Pregnancy After 35 Years of Age

Pregnancy after the age of thirty-five is actually much more common than it used to be. Women today are waiting until they have finished college and started a career to settle down and start a family. This can be a wise decision financially, but it can have some ramifications on your health, as the incidence of birth defects and difficult pregnancies goes up as you get older.

In fact, pregnancy after thirty-five isn’t difficult, and in many cases the pregnancy tends to run the same course as any other pregnancy. There are many factors involved, however. It’s important to discuss your plans to become pregnant with your doctor before taking any action.

For example, if you smoke, drink alcohol or take any medications, you may have limited your ability to become pregnant. Certain forms of birth control can also make pregnancy difficult after long-term use of many years. Your doctor will want to perform a complete physical, as well as a pap test before giving you the okay to become pregnant.

Additionally, you may need to undergo fertility testing, especially if you’ve used the Depo shot for more than five years or you have used Norplant. These forms of birth control have been known to cause infertility after several years of use. Additionally, women with HPV or other medical conditions may find it more difficult to become pregnant as time progresses.

Don’t be discouraged, however. You can easily become pregnant in even the worst conditions, as long as you’re in good health and you’re still producing viable eggs. There are many fertility drugs and treatments available to assist you. However, be aware that these fertility measures may result in a multiple pregnancies and you should be prepared for that inevitability emotionally, as well as financially.

Certain medical conditions that occasionally arise during pregnancy are more common in women that become pregnant over thirty-five, as well. Gestational diabetes and hypertension, also known as high blood sugar and high blood pressure, are the most common of these. However, with appropriate diet and rest, your doctor will be able to help you manage these conditions to maintain a healthy pregnancy.

Finally, you should talk to your partner about the changes that having a baby will bring to your settled lives. Your partner will need to be very supportive during your pregnancy and after the baby is born. The less stress you have, the less likely miscarriage becomes.

Additionally, your partner may need to take on additional financial burdens while you’re away from work to have the baby. While many young mothers take six weeks off from work for maternity leave, women over the age of thirty-five will likely need to leave work six weeks or more before the baby is born. Additional time will be required in most cases for recovery, generally around six weeks to two months after the birth.

In the end, there’s no reason that pregnancy after the age of thirty-five should be any less joyous than pregnancy at a younger age. The miracle of life is something to be celebrated and enjoyed at any point in life. With proper rest, a stress-free environment and good health care, having a baby after thirty-five isn’t only possible, but recommended for most women.