Pregnant After

Pregnant After
Reviewed by Dan Brennan, MD on March 16, 2021
The number of women having their first baby when they are over 35 has increased nine times over the last 40 years. If you're considering having a baby after 50 , you may be wondering about the risks and benefits of being an older mom.
As an older mom, you probably feel more stable and better able to take care of a child than you did when you were young. You'll be glad to know that research backs up those feelings. There are quite a few benefits to having a child later in life, including:
Your son may be smarter. If your baby's father is also older, there's good news. A group of researchers came up with a "Geek score" for boys. The score included IQ, ability to focus on interests, and concern about fitting in with their peers. Boys of older dads were found to have higher IQs and be more focused on their interests. They were also less concerned about fitting in. These are traits that can indicate future academic success.
Your preschooler may have an edge in health and development. Children born to older mothers showed improved health and development compared to children born to younger mothers. In one study, older maternal age was associated with increased immunization rates, fewer unintentional injuries, and fewer hospitalizations at age 5. They also had more developed language skills and fewer social and emotional problems.
You'll be more patient. Older moms tend to be more patient. They are better at setting boundaries. They are also less likely to yell at their kids or punish them harshly. As a result, their kids have fewer behavioral, social, and emotional issues. A study showed that older moms also had less anxiety during pregnancy. They were in more stable relationships and were financially better off.
You'll be smarter when you're older. A study of 800 women from ages 41 to 92 showed that those who had their last baby after age 35 scored better on tests of verbal memory and thinking. It also showed that women who used contraceptives for over 10 years had higher executive function and problem-solving skills later in life.
If you are trying to get pregnant after age 50, you will probably need some fertility help. While it's not impossible to become pregnant naturally at 50, it is very rare.
Women are born with all of the eggs they will ever have. As you get older, you have fewer eggs, and they are more likely to have abnormalities. Most women who get pregnant after 50 use donor eggs . It's also possible to use your own eggs that were previously frozen.
Women over 50 who become pregnant with donor eggs face similar risks of complications as younger women. A study of 101 women over 50 who gave birth with donor eggs found that they had about the same rate of complications as women aged 42 and under.
While there are a lot of benefits to having a baby when you're older, there are some risks as well. The medical term for women over 35 is advanced maternal age (AMA). It's worth discussing the risks of pregnancy with your doctor, including being more likely to:
To increase your odds of having a healthy pregnancy, make sure you:
If you are over 50, you may need specialized care during pregnancy, including:
BMJ: " The health and development of children born to older mothers in the United Kingdom: observational study using longitudinal cohort data."
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: "First Births to Older Women Continue to Rise."
Columbia University Irving Medical Center: "Risks of Pregnancy via Egg Donation Similar for Women Over Age 50 as for Younger Women."
European Journal of Developmental Psychology : "Associations between older maternal age, use of sanctions, and children’s socio-emotional development through 7, 11, and 15 years."
Human Reproduction: "Too old to have children? Lessons from natural fertility populations."
Journal of the American Geriatrics Society: "Effect of Reproductive History and Exogenous Hormone Use on Cognitive Function in Mid‐ and Late Life."
Mayo Clinic: "Pregnancy after 35: Healthy moms, healthy babies."
Texas Children's Hospital: "Advanced Maternal Age."
Translational Psychiatry : "Advantageous developmental outcomes of advancing paternal age."
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Chronopoulou E, et al. Preconception tests at advanced maternal age. Best Practice and Research. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2021; doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2020.11.003.
Attali E, et al. The impact of advanced maternal age on pregnancy outcome. Best Practice and Research. Clinical Obstetrics and Gynaecology. 2021; doi:10.1016/j.bpobgyn.2020.11.003.
Frequently asked questions. Having a baby after age 35: How aging affects fertility and pregnancy. American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. https://www.acog.org/Patients/FAQs/Having-a-Baby-After-Age-35. Accessed May 31, 2022.
Landon MB, et al., eds. Preconception and prenatal care. In: Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2021. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed May 31, 2022.
Brandt JS, et al. Advanced paternal age, infertility and reproductive risks: A review of the literature. Prenatal Diagnosis. 2019; doi:10.1002/pd.5402.
Fretts RC. Effects of advanced maternal age on pregnancy. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed May 31, 2022.
AskMayoExpert. Gestational diabetes mellitus. Mayo Clinic; 2021.
Cunningham FG, et al., eds. Prenatal care. In: Williams Obstetrics. 26th ed. McGraw Hill; 2022. https://accessmedicine.mhmedical.com. Accessed May 31, 2022.
Geppert J, et al. Antenatal screening for fetal trisomies using microarray-based cell-free DNA testing: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Prenatal Diagnosis. 2020; doi:10.1002/pd.5621.
Wick MJ (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic. June 13, 2022.

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Pregnancy after 35 - Healthy moms healthy babies

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Are you considering pregnancy after 35? Understand the issues — and know what it takes to have a healthy pregnancy.
If you're older than 35 and hoping to get pregnant, you're in good company. Many families are delaying pregnancy well into their 30s and beyond — and delivering healthy babies. Taking special care can help give your baby the best start.
The biological clock is a fact of life. But there's nothing magical about age 35. It's simply an age at which risks become more discussion worthy. For example:
It might take longer to get pregnant. You're born with a limited number of eggs. As you reach your mid- to late 30s, the eggs decrease in quantity and quality. Also, as you get older, your eggs aren't fertilized as easily as they were when you were younger.
If you're older than 35 and haven't been able to conceive for six months, consider asking your health care provider for advice.
The risk of gestational diabetes increases. This type of diabetes occurs only during pregnancy. It's more common in older age.
People with gestational diabetes must maintain tight control of blood sugar through diet and physical activity. Sometimes medication is needed too. Left untreated, gestational diabetes can cause a baby to grow larger than average. Having a larger baby increases the risk of injuries during delivery.
Gestational diabetes also can increase the risk of premature birth, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and complications to your infant after delivery.
The risk of developing high blood pressure during pregnancy is higher. Research suggests high blood pressure that develops during pregnancy is more common in older age. Your health care provider will carefully monitor your blood pressure, along with your baby's growth and development.
If you develop high blood pressure during pregnancy, you'll need to see your health care provider more often. Also, you may need to deliver your baby before your due date to avoid complications.
The risk of pregnancy loss is higher. The risk of miscarriage and stillbirth increases with age. This may be because of preexisting medical conditions or because of chromosomal conditions in the baby.
Research suggests the increased risk of miscarriage may be due to both the decrease in quality of eggs in older age and the higher risk of chronic conditions. Chronic conditions may include high blood pressure or diabetes.
Studies also suggest that men's ages at the time of conception might pose health risks for children.
Taking good care of yourself is the best way to take care of your baby. Pay special attention to the basics:
Learn about prenatal testing for chromosomal conditions. Ask your provider about prenatal screening and testing. A commonly used screening test is the prenatal cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) screening. This is a method to screen for certain chromosomal conditions in a developing baby, such as Down syndrome. During the screening, DNA from the mother and fetus is taken from the mother's blood. It's screened for the increased chance of specific chromosome problems, such as Down syndrome, trisomy 13 and trisomy 18.
Diagnostic tests such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis can provide information about the risk of specific chromosomal conditions. These tests carry a slight risk of miscarriage. Your health care provider can help you weigh the risks and benefits.
The choices you make now — even before you become pregnant — can have a lasting effect on your baby. Think of pregnancy as an opportunity to nurture your baby and prepare for the exciting changes ahead.
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Risks of Getting Pregnant Right After Giving Birth

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Rachel Gurevich is a fertility advocate, author, and recipient of The Hope Award for Achievement, from Resolve: The National Infertility Association. She is a professional member of the Association of Health Care Journalists and has been writing about women’s health since 2001. Rachel uses her own experiences with infertility to write compassionate, practical, and supportive articles.

Are you wondering how soon you can get pregnant after birth? The answer is sooner than you probably think. Do you ever wonder if anyone shows up at their six-week checkup pregnant? The answer is a resounding yes! Many moms are led to believe that they cannot get pregnant soon after delivery, but this is a misconception.

Whether you had a vaginal birth or c-section , your body is capable of getting pregnant very shortly after giving birth. You can ovulate before having your first postpartum period , 1 and as soon as you ovulate, you can conceive.

Despite the fact that it is not recommended that you have sex prior to your six-week checkup , it happens. If you don't use a form of contraception , you can get pregnant . Consider alternatives to sexual intercourse for reasons of healing from giving birth but also to prevent pregnancy.

Breastfeeding, while it may delay ovulation in some women, is not an effective method of birth control unless you are following the lactational amenorrhea method (LAM). 2 This is a very specific method of birth control. It means that you never use a breast pump, your baby never gets a pacifier, and your baby does not sleep through the night. This is a standard that is difficult for most women to achieve.

There is good evidence that women who have babies closer together have riskier pregnancies the second time. 3 This is because their bodies have not yet fully healed from giving birth. Even when you feel physically healed, your body is adjusting to changing levels of hormones and nutrients.

If you have a pregnancy within six months of giving birth, you increase the risk for complications such as: 3

While outcomes are slightly better if you wait at least six months between pregnancies, waiting at least 18 months is best. 3 This gives the body time to heal and reduces the risks of complications. It also gives you time to plan your next pregnancy and receive preconception counseling, which reduces the risks of complications even further. (Pregnancies more than five years apart also carry risks.)

If you think you are pregnant, talk to your practitioner, even if you don't want to admit that you might be pregnant. If you are, you will need prenatal care to help monitor the pregnancy and baby and minimize risk where possible.

McNeilly AS, Glasier AF, Howie PW, Houston MJ, Cook A, Boyle H. Fertility after childbirth: pregnancy associated with breast feeding . Clin Endocrinol (Oxf). 1983;19(2):167-73. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2265.1983.tb02978.x
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Lactational amenorrhea method .
Schummers L, Hutcheon JA, Hernandez-Diaz S, et al. Association of short interpregnancy interval with pregnancy outcomes according to maternal age . JAMA Intern Med. 2018;178(12):1661-1670. doi:10.1001/jamainternmed.2018.4696
Ekin A, Gezer C, Taner CE, Ozeren M, Mat E, Solmaz U. Impact of interpregnancy interval on the subsequent risk of adverse perinatal outcomes . J Obstet Gynaecol Res. 2015;41(11):1744-51. doi:10.1111/jog.12783
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