Pregnancy After 35
The advances in technology have made it easier for older women to have children safely. However, various risks and complications might occur given their past and present health conditions.
Miscarriage is among the potential risks faced during pregnancy. Additionally, older women have a higher affinity of developing diabetes and high blood pressure in contrast to younger women under the age of 35 years. As a result of aging of critical body cells and functions, some of these are unable to function optimally, leading to instances of placental abruption (Douglas, 2012). Hence, the placenta is separated from the uterine wall leading to a situation where the opening to the birth canal is blocked. If the pregnancy is carried to term, there is a significant risk for older women to experience difficulties during labor and in normal delivery. As a result, a large percentage of women over the age of 35 deliver through a Cesarean section (Douglas, 2012).
Conception at an older age may not only impact the parent but may also pose significant risks to the baby. Older women are prone to deliver normal babies; however, there is a risk that the baby may be born having developed genetic disorders. These disorders can occur naturally or they could be inherited from the parent. Therefore, the older is the mother’s age, the higher the chances of risk to her and the baby. Advances in technology have enabled the detection of problems during the early period of pregnancy.
Therefore, older women are assured of their health and that of the baby. Blood tests such as triple or quad screen test, integrated test, chorionic villi sampling, and amniocentesis are among the tests aimed at detecting genetic problems (Douglas, 2012). These tests are carried out as early as at 10 to 18 weeks pregnancy. Other critical tests such as tests for strep infection of the cervix and diabetes are conducted. Additionally, medical facilities are able to save premature babies through the use of Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and incubators in the event when the parent is unable to carry the pregnancy to term (Douglas, 2012).
