$Unique_ID{BRK00206}
$Pretitle{}
$Title{The Dangers of Pregnancy After Age 35}
$Subject{pregnancy late complications Childbirth children age riskier
pregnancies risk childbearing high blood pressure diabetes mellitus
chromosomally abnormal chromosomal chromosome chromosomes birth defect defects
Down's syndrome births fetuses abort spontaneously miscarriage healthy child
baby infant danger dangers risks}
$Volume{K-0,T-14}
$Log{}

Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


The Dangers of Pregnancy After Age 35


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QUESTION:  Is it true about becoming a mother later in life?  What are the
dangers of pregnancy after age 35?

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ANSWER:  Having children, especially a first child, after age 35 is riskier
than having them at a younger age, but such pregnancies are not higher risk if
the mother is healthy.  Until the 1970's, obstetricians rarely saw women older
than 35 expecting their first child.  Now more and more women are delaying
their childbearing and physicians have gotten used to seeing such patients.
     Part of the increased risk after age 35 stems from the fact that older
women are slightly more likely to have high blood pressure or diabetes, both
of which can cause complications during pregnancy.  Older women are also
slightly more likely to bear a chromosomally abnormal child, such as a child
with Down's syndrome; but until age 45 such births are still a relatively
small fraction of all live births.  Chromosomally abnormal fetuses often abort
spontaneously, which increase the miscarriage rate among older pregnant women.
Still, with good care, a healthy woman who is pregnant after age 35 is likely
to have a healthy baby.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.