Despite the fact that the question of the optimal age for having a child interests many women, there has not been a single answer to it. Most doctors and psychologists agree that the optimal age is the one at which a woman is at least morally, and even better, financially ready for the birth of a child. And there are many reasons for this.
Pregnancy 20 and 40 years
Each age has its advantages.
For example, young mothers better tolerate the stress that pregnancy poses to the body. The fact is that a young body adapts more quickly and painlessly to hormonal and other changes associated with pregnancy. As a rule, a young expectant mother has a lot of energy and practically no chronic or age-related diseases.
But an older expectant mother, say, after 35 years, may no longer have so much energy. But on the other hand, she feels more secure and confident in the future, because by this time she, most likely, has managed to make a good career and acquire personal housing, as well as make some savings.
However, in addition to the material, moral and physical aspects, there is also a physiological one. The older a woman gets, the more difficult it is for her to get pregnant. Of course, everything is individual, and in each specific case everything may be the other way around, but statistics should not be discounted if you plan to have offspring someday.
Risks of late pregnancy and childbirth
Until recently, a woman who gave birth to a child after 20 years of age was considered an “old woman.” But times are changing, and today fewer and fewer girls are giving birth to children before the age of twenty. There are several reasons for this: firstly, life expectancy has increased. Secondly, the functions of women in society have expanded, representatives of the fair sex have ceased to be the shadow of men and the keepers of the home. They develop successfully, make a career, and combining pregnancy, childbirth and raising children (at least until they are several years old) is quite difficult. That is why childbirth is postponed until after 25, or even after 35 years.
However, doctors and psychologists say that late pregnancy and childbirth are associated with certain risks.
As for the psychological side of the issue, the main problem here is that every year it will be more and more difficult for a woman to decide on such an important step. As a woman's confidence in her own financial situation increases, her confidence in her own physical strength and ability to be a good mother to a child may decrease. At best, this will end in tangible stress and still the birth of a child; at worst, it will end in abandonment of motherhood.
Judging from the medical side, there are even more nuances here. Medical statistics show that the older a woman is, the more difficult it will be for her to give birth to an absolutely healthy child.
Here, for example, are statistics on the risks of having a child with congenital chromosomal abnormalities (Down syndrome) depending on the age of the mother:
- at twenty-five years old - one in 1250;
- at thirty years old - one in 1000;
- at thirty-five years old - one in 400;
- at forty years old - one in 100;
- at forty-five years old - one in 30;
- at forty-nine - one in 10.
Giving birth after the age of 35 can also be associated with a number of serious problems. The most common complications include:
- gestational diabetes. This form of diabetes develops for the first time during pregnancy. According to research, women over thirty-five years of age are twice as likely to develop this disease as younger women;
- hypertension. High blood pressure during pregnancy can be caused by gestational diabetes or a number of other conditions. In its more severe form, this disease is called preeclampsia;
- problems with the placenta. The most common is placenta previa, in which the placenta covers all or part of the uterine opening. Presentation is dangerous because it can provoke severe bleeding, threatening the life of the mother and child;
- premature birth. Pregnancy after 35-40 years can often be complicated by premature birth. Premature babies often have a range of health problems;
- stillbirth. Studies by modern scientists have shown that the risk of giving birth to a stillborn child increases two to three times after 40 years. However, the causes of stillbirths remain unclear.
Best age to have a baby
Despite all the above risks from a medical and psychological point of view, Many researchers recommend having a baby when you are most ready. Are you twenty years old, and the instinct of motherhood has already awakened in you? If you have a loving husband, as well as material and moral support from loved ones, give birth to a child and give him your love.
You are forty years old, and you have everything except children, but that’s what you want? Go through a thorough medical examination, take a course of vitamins - and give birth to a healthy child, to whom you can give everything, and even more.
Every woman at any childbearing age has every chance of giving birth to a healthy child. To do this you need to do the following:
- undergo regular examination by a doctor;
- receive regular and early prenatal care;
- take vitamins, starting before pregnancy and be sure to continue it in the early stages;
- give up alcohol and nicotine;
- eat right, giving preference to healthy foods and filling your diet with vegetables and fruits;
- check the body for resistance to various viral diseases and, if necessary, vaccinate.
Just recently, a century ago, girls who had not given birth by the age of 17-18 were perceived as sick or defective. However, in such a seemingly short period of time, a lot has changed. Now a woman is not only a wife and mother.
With new times come new opportunities, which also require strength, time and health. This is education, career, success. And both the level and life expectancy have increased.
All together this has led our society to a new problem - the problem of choosing the optimal age to conceive a child.
And it would seem that modern medicine has come far ahead over the century, and contraception is more reliable than before, but still many girls, and to a greater extent their relatives, are afraid to put off their first pregnancy. And I want to become a mother soon!
But at the same time I still want to get an education, make a career, see the world and live for myself. And here again is the trap: having built a career, say, by the age of 25-26, it’s scary to stop to take a break in this eternal battle.
And women put it off again great moment…
Medical answer
Somehow arriving at a common denominator, doctors give us an approximate period of time for pregnancy with the most favorable outcome- this is twenty to twenty-five years.
The framework is not strict, and this time is considered the most successful for the first pregnancy. A woman’s body is full of health during this period, vitality and fully prepared for future changes.
However more relaxed frameworks are also possible, into which the period from twenty to thirty-five years fits.
All doctors agree on one thing - after 35 a woman's body is already more “worn out”: he has accumulated many unpleasant sores, and stress such as pregnancy will be more difficult for him to bear.
In addition, according to research results, the risk of having a child with Down syndrome is much higher in a woman whose first pregnancy occurs after thirty-five.
In addition, it has been noticed that a woman who gives birth to a child late is more susceptible to such diseases as mammary cancer.
The likelihood of getting sick triples if your first birth occurs at thirty rather than at twenty.
That is why in countries where women mostly give birth early(China, Japan, Middle East, Central Asia) breast cancer statistics are very low.
One explanation for this fact is that during maturation in the womb, the fetus produces a special protein called alpha-fetoprotein. Some of this protein enters the mother's blood and protects her from the occurrence of malignant diseases.
Also middle-aged mothers should think about the health of their future children. Researchers from the University of Bristol in the UK noticed that children of older mothers are more likely to develop diabetes.
With each new five-year period that a woman lives between the moment she reaches physiological maturation and her first pregnancy, the likelihood of your baby developing this disease increases an average of twenty-five percent.
Armed with this knowledge, it can be calculated that the first child born to a forty-five-year-old woman is three times more likely to develop type A diabetes than the first child born to a twenty-year-old mother.
The same trend continues in the future, when a second or third child is born, but in this case, the woman’s age already has such a strong influence on the possibility of developing diabetes in babies.
Another argument in favor of earlier gestation is After a certain age, a woman’s maternal feelings become dull, and the desire to have a child is significantly reduced.
An established life, a ready-made career - all this is already familiar, and changing your lifestyle is much more difficult. It's sad, but it's a fact.
However, if a woman leads an active and healthy lifestyle, she is cheerful and regularly undergoes medical examinations, does not abuse alcohol and does not smoke - pregnancy after 35 can be quite successful without complications or while minimizing them.
Yes and having life experience will allow such a mother to raise a child while making much fewer mistakes than very young parents. In addition, having given birth consciously, when life has already settled, a woman will fully feel the miracle of the birth of a baby and give him all the accumulated love and affection.
By the way, experts also provide us with data that suggests the wrong approach is too early (that is, before the age of 18).
It turns out that the younger the expectant mother’s body, the higher the likelihood, as well as a variety of complications - from toxicosis to.
Young mothers also have a negative effect on children: They are mostly born weak, with low body weight and weak immunity.
And to prevent this from happening, doctors urge the relatives of such young mothers to be gentler with them - scientifically established that eternal reproaches and family rejection of the teenagers’ situation greatly affects the health of mother and child and often leads to many complications.
While a calm attitude and support help young mothers bear a healthy and strong baby.
There is also another danger: over many years of observation, scientists at the Karolinska Institute in Sweden have found that women who give birth before the age of twenty are at risk. It turned out that they are twice as likely as other women to develop uterine cancer and lung cancer, and three times more likely to develop various diseases of the cardiovascular system.
Certainly, You shouldn’t forget about the advantages of early pregnancy either., this means trust, understanding between parent and child, and a lot of time for another pregnancy, and being the youngest mother in kindergarten or school is also quite pleasant.
Another thing is that such young parents still have too little experience, as well as patience and gentleness. That is why the process of education can become a great challenge for both adults and their baby.
Social response
However, no matter what the research results are, and no matter how doctors expand the scope of the favorable age for conception, it is still the same there is also the so-called social or public opinion.
On the one side, relatives and friends from some point begin to pester and pester the woman with the same questions, boiling down to one topic - “when?” and “it’s about time!” Not very pleasant, you must agree.
In the same time, employers and bosses, on the contrary, are not too eager to see you with a rounded tummy - they don’t want to lose a valuable employee for a year or more.
And if for some reason you are just in the process of undergoing interviews and looking for a job, then here are questions like “Do you have children?” and “Are you planning to have them in the near future?” and completely inevitable. In general, they are pressing from all sides.
Response from Europe and the USA
And in such developed countries of the world as America and Great Britain It has long been the norm to become mothers closer to thirty or thirty-five.
Women up to this age build a career, acquire a house, a car, capital to provide for their children, and even capital for their children’s future education. In general, they approach things wisely. And often they then give birth without any complications.
The main thing, of course, is yourself and don't neglect your health, to live an active lifestyle. Of course, in European countries and the USA, the medical level, and simply the standard of living, differs from ours. But you can monitor your regime in Russia.
Summarizing all of the above, we come to the conclusion that ideal time for first pregnancy is the one you choose. It's up to you to decide at what age you can give birth.
Depending on your internal psychological and emotional readiness, on the readiness of your partner, on your financial and health status.
And if suddenly you decide to postpone pregnancy for now, do not forget to keep yourself in shape.
Don't sit still, go in for sports, do exercises in the morning. Add variety to your diet by adding more vegetables and fruits, and, if possible, eliminate fatty and fried foods.
And also drink as little alcohol as possible and!
Discussion of the question of up to what age you can give birth is shrouded in many myths, traditions and general ignorance. Unfortunately, they are the reason for early pregnancy and refusal to have a child at 35–40 years old. But the basis for planning a child should be common sense and knowledge of modern medicine.
Sources of the birth of myths
The birth of most myths about at what age you should give birth, and at what age you should no longer plan a pregnancy, is associated with the past. Even at the beginning of the twentieth century, the average life expectancy in civilized countries was low. The high level of infant mortality, as well as the large number of deaths of mothers in labor, created various myths and hypotheses among the population, which were not confirmed by doctors.
Closer to today, these myths not only have not ceased to exist, but have also become stronger and transformed. Here are the most famous of them:
- Children must be born before the age of 25.
- The younger the mother, the better for the child.
- Pregnancy after 30 years is burdened by various complications.
- A woman after 40 years old should not plan a family.
- Children interfere with your career; first you need to achieve success and recognition.
- Before having a child, it is necessary to achieve material well-being.
All these categorical statements have nothing to do with reality. Business women are often excellent mothers who combine a family with small children and a career. Organization and self-control are successful traits not only for a businessman, but also for family planning.
Already in the last decades of the last century, medicine and increased standards of social protection make the overwhelming number of myths untenable. Women, especially in the most developed countries, give birth to their first children mainly at the age of 30–35. Business mothers with many children are found not only in the West, but also in Russia. A striking example is the managing partner of O2Consulting Olga Sorokina (Koneeva). Her career as a successful lawyer does not prevent her from being a mother of eight children at the same time. Moreover, the difference between the eldest daughter and the youngest son is about 20 years.
Pregnancy before 25 years of age: pros and cons
There is some truth in some of the myths listed. Indeed, pregnancy between 20 and 25 years is the most favorable and natural. This is due to the following:
- A woman's body giving birth at this age is better prepared for bearing a child and bringing it into the world.
- Internal organs and systems work at their best and are able to withstand all the additional stress associated with pregnancy most steadfastly.
- There are still no age-related ailments that could make bearing a baby more difficult.
In addition, at this age, young parents most often consciously plan a family, and their age does not allow them to unnecessarily dramatize the situation. And what is important is that during this period it is possible, if not to achieve material well-being, then to acquire some kind of stability, which allows a woman to take a short career break.
Along with the positive aspects of family planning at this age, there are also negative ones. This is mainly due to the fact that bearing a child can become a trigger for hidden pathologies that previously did not make themselves felt.
In adulthood, women are attentive to their own health, undergo timely examinations by doctors, and, if necessary, willingly agree to additional examinations. Doctors believe that, other things being equal, it is better to give birth to your first child during this period.
Early pregnancy - good or bad?
The previous myth, exaggerated to the extreme, is considered the norm for some nationalities. For example, in certain countries in Asia, the Middle East, and Africa, it is quite normal for women to have two, three or more children at the age of 18. The result is that by the age of 25, such women look much older than their biological age. The body that gives birth at an early age wears out quickly. Especially if we are talking about the second and third pregnancy during this period.
Early pregnancy (before 18 years of age) negatively affects both the health of the mother herself and the health of her children. It is even more dangerous than having a child after 40 years of age. This is due to the following:
- The hormonal background of a minor girl is not yet established.
- Very active metabolism.
- Insufficient maturity of the nervous system is not prepared to regulate the complex processes that occur during pregnancy.
- The formation of the body at this age is not yet completed.
Girls may experience their first period at the age of 11–12 years. Biologically they become girls, but this does not make them ready for motherhood. At this time, a teenager undergoes changes that are directly related to the maturation of the body, its active growth and development. This period is the least suitable for any tests, and pregnancy is the most difficult of them for the female body.
Objectively, adolescent girls during this period experience:
- Insufficient levels of essential hormones.
- Excessively high uterine tone.
Statistics from the World Health Organization indicate that the greatest number of pregnancy-related complications occur in young mothers aged 15–17 years. It is during this period that the risk of miscarriage reaches its highest level. This statistics is explained by the lack of a hormone such as progesterone in the young body. It is the main one among the biologically active substances necessary for the successful bearing of a child.
In adolescence, the uterus has an excessively high tone, which is explained by insufficient maturity:
- hormonal levels;
- nervous system.
The period of gestation itself negatively affects the condition of incompletely formed and strengthened internal organs and systems. Most often they suffer:
- Liver.
- Kidneys.
- The cardiovascular system.
Violation of the functions of the body's natural filters leads to toxicosis. It’s not just the expectant mother’s health that suffers. The fetus in the womb is also subject to negative effects, which is why it is during early pregnancy that the greatest amount of malnutrition of newborns is observed, during which they are born almost 1.5 times lighter than normal.
Being underweight is a direct consequence of poor blood supply. The cardiovascular system, which is not fully strengthened, cannot fully cope with the increased load. The situation is aggravated by the redistribution of substances in the body itself - a lot of resources are required for the growth of the mother herself. Its development, despite pregnancy, does not stop and requires a large amount of useful substances.
Thus, early pregnancy harms the health of not only the young mother, but also her child. And these are sufficient reasons not to rush into family planning and wait 3-5 years.
Having a child after 30 years of age
To date, no direct relationship between the course of pregnancy and the age of the expectant mother has been established, if we are talking about women from 20 to 35 years old. If back in the 80s in the post-Soviet space, a woman who gave birth to her first child at the age of 30 was considered unique, today in Russia it is difficult to surprise anyone with this.
Another question is that over the years of adult life a woman herself could harm her health. This is facilitated by:
- Sedentary lifestyle.
- Poor nutrition.
- Promiscuous sexual intercourse.
- Smoking.
- Alcohol abuse.
- Systematic non-compliance with the daily routine.
Significant changes that have been observed over the past few decades have led to an increase in life expectancy, and this could not but have a positive impact on female physiology. First of all, this applies to the following:
For example, just 25–30 years ago, even in regional centers, a washboard was a very common and sought-after device. Many modern girls and young women have not even heard of such a household device; they have little idea how they can put their laundry and clothes in order without an automatic washing machine. Meanwhile, one procedure with a washboard required great physical effort.
Various electronic household appliances that have become a part of life, a variety of products that eliminate the need to spend hours at the stove, and much more - all this allows a woman to maintain excellent health. Additionally enhance the effect:
- Available fitness clubs.
- Promotion of proper nutrition and environmentally friendly products.
- The desire to look young as long as possible.
- High level of medical care.
When a woman uses all the methods available to her to maintain health and youth, passport age does not have a significant impact on her physiological state for a long time. For her, planning a child after 30 is not a problem. Good care allows the body to endure pregnancy as easily as it did at the age of twenty-five.
Pregnancy after 40 years
In the modern world, women giving birth at 40 years of age and older look quite normal. According to doctors' observations, pregnancy at this age prolongs a woman's youth:
- A powerful hormonal shock occurs.
- The appearance of wrinkles is prevented.
- The appearance of gray hair is stopped.
- The risk of early menopause is eliminated.
The fading body receives a powerful impulse that triggers rejuvenating processes. In addition, the subsequent menopause is accompanied by less pain and, in general, is much easier.
According to doctors who observed changes in the body of women who gave birth after 40 years, the following occurs:
- Cholesterol levels in the blood decrease.
- Sugar is stabilizing.
- The risk of stroke is reduced.
- Osteoporosis is prevented.
Having a child after 40 has another important advantage - a woman, as a rule, has financial stability. Moreover, she more than once observed the process of caring for children when her friends and relatives did it, and drew attention to the pros and cons of different methods of education. Her child gets the benefit of the best approaches to education, training and care.
Negative points
But there are also objective reasons that indicate that bearing and giving birth to a child for women aged 40 years or more is associated with risks. At this age the following threats appear:
- Aging of eggs leads to miscarriage in every third case. Even in the period of 30–40 years, this figure is two times lower, and among 25-year-olds it is only 10%.
- There is a high probability of chronic failure of the embryonic organ.
- Almost half of the cases require a caesarean section.
- The risk of fetal death increases.
- Exacerbation of chronic diseases is provoked, the activity of hereditary pathologies increases.
Other dangers
Late planning of pregnancy can play a cruel joke. This is due to the limited number of eggs that each girl is allocated from birth. The older a woman gets, the smaller this reserve is, and by the age of 40 it is significantly depleted. Therefore, at this age it becomes difficult to get pregnant, even if the body is completely healthy.
Another problem is the high likelihood of a protracted and difficult birth. Studies have shown that the process of giving birth to a baby at this age can last 30–45 minutes longer, compared to the duration of labor in young women.
Finally, the older the woman in labor, the longer her body was exposed to toxic effects due to exposure to:
- Exhaust gases.
- Unclean water.
- Chemicals in food.
Because of this, conception and gestation may be negatively affected by emerging pathological processes, such as:
- endometriosis;
- fibroid.
The main danger of late pregnancy is the high risk of giving birth to a child with Down syndrome. This is observed in 3% of cases if the woman giving birth is 45 years old.
So, at what age is it better to give birth? The optimal period is 20–25 years. If a woman takes care of herself, leads an active lifestyle, and is attentive to her diet, the course of her pregnancy and in the period of 30–40 years will be just as easy. When planning a pregnancy after 40 years, you should carefully consider your own health. In any case, the birth of a child is possible both at a young age, when it comes to early pregnancy, and in women who are over 40 years old.
The concepts of “late” or “early” are absolutely abstract and have no clear boundaries when it comes to the age at which a woman should become a mother. Our grandmothers successfully gave birth at 18–19, and this was considered the norm. Mothers and aunts had already had some time and decided to take this step at 24–25. We, representatives of the young and advanced generation, will not surprise anyone if we become parents at 35 years old and later.
Causes of late pregnancy
If a woman was not treated for infertility, then, most likely, conception was delayed due to her unwillingness to become a mother. For example, a girl who has just graduated from university is in no hurry to burden herself with a house and pots. She wants to go to work, make a career, become successful and self-sufficient, and only then have a husband and several children. In contrast, a middle-aged woman is ready psychologically and emotionally for this step: she approaches the matter more responsibly. Such a lady is experienced and calm, so motherhood will be a real joy and a long-awaited gift for her.
Other reasons for late pregnancy can also include: the availability and accessibility of safe methods of contraception, advanced methods of treating complications during pregnancy. A woman does not ask the question: “When can I give birth?” She is confident that modern technologies will help her become a mother at almost any age. At what age do you give birth? If we take medical indications into account, the ideal age for this noble cause is 20–24 years. But often girls at this time are not yet mature enough for motherhood. Doctors call this time period a transition period: if the physiological period occurs on average at 14 years, then the emotional period begins ten years later. A girl who has celebrated her twenties is just beginning to “fledge”: she has a lot of ideas about work, creative plans, etc. Where can one even think about a child? The main thing is not to go on a spree until retirement, when it is too late and almost impossible to give birth. Although... There have been cases when women at such an old age became surrogate mothers for their daughters.
Based on the above, the ideal age for childbirth would be from 28 to 33 years. If you decide to have offspring later, the risk will increase: the number of problems associated with pregnancy is directly proportional to the number in your passport.
Arguments for
It is possible to give birth after 40 years. Moreover, conception and gestation will even benefit the fading body. A powerful hormonal shock caused by the birth of a new life will prolong youth and protect against the formation of wrinkles and the appearance of gray hair. The harbingers of early menopause, which threatened a nulliparous woman, will disappear like smoke. In addition, menopause will be easier and less painful in the future.
Doctors say that late pregnancy will also improve the general condition of the body: the risk of stroke and osteoporosis will decrease, blood cholesterol levels will decrease, and sugar will stabilize. In short, don’t hesitate when to give birth. It’s actually never too late, if you have the desire and health.
In addition, a lady of 30–40 years old is already a fully formed person who has a roof over her head and a stable financial income. Having attended dozens of christenings with her friends, she has nursed babies more than once, so she won’t shy away from a screaming baby and call the pediatrician every ten minutes. On the contrary, the woman will know what to do with the child, how and why.
Minuses
Until what age can you give birth? There are no specific restrictions: it all depends on the woman who wants to become a mother. The only thing that doctors agree on is the number 35. In their opinion, this is the threshold after which few people can boast of excellent health. Therefore, the expectant mother, having become pregnant at this stage of life, is exposed to the following threats: Miscarriage. Relentless statistics show that in women aged 20–30 the risk is 10%, in women aged 30–40 – already 17%, in women aged 40–50 – 33% and higher. The reason is aging of the eggs. Problems with the placenta: premature detachment, chronic failure of the embryonic organ. C-section. Over the years, the likelihood of its use increases. If a woman giving birth is over 30, then in 40% of cases surgical intervention is necessary. Freezing of the fetus. It occurs in different age groups, but in older women the threat increases. In addition, late pregnancy after 40 years provokes an exacerbation of chronic diseases and the activation of hereditary ailments.
Other risks
Firstly, when a woman finally comes to her senses and decides to procreate, fate can play a cruel joke on her. Being completely healthy and having no contraindications, she will not be able to get pregnant. The fact is that every girl is born with a certain supply of eggs and with age their number decreases significantly. Sometimes such women, in order to conceive, need to “work” hard for a whole year, or even more.
Secondly, late pregnancy after 40 years affects the duration of labor. They can be protracted and difficult. Although research shows that, on average, childbirth lasts only 45 minutes longer than for younger people. Another contraindication is the woman’s age. Staying ten years longer on this planet, she was more exposed to the toxic effects of the environment: she inhaled exhaust fumes, consumed contaminated water and poor-quality products. Therefore, she has a greater chance of developing fibrous tumor, endometriosis and other diseases that can negatively affect conception and the course of pregnancy.
This is the greatest danger that awaits a first-time woman if she is well over 30. According to statistics, a forty-year-old lady has a 9 times greater risk of giving birth to a baby with this disease than her ten-year-younger colleague. In such pregnant women, the risk is 1%, in a woman who is 45, it is already 3%. Doctors have also recently put forward a new hypothesis: a baby with Down syndrome is more often born into families where the mother of the mother was elderly. That is, at one time she gave birth to her daughter, being already a mature woman. At first it seems that this is exactly the case when it is too late to give birth. But it is not all that bad. Just think: for girls who are 25 years old, the chance of giving birth to a baby with this genetic disease is 1 in 1,400 cases. For those who are 30 - 1/1000, 35 - 1/350, 40 - 1/60, 45 and above - 1/12. But since young ladies become mothers much more often, 80% of down children on the planet were born to women who were not yet 30 years old.
Other threats to the fetus
Until what age can you give birth? There is no exact answer to this question. Some doctors say the sooner the better. Others, on the contrary, adhere to a policy of conscious, “mature” pregnancy. The choice is up to the woman, who decides for herself when to become a mother. At the same time, she must clearly understand that her unborn baby faces dangers other than those described above: low weight or hypoxia. The latter is a consequence of a protracted second stage of labor, which is often observed in late pregnancy.
The following fact is interesting: if a woman already has a child who has reached adolescence at the time of the second conception, then she will give birth according to the laws of the “first time”. This means that within 15–20 years the body “forgets” about pregnancy. Therefore, such a lady and the one who actually conceived for the first time find themselves in absolutely identical conditions with all the ensuing consequences.
Course of pregnancy
If a woman had headaches before conception, they may get worse. Moreover, ailments are often associated with blood pressure, which increases and causes discomfort. When this happens regularly, gestosis develops - it manifests itself in the form of swelling. Also, after 40 years of age, the risk of diabetes increases. If the disease is diagnosed before pregnancy during pregnancy, it may worsen and worsen the general condition.
When is it too late to give birth?
Then, when you have accumulated a whole bunch of ailments over the past three or four decades. In this case, they can not only progress, but also provoke complications: thyroid diseases lead to miscarriage; kidneys, heart and lungs - to premature birth. In addition, young women have more elastic tissue and muscles. With age, fibers lose their ability to stretch and maintain density. Therefore, for middle-aged women, the risk of losing a child increases.
How to minimize the danger?
You can give birth at 45. The main thing is to follow some rules that can significantly reduce the chances of miscarriage, freezing of the fetus in the womb, or the occurrence of genetic disorders. The first thing to do is to carefully plan your pregnancy and prepare for it mentally and physically. A woman should visit a gynecologist: let him rule out the presence of diseases and infections, and also provide advice. The baby's organs are formed in the first trimester, so six months before conception, the expectant mother is simply obliged to fall in love with a healthy lifestyle. Namely: give up fatty, smoked, canned foods, introduce a lot of greens, fruits and vegetables into your diet, quit smoking, forget about alcohol and coffee. It is recommended to take a complex of vitamins prescribed by a doctor, exercise, walk a lot and sleep 8 hours a day - this will also increase the likelihood that a woman will quickly become pregnant, carry her to term without problems and give birth to a healthy baby without complications.
If the doctor is annoying
This shouldn't be confusing. Focusing solely on age, he will not prohibit giving birth. But he will put such a lady on a special register. Increased attention and excessive control should be treated philosophically: additional tests will not hurt, but will only add confidence that the fetus is developing correctly. It happens that obstetricians, in order to avoid possible complications, already at first offer the woman consent to a caesarean section. Under such circumstances, there is no need to rush off the handle: the lady needs to think, discuss the situation with other doctors, and undergo a full examination.
If there are no serious contraindications, then you can try to give birth yourself. And one more thing: the offensive label “old-timer” will be given to the expectant mother at her first visit to the antenatal clinic. This should not make your mood worsen or your self-confidence evaporate. The baby’s health is the most important thing now, and as for mothball terms, you simply don’t need to pay attention to them.
Perinatal diagnosis
But this is a really useful and necessary thing. Modern medicine has the highest quality drugs and equipment with which you can become a mother at 50 years old. Doctors say: 97% of pregnant women who are 40 years of age or older, having undergone many tests and laboratory studies, have gained firm confidence that everything will work out for them. And a positive attitude is already half the battle.
Prenatal diagnosis can be:
Invasive. Methods are associated with violation of tissue integrity during direct examination of the fetus (cordocentesis, amniocentesis, chorionic villus biopsy).
Non-invasive. Examination of the expectant mother, her tests (ultrasound, fetal cell sorting, blood serum screening).
If the patient is a middle-aged woman, she is required to undergo prenatal diagnosis.
It will exclude possible chromosomal abnormalities of the fetus at an early stage of its development, which allows parents to terminate the pregnancy if the pathology is very serious. When deviations can be eliminated, they are eliminated using intrauterine surgery or immediately after the birth of the baby.
conclusions
Until what age do women give birth? There is no doubt: they do this at any stage of life, forgetting about the number in their passport. And this act should not be shocking at all. If a lady is in good health, has no chronic, infectious or other diseases, and is full of strength, energy and optimism, then such a step is absolutely justified.
Such a woman can find the happiness of motherhood even at 50 years old. At the same time, accurate pregnancy planning, early diagnosis and constant monitoring of the process by medical personnel will protect it from possible complications.
But the most important thing is desire. When a representative of the fair sex sleeps and sees diapers, diapers and rattles, it will be doubly easier for her to have offspring. Hope for success and faith in the future - they will be one of the guarantees of a positive result. When powerful support from close and dear people is added to this, the lady will quickly and confidently achieve her goal. Don't be afraid to give birth. Be afraid not to try. And remember: age is a punishment for boring and weak-willed people, whom you are not one of.
When the question comes up continuation of the human race, the concepts of late or early are not entirely appropriate. But there are factors that can affect the process of conception and the course of pregnancy. The age of a woman is included in this category.
Age groups
Female population conditionally divided into four age groups. Each of them has characteristic features and a certain degree of fertility. They represent the following age ranges:
- From 17 to 20 years old.
- From 20 to 30 years.
- From 30 to 40 years.
- From 40 years and above.
In the prime of youth, before the age of 20, the body is not yet fully formed, both physically and morally. However, this rule has its exceptions.
The period from 20 to 30 years is considered the most favorable for conception. Experts say that it is better to give birth at this age. The body is already fully strengthened. Many everyday issues have already been resolved. Possible diseases have not yet had time to negatively affect the body.
Women from 30 to 40 years are at risk. Despite this, many give birth during this period. The approach to motherhood is becoming more conscious.
Pregnancy after 40 years is not the most common occurrence. Women in this age category are beginning or already progressing to menopause. Therefore, conception is not always possible. Sometimes knowing this information makes you forget about contraception. The woman thinks that she will no longer be able to get pregnant, but suddenly conception occurs.
IMPORTANT! Menopause can begin at almost any age. In some women it develops later, in others it can occur at a fairly young age.
Fertility
In the modern world there are no clear restrictions on reproductive age. Each representative of the fair sex has the right to independently decide when she becomes a mother. A variety of factors can influence this decision.
Sometimes pregnancy happens only after many years of unsuccessful attempts. Women who find themselves in this situation do not think about the risks. Getting what they want is their main reward for past failures.
In Russia optimal period for conception the interval is from 20 to 25 years, but these boundaries are very arbitrary. Over time, the ideal age for motherhood increases. Many women want to get a career first and only then think about building a family relationship.
If we take into account all the nuances, the maximum age for pregnancy and childbirth is 45 years. But conception in such a mature period requires special control from specialists. A woman will have to undergo many diagnostic procedures in order to exclude possible fetal developmental abnormalities.
ON A NOTE! Early pregnancy before the age of 18 is just as undesirable as late pregnancy.
At what age should you not give birth?
Each age group there are positive and negative sides. But it is after 40–45 years that giving birth to children is most dangerous. This is due to the high likelihood of complications. They can occur both during pregnancy and during delivery. These include the following:
- Ectopic pregnancy.
- The likelihood of Down syndrome occurring in a child.
- Freezing of the fetus.
- Exacerbation of chronic diseases during pregnancy.
REFERENCE! In most cases, in adulthood, delivery is performed by cesarean section.
- Adhere to a healthy lifestyle.
- Carrying out vaccination.
- Regular visits to the gynecologist.
- Taking vitamins and expanding your diet.
- Limiting stressful situations.
- Avoidance of certain medications.
If the pregnancy is planned, you must first undergo a body examination. First of all, for rent. Implemented ultrasonography. The ovarian reserve is assessed. In addition, you need to check the operation of all support systems. If there are certain diseases, a woman is strictly prohibited from giving birth.
Sometimes it happens that it is not possible to get pregnant in adulthood. In this case, the procedure will help artificial insemination. They are stimulated with medical means, after which they take away what is needed to perform it.
Birth of a child at a later age has another drawback. There will be quite a big age difference between the child and his parents. This can have a negative impact on the educational process. Statistics show that the smaller the age range, the better parents understand their children, and vice versa. But this statement can be refuted, since a lot depends from the character of people.
If you do not take into account social norms and doctors' recommendations, a woman can become pregnant during the period from her first menstruation to the onset of menopause. Another question is how successful this pregnancy will be. In this case, serious approach to motherhood. This will avoid trouble.