Late pregnancy - what is it? The result is a neglect of contraceptives or a deliberate and distressed choice? Both that, and another, versions are fair. For in some cases, ladies after forty believe that their train has almost left and are frivolous about preventing pregnancy if it is undesirable. But there are many women who were physically unable to become pregnant in their young years and have not yet lost hope of experiencing the delights of motherhood. Although, over the past decades, a pregnancy at 42 does not surprise anyone. Moreover, young women consciously go to late pregnancy, trying by this time to make a good career and ensure their material well-being by the time the baby arrives.
On the one hand, such a serious attitude to family planning cannot but arouse respect, but, on the other hand, do these rational women not endanger themselves and their unborn child, venturing on their first pregnancy after 42 years? Let's try to understand this issue.
Unplanned pregnancy
More recently, the medical term old-born was used for girls who became pregnant at the age of 25. But in recent years, the issue of childbearing has changed so much that it is now more surprising when a future mother is younger than 35. There has been a substitution of concepts and the girls are no longer trying to give birth early, but delay this moment to a later date. This is if the pregnancy is conscious and planned. Can the first pregnancy occur at 42 years old, and what are the chances of a successful bearing and a successful birth?
The ability to conceive (fertility) in a woman appears with the onset of menstruation, but until the menstrual cycle is fully established, the ovum leaves the ovary irregularly and the body has not yet fully matured for pregnancy and subsequent childbirth. The average peak fertility for the first birth is considered to be 20-27 years. At this time, the woman was already fully formed and fully prepared for her responsible mission, she is young and healthy in order to safely bear the baby and give birth to her independently without any complications.
Over time, the amount of female hormones begins to decline and by the age of 35 the possibility of conception is significantly reduced, and by the age of 40 it becomes very low. When menopause arrives (45-55 years), menstruation stops, ovulation does not occur, and the woman loses her ability to become pregnant in a natural way. However, with a rather late menopause - 50-52 years, such an ability still exists and the chances of conception, although small, are. Due to jumps in hormones during this period, pregnancy can occur even in a woman who suffered from infertility in younger years - if the cause of infertility was a violation of ovarian function.
From the foregoing, the first cause of late pregnancy follows - unexpected or unplanned. It occurs when a sexually active woman, having completed the family planning process by the age of forty, hoping to reduce her fertility ability, stops using protective equipment. The statistics are evidence of frivolity in this matter, which indicate a large number of abortions after the age of 40 - more than 70% of pregnant women in late reproductive age aborted artificially.
Conscious planning
The second reason that led to pregnancy at 42 is conscious planning, when a woman prepares the material basis for the birth of a child — she is intensively engaged in studies, career, housing issues, and the search for a worthy and healthy candidate for fathers. This trend has recently been especially widespread - more and more young people come to the realization that giving birth to a child is a very serious and responsible matter, and you should give birth only when you can provide him and yourself with a decent standard of living. Most often, this awareness comes to about 30 years, and the seriousness of the young generation in matters of childbearing is one of the reasons when the first pregnancy occurs at 42 years old.
Second pregnancy
You can not ignore such a reason when a woman's late birth is not the first, but the second or third. Quite a few women marry repeatedly and wish to have a baby in a new marriage. Sometimes even in a prosperous family, by the age of 40, an idea arises to give birth to a baby, since the first-born are already grown, and a stable financial situation allows us to think about motherhood again. Especially if parents dream of heterosexual children. Of course, with age, the ability to conceive decreases, but this does not mean its impossibility, just have to spend longer time on the process.
Suffered Pregnancy
Another important reason when finally the long-awaited pregnancy occurs at 42 years old. This topic is very painful for those who for a long time could not get pregnant and underwent various courses of treatment. And now, after forty, when the odds were already ghostly, it happened. Of course, we are not talking about any interruption of a long-awaited pregnancy, even if doctors predict all sorts of risks and difficulties, a woman of late fertility will hope for a better outcome and wait for a meeting with her suffering baby. And in this regard, it is necessary to raise the issue of the features of the course of a mature pregnancy and the risks that await a woman who decides to give birth after forty.
Late pregnancy problems
Returning to the issue of late pregnancy, it should be clearly understood - pregnancy at 42 years old is good or bad. Leaving aside the moral and social aspects, we dwell on purely medical problems that are likely to arise during gestation and as a result of childbirth. This is in no way an attempt to dissuade women from late pregnancy, but a sober alignment of what she may encounter when choosing this path. When a person is warned, he is armed and can avoid many troubles and unnecessary risks. So what are the risks of pregnancy at 42?
It should be noted that those risks that will be indicated below may or may not arise. Everything will depend on the mother’s body and her willingness to comply with all the instructions of doctors. Today people live and maintain health much longer, especially if they pay a lot of attention to this issue. It is quite possible that a mother at the age of forty is athletic and mobile, not prone to bad habits and safely avoids nervous stresses, so that the risks of such a pregnancy are minimal and the baby can be healthy and strong.
Today, a pregnancy of 42-43 years is by no means a sentence, much less a diagnosis, but an objective reality, which is increasingly manifested in the modern world. Moreover, medicine does not stand still and can offer very high-quality medical services to old-mothers. You just need to be very serious about the possibility of some problems and risks arising in the late reproductive age, consult doctors in a timely manner, listen to their recommendations and try to avoid dangerous situations. Since the woman’s body during pregnancy is inextricably linked with the baby’s body, risks exist for both the mother and the baby.
The risks
The list of risks for the expectant mother:
- a higher probability of miscarriage - if women under 30 years old have this risk of 10%, then those who have become pregnant at 42 years old already account for 33%. And the reason for this is not only age-related changes, but also the aging of the egg, in which conception with genetic disorders can often occur;
- problems with the placenta - chronic insufficiency, presentation and its premature detachment;
- exacerbated chronic diseases caused by the restructuring of the body, which can have a serious impact on the course of pregnancy;
- the probability of developing diabetes is three times higher if pregnancy occurs at 42 years. In the reviews, women write that with diabetes, placental complications, premature birth, stillbirth and other pathologies more often occur;
- application of cesarean section.
For an unborn child, there are other risks:
- premature birth;
- little weight;
- the possibility of hypoxia during childbirth;
- high probability of chromosomal abnormalities.
Statistics and forecasts of physicians
Given the opinion of doctors about pregnancy at 42, it should be noted that the older the parents, the higher the likelihood of chromosomal abnormalities - this is the main argument against late delivery. The causes of this pathology have not yet been fully studied. Perhaps this is the aging of reproductive germ cells or exposure to pathogenic factors and various toxic substances throughout life. But according to statistics, if a woman gives birth at 25, the probability of Down syndrome is 1/1250, and after 40 it increases to 1/106. Closer to 50, this generally disappointing figure is 1/11. However, despite such a bleak picture, 97% of middle-aged pregnant women receive a good prognosis after a medical examination and give birth to healthy, healthy children.
Today, doctors' forecasts are very optimistic, despite the prevailing opinion among ordinary people about pregnancy at 42 years old. According to the results of numerous studies, the vast majority of pregnant women of mature age are able to produce healthy offspring, which they demonstrate by giving birth to healthy children. Many women who decide to give birth after forty are interested in the opinion of doctors regarding late delivery. Consider this issue separately.
The opinion of doctors about pregnancy after 40
If women who become pregnant during late fertility consider it a heavenly gift and the highest female happiness, then doctors have their own opinion about being 42 years old. And it is based on many years of observation and the study of this issue from a medical point of view. And it is ambiguous. On the one hand, at the age of 40, a healthy woman leading a correct lifestyle will cope with the task of procreation no worse than a twenty-year-old. But at this age, there are very few completely healthy and ready for high-quality reproduction of the offspring of women - the negative impact of the environment, stress and illness, and even smoking with alcohol do their dirty deed. Another thing is when a woman plans this pregnancy and carefully protects herself from these external aggressive manifestations.
Minuses. The opinion of doctors
In reviews about a pregnancy at 42 years old, the minors include:
- increased risk of toxicosis;
- postpartum complications;
- higher probability of miscarriage;
- the possibility of cesarean section;
- risk of developing diabetes;
- possible genetic abnormalities in the fetus;
- risk of stillbirth and premature birth.
Pros of late pregnancy
However, late pregnancy has undoubted advantages, as a result of which:
- there is a relief of severe symptoms of menopause;
- life expectancy increases;
- a more serious attitude to pregnancy and a deeper understanding of parental responsibilities.
What else do the doctors say?
With the great potential of modern medicine, 90% of age mothers have absolutely healthy and viable children. But in order to minimize possible risks, one should visit medical facilities in a timely manner and make a decision after multifaceted consultations of specialists.
Pregnancy planning tips for women over 40
When planning a late pregnancy, pay attention to the following tips:
- start with a full examination of yourself and your partner, so that there are no surprises and unforeseen complications;
- try to tidy up the figure a year before pregnancy in order to eliminate harmful factors;
- eat healthy foods and follow a proper diet;
- no alcohol or smoking;
- physical activity before and during pregnancy - choose in advance a set of exercises that you can perform while pregnant, because for successful childbirth you need to strengthen the abdominal press and back;
- limit long trips and flights;
- exclude high heels;
- carefully listen to the recommendations of doctors and strictly follow them.
Conclusion
Late pregnancy is a responsible and informed step, so weigh all the information you know well and make the right decision. Adulthood is not a reason to abandon female happiness and there are quite convincing arguments in favor of this decision.