Risks
No pregnancy is 100% safe for the mother and for the child but the older the mom, the higher the risks. Good medical care will limit the risks.
All risks must be weighed against the overall health of the mother, her family history, her environment and, of course, her age.
Hypertension
After 35, the risks of hypertension are twice as high as for a 20 years old woman. It can lead to preeclampsia and endanger the life of the mother and child. When hypertension is diagnosed and treated, the risks are limited.
Diabetes
As with hypertension, the risk of developing gestational diabetes is twice as high after the age of 35. The risks for the health of the mother and child are lower if diabetes is diagnosed and treated.
Miscarriage
After 40 years old, one pregnancy out of four ends with a miscarriage during the first three months.
Chromosomal abnormalities
The risk for the foetus to have a chromosomal abnormality is higher if the mother is more than 35 years old but this risk is still under 1%. The most common abnormality is Trisomy 21 and it is detectable through a prenatal screening test and amniocentesis.
Tests
Although a majority of late pregnancies evolve normally, the risks for the health of the mother and the child are higher.
A doctor should see any woman who wants to get pregnant or who is already expecting a child. The older the mother is, the more important the medical monitoring is.
First, the doctor will do a complete check up to check your blood pressure (to prevent preeclampsia) among other things. He will also check if you suffer from diabetes.
Then, you will be offered a prenatal screening test designed to inform the expecting mother of the risk that her foetus is affected by Trisomy 21. This test costs between 200$ and 400$ and is covered by many insurance companies. Based on the result, the doctor may recommend an amniocentesis. This test is free for women over 35 and is more precise than the prenatal screening but it has a 1% risk of causing a miscarriage.
Delivery
It is proven that the risk of premature delivery and caesarean section increases with age. It is also true for spotting and problems related to the placenta.
