try to understand this issue in more detail.

Pregnancy after 40 years

Let's start with the fact that it is already quite difficult for a woman to get pregnant after 40 years. The level of fertility is rapidly declining, and the ovaries produce less and less “healthy” eggs ready for fertilization. The number of anovulatory cycles increases, i.e. cycles in which ovulation never occurs.

However, if pregnancy has occurred, then a woman over 40 should know that the next 9 months will be significantly different from the first pregnancy.

Despite the fact that society has begun to look more favorably on "age" moms, a certain bias remains in traditional medicine. And a woman will have to face it from the first days of pregnancy. Doctors will more closely monitor the development of the child and the condition of the expectant mother, they will have to attend a consultation more often than 20-year-old girls do in the position, many pregnant women at this age spend almost the entire period in the hospital for preservation.

Obstetrician-gynecologists can be understood: by the age of 40, a woman has already accumulated a sufficient burden of chronic diseases, and the process of bearing a child, associated with rapid hormonal and physiological changes, can undermine her health and threaten the condition of the baby.

The expectant mother, who is already over 40, will have to undergo screening studies without fail. There will be three of them. At a period of 11-13 weeks of pregnancy, you will need to donate blood and undergo an ultrasound diagnosis of the fetus. Based on a combination of factors, the risks of having a child with genetic pathologies will be calculated. During the screening, the probability of the birth of a baby with Down syndrome, Edwards, Cornelia de Lange, Patau, neural tube defects is established.

As you know, the older the mother, the more likely the birth of crumbs with Down syndrome. For example, in a 25-year-old woman, this risk is 1:2000. At the age of 30 - 1:1000, at 40 already - 1:150, and by the age of 45 1:30, that is, out of 30 births, one will end with the birth of a sick baby. Other genetic diseases, the risk of which is revealed by screening studies, are quite rare on their own.

A woman will have a second screening between 20 and 24 weeks. pregnancy. It will also include a blood test and an ultrasound. The third screening of pregnant women is carried out for a period of 30-34 weeks.

Pregnant women after 40, as a rule, all without exception, are referred for a consultation with a geneticist. And if the screening results cause him concern, the woman may be offered to undergo an examination by invasive methods. They are more informative, for example, amniocentesis (taking amniotic fluid for genetic analysis) gives a result with an accuracy of 99%.

What should you know in this situation? Screening, like invasive diagnostics, is voluntary. No one has the right to force a woman to pass them. Some "age" mothers deliberately refuse such a diagnosis, believing that their own calmness and calmness of the child is more important than the test result obtained as a result of nervous expectation and doubts.

The so-called late pregnancy will have its pros and cons. Let's take a closer look at them.

pros

• Forty-year-old parents, as a rule, approach the planning of the child more consciously. They already know what raising children is, they have sufficient material and spiritual base, as well as rich life experience in order to raise a new person.
• It is believed that the body of a woman over 40 is rejuvenated after childbirth. You can treat this as you like, but doctors do not refute this. The hormonal "shake" that the expectant mother will receive within 9 months really has a beneficial effect on the condition of the skin, hair, mobilizes internal organs, the woman "blooms". She has a reduced risk of stroke, menopause comes later, and it passes less painfully.
• Forty-year-old mothers are more patient, calm, balanced and sensitive towards their children. They are more likely to survive the psychological postpartum crisis.

Minuses

• Carrying a baby at 40 is much more difficult than at 25. The load on all organs is so great that during pregnancy, a woman can not only exacerbate existing diseases, but also develop new ones.
• Late-birth mothers are more likely to have problems with lactation. Not enough milk or not at all.
• Quite often, a pregnancy over the age of 40 ends with a caesarean section. Doctors do not want to risk the health of the baby and mother during natural childbirth.
• Pregnancy over the age of 40 significantly increases the risk of miscarriage. Compared to the base values, it increases by about 50%. And a 40% increase in the risk of preterm birth.

Myths and reality

• Pregnancy after age 40 increases the chance of having twins. Moreover, the twins are likely to be fraternal. It's true. But the opinion that the children of 40-year-old mothers are more capable, talented and almost brilliant is a common myth. The age of the woman in labor in no way affects the intellectual abilities of the baby.
• Women who give birth after 40 live longer. Sociologists around the world claim that their research confirms this. But most likely, it's not in childbirth. It's just that ladies who risked becoming pregnant and giving birth to a baby in adulthood initially have better health, which cannot but affect their life expectancy.
• Children are shy of older parents. Pure fiction. These parents are ashamed of themselves. And children love mom and dad just the way they are. Moreover, they have nothing to be ashamed of - parents in adulthood, as a rule, are well-off financially, have a stable job, and the housing issue is not acute for them.

If a woman nevertheless decided to become pregnant and give birth to a second child after 40 years, it will be difficult for her without psychological support. The fact is that late pregnancy is associated with a large number of fears. But age is not a sentence, and only the positive attitude of the expectant mother actually matters.

How to deal with your concerns?

• Focus on your feelings. Trust yourself. If you feel well, do not make unnecessary fuss, and do not run around the doctors' offices unless absolutely necessary. Enjoy your pregnancy, and then the fears themselves will burst like soap bubbles.
• Make good use of your time. Maternity leave is a good time for self-improvement. Do not dwell on your fears, listen to your favorite music, finally read all those books that you put off for later, watch movies. Make it a rule to learn something new every day. This is good for both mom and baby.
• Trust. Trust everyone who is close to you - your husband, your doctor. They understand that pregnancy is a serious test for you, and they are ready to help. Open up in response.
• Do not hesitate to tell household members about your experiences and feelings. Share with your spouse, with your older child, if his age allows you to understand you. Let all members of your family expect the birth of the baby with you. Feeling like you're on the same team can help move mountains and reduce anxiety.

• Do not neglect the advice to walk more often, take a warm shower in the evenings, learn to relax, master breathing exercises.
• Distance yourself from anyone who tries to sow even a grain of doubt in you or criticize your decision to become a mother. Whether or not to give birth at 40 is up to you. No one has the right to impose their opinion on you. Don't let anyone disturb your inner state.
• Get like-minded people. There are communities on the Internet where mature mothers like you will understand, support and not judge.

The birth of a child at any age is an extraordinary event. When weighing all the pros and cons, consider the most important factor - love. If you feel that she lives in you, and you are ready to give her in unlimited quantities to your loved ones, be sure to give birth to a baby, even if you are under 50.

The joy and tenderness that you will experience watching your baby grow and develop more than compensates for all the difficulties that are attributed to the period of late pregnancy.

In the next video, a gynecologist-endocrinologist gives advice on how to make pregnancy easier for women who want to give birth at 40.

For information about what a mother will have to face at the age of 40, see the video of clinical psychologist Veronika Stepanova.

Health

There is no set rule once and for all when it is better to have a baby. The birth of a baby is a personal decision for everyone, which can be influenced by many factors.

Future moms and dads in adulthood think about financial stability, work and personal goals before deciding on the appearance of a new family member.

But when it comes to fertility, age matters. On average, a woman under 30 has a 95 percent chance of getting pregnant within a year without protected intercourse. After age 30, those chances decrease by 3 percent each year.

A 40-year-old woman is only 5-10 percent likely to conceive a child naturally, and this probability is less than 5 percent by age 45.

Fertility in women

The reason is that every woman is born with a certain set of eggs in her ovaries. With age, the number and quality of eggs decreases significantly.

While still in the womb, the fetus has 7 million eggs. When we are born, we have about 1-2 million left. During adolescence, this number drops to 400,000.

By the age of 30, we lose almost 87 percent of our eggs, and by the age of 40, 97 percent of the eggs disappear. There are about 12,000 eggs left, and although this may seem like a lot to you, most of them are not viable, which increases the risk of miscarriage.

This doesn't mean you can't get pregnant naturally after your 35s or 40s. You probably even have many examples of women who have given birth to a child at a later age. However, age cannot be ignored if you are planning to start a family.

In fact, the birth of children after 40 years has become quite common. The number of primiparous mothers aged 40 to 44 has almost doubled from the 1970s to the early 21st century.

Although many women are advised to give birth before the age of 35, in reality, many of them prefer to postpone having a child until a later age. There are several reasons for this: the desire to build a career, settle down and live for yourself, the lack of a suitable partner.

Risks of childbirth after 40 years

Some complications for mother and baby are more likely in later life. It includes:

1. Harder to get pregnant

The biggest disadvantage of postponing pregnancy until age 40 is the fact that it will be more difficult for a woman to get pregnant.

The fact is that the supply of eggs decreases significantly with age, and older eggs are more likely to have chromosomal abnormalities, increasing the risk of miscarriage and birth defects.

After 40 there is a sharp decline in fertility. So, for example, the chances of getting pregnant at 41 are much better than at 43.

If a 40-year-old woman undergoes fertility treatment, her chances of getting pregnant with her own eggs are 25 percent, at 43 this figure drops to 10 percent, and at 44 it is only 1.6 percent.

2. Threat of miscarriage

Older women have an increased risk of miscarriage at an early stage of pregnancy. So, for example, in women under 30 years of age, the risk of miscarriage is 12 percent, and in women over 35 years old - already 25 percent.

After age 45, the risk of miscarriage is 90 percent.

3. Ectopic pregnancy

An ectopic pregnancy is a pregnancy that occurs outside the uterus. In women older than 35 years, the risk of ectopic pregnancy is 4-8 times higher than in younger women.

A higher risk of ectopic pregnancy is associated with an accumulation of risk factors over time, such as urinary tract infections or problems with the fallopian tubes.

This complication causes symptoms such as abdominal pain, abnormal bleeding, but it can also be asymptomatic. As a rule, a woman needs surgery, because if left untreated, this can lead to internal bleeding.

4. Multiple pregnancy

The chances of getting pregnant with twins or multiples increases with age. And multiple pregnancy is often accompanied by a high probability of problems for both the mother and the child, which requires constant monitoring throughout the pregnancy.

5. Diabetes during pregnancy

Women over 40 years of age are 3-6 times more likely to develop gestational diabetes(diabetes mellitus during pregnancy) compared with women aged 20-29. It resolves almost immediately after childbirth, but can be a precursor to diabetes later in life and increases the risk of having a baby that is too large.

The risk of diabetes in pregnancy among the general population is 3 percent, while in women after 40 years it rises to 7-12 percent. This condition poses a threat of potential complications not only for the mother, but also for the child during pregnancy and childbirth.

6. High blood pressure during pregnancy

The risk of pregnancy-induced hypertension is much higher in older mothers. This leads to a high risk of developing pre-eclampsia, a complication of high blood pressure that damages other organ systems, most commonly the kidneys.

Without appropriate treatment, preeclampsia is a threat to both mother and child.

7. Complications of chronic diseases during pregnancy

With age, the occurrence of problems such as obesity, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease is much higher.

If you have a chronic disease, you need constant monitoring during pregnancy so that the condition does not worsen. It is possible that during pregnancy you will need hospitalization, a caesarean section, or you will have a premature birth.

8. Your partner's sperm also age.

Don't forget about men. Although they are physically capable of becoming fathers in their 60s and 70s, sperm quality also declines with age.

The older the man, the higher the chances of a child developing genetic defects such as Down syndrome, schizophrenia and autism.

Risk for a child in women after 40 years

1. Chromosomal abnormalities

The risk of chromosomal abnormalities increases with a woman's age, especially after 35 years. The most famous anomaly during pregnancy is down syndrome. The risk of Down syndrome in a child, depending on the age of the mother, is:

at age 30: 1 in 950 pregnancies

at age 35: 1 in 350 pregnancies

at age 40: 1 in 100 pregnancies

at age 45: 1 in 30 pregnancies

2. Other anomalies

The risk of heart defects in a child in women after 40 years is 4 times greater than in women 20-24 years old. The likelihood of congenital clubfoot and diaphragmatic hernia (abdominal hernia that allows the abdominal organ to move into the chest cavity) also increases.

3. Stillbirth

At maternal age from 40 to 44 years, the risk of stillbirth is 3 times greater than in women 25-29 years old. Because of this, the baby will be monitored even more closely at the end of the pregnancy.

4. Preterm labor or low birth weight

Babies born prematurely face breathing problems due to underdevelopment of the lungs. They are also more prone to problems such as infections, brain bleeding, and difficulty regulating body temperature and glucose levels.

Premature babies are more likely to have hearing or vision problems and cerebral palsy, especially if they were born before 32 weeks of fetal development.

Interesting fact! At the moment, the oldest mother in the world is 74-year-old woman Mangayamma Yaramati (Mangayamma Yaramati) from India, who gave birth to twins conceived through IVF.

IVF risks for women over 40

And while IVF technologies allow women to become pregnant at almost any age, experts are concerned about the increased risk of a variety of health problems in mothers, ranging from heart disease to tumors.

1. Risk of cancer

Although there are many women who can easily become pregnant after 40, the older a woman is, the more difficult it is for her to conceive a child and the more often she has to resort to fertility treatment.

Approximately one third of women over 35 and half of all women over 40 seek help from a reproductive health specialist. In addition, the age of the partner also affects the chances of getting pregnant.

Often in these cases, you need to resort to fertility drugs and IVF (in vitro fertilization). But you need to remember that any medications, including fertility drugs, have side effects and are associated with certain risks.

Experts believe that the artificial insemination procedure cannot lead to the development of cancer during pregnancy. However, IVF can activate the development of a tumor already present in the body. Do not forget that during pregnancy there is a serious hormonal change, and a woman already receives high doses of hormones, in particular estrogen.

Danish scientists have monitored the health status of 600,000 women for 20 years, and 58,534 of them have undergone artificial insemination. They found that childbirth after artificial insemination after age 40 increases the risk of developing breast cancer by 65 percent.

Women often take strong ovarian stimulation drugs to produce an egg for fertilization. This raises the level of estrogen, a hormone that stimulates the growth of breast tissue and which can promote the growth of cancer cells.

With age, the risk of developing breast cancer increases, and additional hormones can interfere with the natural aging of breast cells.

If a woman has breast cancer in the early stages, then during pregnancy, increased levels of estrogen can accelerate the growth of the tumor.

2. Risk to the heart

Pregnancy, according to experts, can be compared with stress during a marathon, and the older the woman, the more often she has complications.

Doctors managing pregnancies in women over 40 are most concerned about preeclampsia - a complication, one of the symptoms of which is high blood pressure, which most often pops up in the third trimester of pregnancy.

This condition occurs in only 3-4 percent of expectant mothers, but the risk rises to 5-10 percent in women over 40 and up to 35 percent if you are over 50.

In addition, pregnancy can trigger early onset of health problems that could appear much later. So a 50-year-old woman with borderline high blood pressure, who may not develop hypertension until her 60s, may experience it during pregnancy. And this threatens with complications both for the expectant mother and for the child.

You are pregnant. Well, it seems like you should be happy, but for some reason there are only questions in my head “Maybe it’s too late?”, “Will I be able to give birth to a healthy baby?”, and all because you are no longer a girl, and your age has exceeded the fourth decade. Do you think that child over 40 cannot be born healthy, because this period is the most dangerous for childbearing?
Throw all doubts and nonsense out of your head. Start rejoicing that you will soon become a mother, and trust that your pregnancy will pass without complications. Of course, doctors will tell you that it is dangerous to give birth at this age, and the pregnancy itself will be difficult.

If you have definitely decided for yourself that you are ready to become a mother, do not back down. By the way, after 40 children gave birth to world stars, such as Madonna, Iman, Annette Bening, Cherie Blair, Susan Saradon and Jerry Hall.

We offer to consider the most popular questions that arise among those who are going to have a baby after 40 years.

At what age is a woman considered late in labor?

In the early 80s, those who gave birth to children after 28 years old were considered “late” mothers, and in the 90s, those women whose age was more than 35 years old began to be called “old-timers”. Nowadays most often “late” women in labor include women over 37 years old.

What are the chances of giving birth after 40?

As a woman ages, her chances of getting pregnant decrease steadily. After 30 years, they fall by 20%, from 35 years old - by 45-50%, and from 40 years old - by about 90%. Of course, these figures in no way indicate that a child after 40 is an unfulfilled dream.

It is possible to give birth, and this was confirmed by scientists in North Carolina, who have been observing for two years for 782 pairs advanced age. The results showed that only 70 couples failed to conceive after having sex without condoms for two years. Principal researcher David Dunson says couples who want to have a baby after 40 should have patience and wait, while not forgetting about maintaining a constant sexual life. As a result, the intervention of modern reproductive technology can be avoided, unless there are good reasons for this.

Why do women give birth so late?

If we compare how forty-year-old women lived 10-30 years ago and how they live now, we can observe a high improving the quality of life. Today, such women have good health, can take care of themselves by visiting fitness and spa centers, besides, modern medicine can work real miracles. Dr. Julia Berryman believes that women over 40 are more ready to get pregnant, since they have already taken place in life, have a good job and all other benefits.

What is the percentage of mature women in labor?

In recent years, there has been an increase in the number of women giving birth in adulthood. Today, a child after 40 is born in 2% of pregnant women. A recent study indicates that out of seven pregnant women, one pregnant woman is over 35 years old.

Does the age of a man affect pregnancy after 40?

Scientists at the University of Bristol conducted a study that showed that mature women have to wait longer for pregnancy if their partner is the same age.

So, it has been proven that a woman who is 3-5 years younger than a man is less likely to become pregnant after 40 than a woman whose man is her age or 2-3 years younger. British researchers have confirmed this fact. They interviewed several women who indicated that their child after 40 was born from men who were several years younger than them.

What else can interfere with pregnancy after 40?

The following can prevent you from conceiving a child:

• Wrong food.
• Overuse coffee. If you drink more than two cups a day, then the ability to conceive decreases, and the risk of miscarriage also increases.
• Use alcohol.
• Smoking after 35 years, it threatens with congenital malformation of the fetus and the birth of a child with low weight.
• Thinness and fullness also negatively affects the birth of children in adulthood.
• stress. The more a woman is nervous and worried, the less likely she is to have a baby after 40.

Do I need to seek medical help?

In adulthood, when it has already exceeded 35, a woman begins perimenopause, when very difficult to catch ovulation days. That is why it is best to seek the help of a doctor who will determine what can be done. Most likely, he will develop a special diet and prescribe vitamins. Some doctors advise their patients to undergo acupuncture, which has a positive effect on the development of ovulation.

What effect does age have on pregnancy?

The older a person gets, the more likely they are to develop any disease. As a rule, closer to 40, many women have chronic disorders, including diabetes. In addition, blood pressure can still increase, and the risk of malignant tumors is very high. Of course, such violations negatively affect the birth of children after 40.

And even if the woman does not have any diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and bleeding can occur at any time during pregnancy.

Postpartum complications increase already at the age of 20-29, but most often, and this is 20%, they appear at the age of 35-40 years. As a rule, with the development of modern medicine, any pregnancy disorders are recognized already at an early stage therefore more likely that a child after 40 years of age will be born healthy.

How is childbirth in adulthood?

Often, in order to give birth after 40, women have to induce labor, do epidural anesthesia. Many women in labor cannot give birth on their own, so they are given C-section.

Some studies show that much depends from the mood of the women in labor. Those who are more clearly aware of everything, it is easier to fulfill the requests of doctors and agree to a caesarean section.

Does the risk of giving birth by caesarean section increase with age?

While such dependence not installed. Surgical intervention has the same percentage, both at 30 and at forty years.

Can the age of the mother affect the development of the child?

High probability the fact that a child after 40 will be born unhealthy or developmentally disabled. The risk of having a child with a disease such as Down syndrome.

According to recent studies, after 30 years, one child in 400 is born Down, and after 40 - one in 32. In addition, late births can end ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and stillbirth. It has not yet been possible to determine the cause of stillbirth in older pregnant women, while one out of 440 babies is still born today.

What is the percentage of miscarriages in women of mature age?

Miscarriages have become a frequent occurrence in our lives. Compared to new mothers, the risk of miscarriage in mature women is about 50% higher. Childbirth after 40 most often has such an outcome.

Here, by the way, obstetric and genealogical history plays a role. It will not be difficult to understand that women who have never had a miscarriage have a lower risk of miscarriage at the age of 40 than those who have experienced such a pregnancy outcome at least once in their lives.

How common are preterm births?

A child after 40 years old can be born prematurely, but only if the woman gives birth not the first child. Those who are expecting their first child most often give birth at term.

Does the chance of having twins or triplets increase with age?

The older the woman, the more likely that she will give birth to more than one child. But a greater chance falls on fertility fraternal twins.

There is an opinion that later children are more prone to diabetes. Is it so?

Yes, type 1 diabetes in later children depends on how old the mother was at the time of birth. At 35, it is about 25%, after forty 30% or more.

For example, a woman can give birth to a child after 40 who will develop diabetes in adolescence, while the probability is 3 times higher than in children born to young mothers.

Should a pregnant woman be under increased medical supervision?

Yes, a pregnant woman should most often go to the doctor, take tests and undergo various studies.

What is the probability that the doctor will prescribe surgery?

Yes, Doctors today tend to play it safe, appointing women in labor instead of the usual birth of a caesarean section. But today, all over the world, based on practice, doctors are trying to avoid such actions, increasingly directing women in labor to natural childbirth.

Maybe it's better to refuse the birth of a child?

There is a certain risk of having a baby after 40, but this is not a reason to refuse pregnancy. After all a healthy woman and at that age can give birth to a completely healthy child.

What types of tests are used to diagnose the pregnancy of "late" mothers?

There are two types of tests used in the process of monitoring a pregnant woman. it scanning and diagnostics. Scanning tests give only preliminary conclusions about the likely presence of deviations:

The study of hormonal levels in the blood. It is used to identify the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, including Down syndrome. Time of carrying out - 16-18 weeks of pregnancy.

Ultrasound procedure also used to detect various anomalies, including Down syndrome and various genetic disorders. A child after 40 is examined at 10-18 weeks of pregnancy.

Diagnostic tests provide more accurate and reliable information:

Chorionic test (CVS)- uterine cells are taken for research, during the diagnosis of which the presence or absence of Down syndrome, as well as some other genetic disorders, is revealed. A test is carried out at 11-13 weeks of pregnancy, the accuracy of the study is 99.9%.

Amniocentesis used to study amniotic fluid, during which the diagnosis of muscular dystrophy, Down's syndrome and many other genetic disorders occurs. The data obtained is accurate with 99.9%. Terms of carrying out - 16-19 weeks of pregnancy.

Alpha fetoprotein- a blood test, which is performed at 15-18 weeks. It is used to detect Down syndrome and defects of the nervous system.

Cordosentesis is a fetal blood test that helps detect rubella, toxoplasmosis, and Down syndrome. It is carried out at the 18th week of pregnancy.

Are tests dangerous for mother and child?

All tests do not pose a risk to the pregnant woman and her fetus, with the exception of amniocentesis, chorionic test and cordocentesis. When taking uterine cells for research, there is risk of miscarriage, and this may happen in one in 100 cases. The risk of miscarriage during cordocentesis and chorion test is 1-2%.

Should every woman do these tests?

No, not necessarily. Usually, every fifth woman, going to give birth to a child after 40, refuses to from passing such tests. This is their right, but it should be remembered that in some cases it is simply necessary to do this or that test from a medical point of view.

Is it true that mature women are better at handling their children?

Research shows that "mature" mothers are more calm, balanced and, as a rule, spend more time with their child. Life experience, accumulated over many years, makes itself felt precisely in the period of raising children. As a rule, they better shopping experience. By the way, according to statistics, the children of "late" mothers are more well-mannered and are distinguished by increased academic performance at school.

Can the birth of a child be a shock to the mother?

Undoubtedly, before that, a woman devoted her whole life to herself, and now 24 hours a day it is necessary to be near the baby. Fatigue, which is inherent in young mothers, does not leave those who have given birth to a child after 40.

There is an opinion that mature mothers live longer.

Research conducted by scientists at the University of Manchester showed that women who give birth at the age of 35-40 have a greater chance of surviving to 80-90 years. It was not possible to establish the reasons for this, but there is an assumption that the increase in the life of old-timers is due to postponing menopause to a later date.

They gave birth to late children

• Geena Davis gave birth to a daughter, Alize Keshwar, at the age of 46. Two years later, twins appeared in the family.
• Kim Basinger gave birth to a daughter, Ireland, at 42.
• Beverly D, Angelo At 46, she gave birth to twins by artificial insemination.
• Great Madonna gave birth to her first child, daughter Lourdes, at the age of 40, and 2 years later, her son Rocco was born. Hearing rumors that she was supposedly going to adopt a baby, the great star threatened to sue, as in fact she was accused of not being able to have children anymore. Most likely, in the near future, the pop diva will decide to give birth to her third child.

The birth of a baby is a happy moment, no matter how old his mother turned. Future "late" mothers once again want to wish patience and good mood. You will definitely be fine. So be prepared for the fact that all your time will be spent on a small creation. Is this not a woman's happiness?

Today, many women start a family late. Some do it because they get an education and make a career. Others - because they are looking for a suitable partner for a long time. But it happens that by the time a woman gets a good position and finds the man of her dreams, she will already be 40 years old. And then she starts to worry, is it too late now to have a baby?

There is great news! Pregnancy after 40 is definitely possible. It may be reasonable and safe. Although the likelihood of conception decreases with age, many women these days prefer to become pregnant not only at 40, but after and even closer to 50 years. Perhaps this is your situation. However, you should be aware of the possible problems of pregnancy after 40, and how to deal with them in order to get pregnant faster.

What are the chances of a successful pregnancy after 40?

It is important to understand the real chances of conceiving a child after 40 years. The American Society for Reproductive Medicine says women of this age have less than a 5% chance of naturally conceiving (without fertility treatment). According to the American Pregnancy Association, the use of in vitro fertilization for women over 40 years of age has a success rate of 6-10% of cases.

These numbers don't sound like much, but keep in mind that for most women, fertility peaks at age 20 and then gradually declines. In fact, by the time you're 30, your chances of getting pregnant naturally are about 20%. And after 35 years, the body's fertility is already at a low level.

According to one of the leading American experts and author of 4 best-selling books on fertility, Sherman Silber, at 40 years old, your chance of conceiving within a year is 40 to 50 percent, compared with a woman in her mid-30s who has 75 percent chance. At age 43, a woman's chance of pregnancy drops to 1 or 2 percent. This is due to the number of eggs that remain by this period in the body of a woman. At the time of reproductive age, there are 300-500 thousand of them, and after that you lose about 13 thousand per year. Over the years, this steady decline gives you about 25,000 eggs at the age of 37, an age that also coincides with a sharp decline in fertility.

A study in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility confirms this. Scientists found that 40-year-old women treated for infertility had a 25 percent chance of getting pregnant using their eggs. But by the age of 43, this number drops to 10%, and by 44 - to 1.6%. In other words, every year the probability of getting pregnant, and especially with your eggs, drops significantly and, for example, at the age of 41 it is much higher than at 43.

How to increase the success rate?

First, you should try unprotected sex two to three times a week for three months. If pregnancy does not occur after this, you should consult a doctor. You may want to have some blood tests done to rule out potential problems preventing conception.

If these tests are good, you need to keep trying. Here are a few factors that can increase your chances of getting pregnant:

1. Seeing a good doctor

It is very important to find a good obstetrician-gynecologist, whose main profile is the treatment of infertility and the management of pregnancies with pathologies. A good specialist will determine the need for treatment and talk about methods that can increase the likelihood of conception. Communication with such a doctor should be convenient (therefore, it is desirable that he be close), as it can take a long time before receiving a positive pregnancy test result.

2. Treatment of chronic diseases

All health problems need to be addressed before pregnancy. Lose weight or gain some weight if needed. Get treatment for existing chronic conditions, such as hypertension. It should be remembered that some diseases are sometimes asymptomatic. For example, thyroid problems or some sexually transmitted diseases. But they affect the ability to conceive. That is why a good doctor is so important, who will do all the necessary research.

3. Healthy lifestyle

To increase the likelihood of conception, sometimes you need to adjust your lifestyle. Avoid drinking wine and other alcoholic beverages. The same goes for smoking - you need to quit smoking. It is necessary to exclude everything that poses a danger to life and health. It is also desirable to reduce emotional stress. Eat and sleep as if you were already pregnant.

4. Proper nutrition

What about eating habits? Now the main rule is to eat as if conception has already occurred. Eat whole grain breads, cereals, legumes, vegetables, and folate-rich fruits such as citrus fruits and leafy greens. Protein sources should be lean meats and fatty fish, eggs, and low-fat dairy products. Reduce the amount of sugar in your diet, avoid junk food: smoked, fried, canned foods. A very good idea is to take prenatal vitamins.

5. Donor Egg Option

You may be able to conceive naturally. But statistics say that there is very little chance of this. This is why you should consider donating eggs if you really want to have a baby. For a woman over 40 years of age, pregnancy with viable donor eggs is more preferable than natural conception. At the same time, they are fertilized “in vitro”, and then, after the first stages of embryo development, it is transferred to the uterus for further development and gestation.

You can also consider surrogacy. In recent years, this option has become increasingly popular. Although this procedure is the most expensive among all assisted reproductive technologies. It never hurts to discuss this possibility if it is acceptable to you and your partner.

What are the risks of pregnancy after 40?

Many women have good reasons to delay pregnancy. After the age of 40, it is safe to assume that you already have a more stable financial situation, a stable relationship with a partner, have become more tolerant and are at an age when you can really cope with parenting responsibilities.

But pregnancy at this age carries additional pathological risks, and women need an honest assessment of their chances of conceiving and having a healthy baby. These include the development of diseases such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, as well as placental abruption, low birth weight, the need for a caesarean section. In addition, women may experience genetic abnormalities in the child, including Down syndrome. If the mother's body feels that this pregnancy is "wrong", there is a possibility of a miscarriage. Indeed, in women over 40 years of age, there is a 50 percent chance that this is due to the state of health.

1. Genetic anomalies

The eggs of women over the age of 35 are less likely to divide, which can cause genetic abnormalities. Women who become pregnant at 40 are at risk of having a child with a genetic disorder. The most common genetic disorder is Down syndrome. The older the woman, the higher the risk of having such a child. At 40, your chance of conceiving a child with Down syndrome is one in 100; at 45, it is one in 30.

2. Miscarriage

Women who become pregnant at age 40 or later are more likely to have a miscarriage. After forty, the risk of miscarriage is much higher than at the age of a woman in labor from 20 to 30. The reason is the development of chromosomal abnormalities.

The data are given according to a study in the medical journal Fertility and Sterility (Eng. Fertility and Sterility)

3. Complications during pregnancy

Many women after 40 years of age suffer from diseases such as. Health problems can become even more serious during pregnancy and can lead to complications. In addition, the risk of placental bleeding in pregnant women over 40 is much higher than in younger ones.

4. Preeclampsia

Women who become pregnant at age 40 have a high risk of developing preeclampsia. This is an increase in blood pressure to a level that threatens the life of the mother and child. This condition can lead to pathology of the nervous system, stroke and paralysis. Hypertension and diabetes before pregnancy is one of the causes of this pathology.

5. Problems bearing a child

Women having their first child after 40 may face other challenges. These problems include stillbirth or longer labor than younger women.

Childbirth at this age requires more physical effort from a woman. Sometimes a vacuum pump is used to help a woman in labor. In most cases, a caesarean section is recommended.

Women over 40 usually give birth prematurely. Newborns are usually underweight.

How to reduce the risk of complications?

To reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth, women over forty should take very good care of their health.

Healthy diet. You should eat well, eat enough vegetables and fruits. To give birth to a healthy child and maintain your own health, you need to include everything in your diet.

Health care. If you have diabetes or high blood pressure, regular visits to your doctor are a must. Ask your doctor about acceptable weight gain during pregnancy, as proper weight reduces the risk. You should also learn more about other possible complications of pregnancy, such as high blood pressure, gestational diabetes, etc.