The possibilities of women seem endless: they will stop the galloping horse, and enter the burning hut, and even give birth in 50 years old! And, in fact, why not, if possible? However, is it worth it to agree to such an event at such a mature age? What are the chances to conceive, bear and independently give birth to a child at 50? What do the doctors say about this?
How does a woman’s body change during menopause
The news of pregnancy after 50 years has always caused a feeling of unprecedented surprise not only in the woman herself, but also in society. Mothers after 40 already cause strange feelings in others, and what can we say about more mature ladies.
From a medical point of view, the highest peak in fertility in women occurs at the age of 20 to 25 years. This period is considered the most favorable for conception and bearing a child without further complications for both the baby and the mother. Is there a chance of becoming pregnant in women of a more mature age?
From the first days of the life of a newborn girl, 400,000 eggs are present in her body. This amount gradually decreases as they grow older and by the age of 50 their number varies within 1000. With this amount, the risk of pregnancy is significantly reduced, but it is.
The eggs present in the female body are ready for the process of fertilization and the development of a new life. With the normal production of eggs in the body of a woman, a menstrual cycle begins every month. By 45 years (± 5 years), the amount of estrogen gradually decreases in the body of a woman, which leads to the onset of a menopause (menopause).
Menopause stages
During the onset of menopause, you can give birth to a child at 50 years old, if you know the stages of this condition, which contain the "moment" of a possible conception.
- Premenopause is the initial stage of the menopause. It starts 4-7 years before menopause and lasts the same. A woman can determine its onset by several symptoms: meager and short periods that become irregular, hot flashes and excessive sweating, changes in mood, aversion to certain aromas and tastes, a feeling of morning nausea. These symptoms are very similar to signs of pregnancy, so many women confuse premenopause with toxicosis during pregnancy. However, a common feature of these two completely different states is that they arise due to hormonal changes.
- Menopause or menopause. You can recognize it by the long absence of menstruation. Most often, menopause occurs in women after 50 years, so the risk of becoming pregnant is almost zero.
- Postmenopause is the final stage, which occurs about a year after the onset of menopause. It is also characterized by a complete absence of menstrual flow. However, the ovaries still retain the ability (albeit not to the full extent) to perform their functions.
The possibility of late conception
Practice shows that you can give birth to a child at 50 years old. Some ladies take this step quite consciously. This situation is possible for several reasons:
- For women, this pregnancy is the first and coveted. Therefore, women do not even dare to abandon their long-awaited happiness even at 50.
- The woman began a serious relationship with the new man and wants to give birth to a child from him.
- During intimacy, the couple did not use contraceptives, being sure that with menopause pregnancy is impossible. However, at this stage in a woman’s life, reproductive function persists, albeit with less probability.
The use of contraceptives remains relevant even during menopause. If a woman of 50 years and later leads a regular sex life, she should consult a doctor about the use of contraceptives. A good examination will help determine how fertile a woman is during this age period.
As soon as the first stage of menopause sets in, many women relax, realizing that their reproductive function is no longer so active. But at this time, the eggs are still quite active. Therefore, after 45 years, women should be especially attentive to their health.
We can summarize: a woman retains the ability to give birth to another 3-5 years after the onset of menopause.
What is the danger
Despite the fact that you can give birth in 50 years, there is a considerable danger for both the woman herself and the fetus. First, the body of a fifty-year-old woman cannot "boast" of excellent health, which was still 20-30 years ago. The organs begin to malfunction, the function of the musculoskeletal system is disrupted, the amount of vitamins and hormones decreases, the metabolism slows down. All this does not contribute to the proper bearing of the child. The body will need strength, which in 50 years is not so much.
As soon as a mature woman confirms the fact of pregnancy, she is immediately determined under the strict control of a gynecologist, since the risk of miscarriage is extremely high. Also, in most cases, a significant deterioration in the condition of the pregnant woman is observed.
The most dangerous is that in the early stages of pregnancy you can easily be confused with the onset of menopause, because the symptoms are the same. Therefore, not all women immediately recognize their “interesting position”. A visit to the gynecologist during the early and late menopause is simply necessary.
Are there any benefits of late birth
Some women have a desire to give birth to a second child at 50. In this case, they already know what awaits them and are psychologically more stable than primiparas. At this age, the risk of postpartum depression, which young girls are often exposed to, is virtually eliminated.
The advantages of such a late birth include the fact that by 50 years a woman in labor is already a fully formed personality. She has financial wealth and life experience. Therefore, the maintenance and care of the newborn will not cause problems for the "young" mother.
Another reason to leave pregnancy in adulthood is a well-developed medicine that allows you to closely monitor the entire period of gestation.
The reason to leave the baby is the fact that at this age a pregnant woman "rejuvenates." It is about the fact that at this time in the body of a woman is undergoing restructuring, the production of hormones necessary for normal gestation is actively taking place. A woman in labor feels several years younger, the risk of heart attacks, stroke and osteoporosis is reduced.
How to recognize pregnancy at 50
As mentioned earlier, the symptoms of such a late pregnancy are similar to menopause symptoms. Special care should be taken if such sensations are manifested:
- Morning dizziness and nausea.
- Delayed menstruation or its complete absence.
- Insomnia.
- The appearance of aversion to the usual smells and tastes.
- Breast swelling.
- Fast fatiguability.
- Frequent mood swings.
- Irritability.
If the above sensations appear, you should immediately consult a doctor.
First pregnancy after 50: true or myth
A woman’s desire to give birth to a second child or a third child at 50 does not cause so much emotion among those around her as to give birth to a first. However, this is a completely natural process if the use of the IVF method was not required.
Before giving birth to a second or even first child at 50, a woman must weigh all the risks.
For the natural conception and bearing a child, the following factors are necessary:
- Preservation of ovulation.
- The production of a sufficient amount of estrogen.
- Maturation and yield of a mature egg.
- The process of fertilization of a mature egg.
Danger for the future baby
You can give birth to a woman at the age of 50, but before that you need to be aware of all the risks, not only for yourself, but also for your baby. It is not only about preterm birth or miscarriage. Most often, it is children born from a mature woman who suffer from congenital pathologies and serious diseases.
If the child is born completely healthy, the presence of elderly parents can affect his psychological state. Some children feel uncomfortable with such dads and mothers in society, they are embarrassed. As practice shows, the relationship between children and elderly parents is not very trusting.
Each age has its own preferences and desires. Dad, who is over 60 is not as active as the one who is only 30-35. It is unlikely that he will be happy with his son to play football or do other outdoor games. Too an adult mother who already wants to just relax, but who is obliged to spend all day on her feet, caring for her little child, is unlikely to find the strength to go with him to the park or to prepare for the matinee.
In addition, older children are often accompanied by a fear of losing their elderly parents in the very near future. Therefore, such a decisive turn in life, like late pregnancy, must be made by weighing the pros and cons.
Birth difficulties
Both the bearing and the birth itself in a mature woman are accompanied by difficulties. It is worth considering several complications that may occur during delivery:
- Weak labor due to the low concentration of female hormones.
- Heavy bleeding that occurs during gestation and during delivery.
- Numerous ruptures of the birth canal due to the fact that tissue elasticity is lost with age.
Due to the high risk of imminent natural childbirth, many women under the age of 50 have a cesarean section. However, the possibility of natural delivery is not excluded, if the only limiting factor is age.
Doctors say late pregnancy
Can I give birth at 50? What do doctors say about this? The reviews of experts are ambiguous, since how smoothly this critical period in the life of a mature woman will pass depends only on the individual characteristics of the body.
Doctors alone do not see anything wrong with having 50 ladies become mothers, especially for the first time. Others believe that the risks of complications are too high for both the mother and the unborn child.
Most doctors are convinced that you should abandon pregnancy planning at such a late age. The body is no longer adapted for gestation and childbirth. A woman will need to supply him with the necessary vitamins and minerals throughout the entire period of pregnancy.
The most significant criterion against late pregnancy is a high chance of having a baby with genetic disorders. According to statistics, mothers after the age of 40 are much more likely to have children with Down syndrome. Other chromosomal abnormalities are not uncommon. Therefore, many doctors recommend that their patients think carefully before planning a birth. If the woman is determined, she is urged to undergo all the necessary examinations every month to eliminate the risk of developing fetal abnormalities.
Methods for conceiving a child after 50
1. The natural process. Can a woman give birth at 50? Yes, but first you need to choose a method of conceiving a child. Violation of natural conception is a modern problem even for young couples, not only older ones. But such an opportunity is not excluded.
2. In vitro fertilization. It is unlikely, but possible, to give birth at age 50 without IVF, as many want. However, IVF is the most effective process, suitable for women of mature years. The procedure is expensive, but safe for both the woman and the future fetus.
3. Surrogate fertilization. This is an option that comes only when a woman is not able to become pregnant and have a baby on her own. But a child developing in the womb of a surrogate mother has the genetic information of a woman who is not capable of bearing. Therefore, this method for the elderly woman is the easiest and most painless.
How to protect yourself from late pregnancy
Women who have a regular sex life in menopause and do not want to have children should take care of contraception.
- Intrauterine contraceptives (spiral) are not recommended for use by women after 50 years.
- Some oral medications are recommended that balance hormone levels during menopause. But emergency drugs ("Postinor") is better not to use.
- Surgical sterilization.
- Barrier contraceptives.
Conclusion
You can give birth to 50 years. A woman who decides to take such a step, it is imperative to go through all the examinations and listen to the opinion of the gynecologist.
Women who gave birth at 50 years old are undoubtedly admirable. What will be the fate of their baby? It depends on dozens of factors. Women who have decided in favor of childbirth must weigh everything in advance.