If you are 40 and pregnant you may be o verwhelmed and wondering what challenges you may face ?
While women in their late 30s and 40s are likely to have a healthy baby, they do face more complications along the way. Women over age 35 had an increased risk of ectopic pregnancy.
Beyond the first trimester, a higher incidence of obstetric and medical morbidities accompanies advancing maternal age. Besides the increased risk of diabetes and high blood pressure in pregnancy, women over 35 have an increased risk of fetal growth restriction, placental abruption, preterm delivery. First-time mothers over age 35 have ab out a 40 percent chance of a c-section, compared to ab out a 14 percent risk for first-time mothers in their 20s. The probability of having a healthy baby decreases by 3.5% per year after age 30.
However, in spite of the increased risk of complications, many of these risks can be managed effectively with good prenatal care. It is important to keep in mind that the increased risk, even for the oldest women, is modest and the vast majority of mothers and babies do fine.