Pregnancy in your late 40s
Many of us have heard that Kelly Preston, wife of John Travolta, is pregnant at the age of 47. Wow, you go girl! I hear some women asking “If she can, why can’t I?” Good question, complicated answer.
Women over age 35 may be less fertile than younger women because they tend to ovulate (release an egg from the ovaries) less frequently. Certain health conditions that are more common in this age group also may interfere with conception. These include endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes and fibroids.
A woman over age 35 should consult her health care provider if she has not conceived after 6 months of trying. Studies suggest that about one-third of women between 35 and 39 and about half of those over age 40 have fertility problems. At age 47, most babies are conceived with some form of fertility treatment. This can be time consuming and expensive.
Most miscarriages occur in the first trimester for women of all ages. The risk of miscarriage increases with age. Studies suggest that about 10 percent of recognized pregnancies for women in their 20s end in miscarriage. The risk rises to about 35 percent at ages 40 to 44 and more than 50 percent by age 45. The age-related increased risk of miscarriage is caused, at least in part, by increases in chromosomal abnormalities.
Women in their late 30s and 40s are very likely to have a healthy baby. However, they may face more complications along the way than younger women. Some complications that are more common in women over 35 include: gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, placental problems, premature birth, stillbirth. About 47% of women over age 40 give birth via cesarean section.
All these things taken into consideration, many women who do conceive in their late 40s, either on their own (unlikely but not impossible) or with some fertility treatment, do manage to have healthy babies. The important thing to remember is to have a preconception checkup and early and regular prenatal care.
Tags: cesarean, conception, fallopian tubes, fertility, fibroids, gestational diabetes, infertility, miscarriage, placenta previa, Pregnancy
June 8th, 2010 at 5:20 pm
Awesome article! Very informative. Did you know that Men Also Have a Biological Clock? It’s nice to know that it’s just not us. Keep up the good work!
June 13th, 2010 at 7:50 pm
My husband and I are planning our first pregnancy. We are both over 40 and are hopeful that this time next year we will have a healthy bundle of joy. Your article was uplifting and sad at times.
I wish late mom pregnancy was not as scary and costly because so many of us who did not want to be single moms, by choice, and wanted and needed to clear emotional paths as to not pass on generational baggage are now faced with such a daunting task.
I cry, at times, when I am so often faced with medical caretakers, family and friends who are unsympathetic to our cause. They have been dismissive, uncaring or bewildered that I would want to conceive.
When I read about women who have conceived at an older age, I smile and say, so will we.
Hopefully the stigma of older parents would soon dwindle and turn into a supportive system.
June 14th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Thanks for your nice comment Sophia. We’ll keep at it.
Claudette, best wishes for starting your family now. I know may women who have had babies in their 40s. In fact two of them were my sisters and both conceived naturally. I hope all goes well for you.
June 16th, 2010 at 2:21 pm
Dear Lindsay, thanks for formulating both pros and cons of pregnancy in late 40s. Kelly Preston rocks! I wish all women over 40 to feel the happiness of motherhood. Let your children be healthy, so do you! If she can – you should also try!
July 8th, 2010 at 9:56 am
All the best, my Mum was 42 when she had me!
Kaia