Introduction

Pregnancy after 40 is generally regarded with a lot of skepticism by many folks including the medical fraternity. Generally, ladies who go in for pregnancy after 40 are termed as older mothers or mothers of advanced ages or elderly mothers. Though it seems quite disheartening, it is in fact the exact truth in medical or obstetric terms. Actually, in case of females the age of the eggs coincides with the biological age. It means that at age 40, the eggs are also 40 years old. People tend to ridicule or mock ladies who decide for pregnancy after 40 for many reasons. They might come up with a list of all depressing facts for pregnancy after 40- like the chromosomal or genetic abnormalities, ticking away of the biological clock, Down’s syndrome, miscarriage risks, preterm labor, medical complications etc. There might be many reasons as to why a woman has opted for a late pregnancy. It could be that the lady was busy pursuing a job or career, or had a medical problem or had some financial constraints.

Despite all the disturbing and disconcerting facts about pregnancy after 40, one can see that there are many women in their forties managing to give birth to healthy babies.

Risks of Pregnancy After 40

Women above 40 are more likely to face a stillbirth, miscarriage risk or infant death. As the eggs mature along with other body cells, there is a likelihood of them developing chromosomal abnormalities. The elder women are more likely to have multiple pregnancies. The older mothers may also develop some medical complications related to pregnancy like high blood pressure or pre-eclampsia, diabetes, placental abruptions, placenta previa, growth retardation of the embryo and preterm delivery. Women above 40 may also have some health conditions which are related to age, like diabetes, cardiovascular disease and hypertension or high blood pressure. The likelihood of cesarean deliveries is also enhanced in older mothers. So a woman planning pregnancy after 40 must take necessary care for a healthy pregnancy and uncomplicated childbirth.

Care during Pregnancy After 40

All is not so bad and gloomy as it looks and sounds in planning a pregnancy after 40. Majority of women above 40 can have a safe pregnancy. Firstly, they must consult the obstetrician and get a sound advice regarding the medical complications, care, tests and examinations. A woman planning to have a child after 40 must study all the pros and cons of pregnancy after 40. She must keep a regular check of blood pressure and sugar levels. The amniocentesis needs to be performed to check if there are any congenital abnormalities in the embryo. The expectant mother must undergo regular medical check up for all medical conditions and complications. She also needs to take the iron and calcium supplements for normal embryo growth. Above all, the lady must keep a happy, cheerful and hopeful disposition to a deliver a healthy and bonnie baby.