The Risks Of A Late Pregnancy
If we do a little memory, surely we all remember that our mothers and grandmothers were in a state of good hope for the first time when they were very young. Today, however, obligations and society itself lead us to have a late pregnancy on many occasions, that is, at a considerable age.
As you can imagine, our bodies have a specific time when they are optimal for fertility. Join us, because we are going to discover more about this fact and the risks that make up.
Late pregnancy is a very common phenomenon in Western societies. Most of us women work, have higher education and dedicate a lot of time and effort to our professional careers. Obviously, this delays the formation of a family nucleus considerably.
Whether for educational, personal, professional, economic reasons, etc., today family planning is a reality. However, this should not excessively delay the idea of having children, since beyond the age of 35, the risks of pregnancy increase greatly both for the mother and for the child himself.
The social situation pushes late pregnancy
Societies such as the Nordic, that is, countries such as Norway or Sweden, are aware of the importance of birth for their survival. In fact, her social level is so advanced that everything is prepared so that the woman can be a mother whenever she wants and have all the advantages and needs at her disposal.
Unfortunately, this is a small exception that is not the case in most societies. In Spain, for example, it is very common for mothers to add their month of vacation from work to 4 months of maternity leave, and thus spend more time caring for their child.
However, the presence of a mother is very important for the child, especially during the child’s first year of life. But the labor fabric of most societies does not take these details into account.
This whole situation pushes mothers to delay their pregnancy again and again. Ultimately, many women end up having their first child beyond the age of 35, when risks are greatest and fertility is lowest. However, it is usually when they find adequate work and personal stability to begin this exciting but complex process.
Risks of late pregnancy
But according to all the experts, having children beyond 35 is risky. These late pregnancies can come with a series of very dangerous additions for the mother and for the future baby. Let’s see some:
- A possible risk that occurs in mothers over 30 years of age is that the little one is born with Down Syndrome. It increases from 1 chance in 1250 at age 25 to 1 in 378 at age 35.
- Also late pregnancy increases the risk that the child will be premature or arrive with little weight.
- Childbirth can be very complicated, especially for first-time mothers.
- Cesarean section is a very common practice in late pregnancies and in older mothers.
- They increase the chances of the mother suffering from gestational diabetes.
- During the third trimester of pregnancy, it is not unusual for bleeding to appear.
- Preeclampsia and high blood pressure can also affect older mothers.
- There is a possibility of spontaneous abortions.
- Perinatal death is also a reality in pregnancies in older women.
- Chromosomal disorders can occur.
However, we do not want to be alarmist. Fortunately, medical science has come a long way and it is normal that a late pregnancy does not present major complications. Nowadays, our doctors take care of mothers and the whole process is very controlled. In addition, relatives and friends are more aware of the situation.
Even so, beyond medical advances, nature continues to tell us that the ideal age to be a mother is between 25 and 35 years old. It is our duty to demand a social and legal framework that respects the natural times of motherhood. A late pregnancy not only puts the well-being of mothers at risk, but also that of our babies.
