My mom had quite a big gap between her oldest three and her youngest two children. In fact, she was in her forties when she gave birth to my youngest sister.
I was seventeen at the time and while I was surprised that she was having another baby so late in life, I didn’t realize just how many potential concerns there are for both mother and baby when a woman gets pregnant in her later years.
Of course, with some proper planning and preparation, having a baby later in life can be the ideal choice for a family. Just make sure to consider the potential benefits and difficulties so that you’re prepared!
Pregnant After 35 – Considerations
- Delaying reproduction often makes it’s more difficult to reproduce – By age 35, most women have a 15 to 20 percent chance of getting pregnant in a given month, and by 45 this goes down to just 3 or 4 percent
- Birth weight of newborns tend to decrease as the mother’s age increases, which is unhealthy for development
- Parents have had more time for higher education and greater labour participation meaning they likely have more income and greater family stability
- Households that are financially stable and established contribute to a better environment to support raising children
Regardless of age, you can maximize your chances of conceiving each month by figuring out exactly when you ovulate.
First Response™ can help to better determine their peak fertile days with the Digital Ovulation Predictor Test, which detects a woman’s personal luteinizing hormone (LH) surge based on her hormone levels, unlike any other product on the market.
Tracking your personal FSH LH ratio can provide clarity on the optimal time to conceive, helping women get pregnant sooner when there is no time to spare.
Having a baby is one of the most magical events in life, but it can be stressful and even scary at times too.
Proper planning and preparation is a must for ensuring that you can relax and enjoy every special moment of your pregnancy at any age!
Very good, valid points. I had mine very young (18 for the first baby), and there were pros and cons to that, too. :o)
Lots to consider. BUt I say go for it.
My friend had a baby at 36 (he is 6 months old now) and she was told it was considered a geriatric pregnancy! It’s so interesting that 35 seems so young except when it comes to a woman’s uterus! Having a baby young or ‘old’ always has risks but it is good to know about the increasing risk with increased age.
I had my first when I was 22 and second at 27
I was told i would never have children due to medical issues… but then had 2 later in life babies ..first at 36 and second in my 40’s. Plus have grown stepdaughters with little ones!
I was 35 when I had my youngest. and 25 when I had my oldest.
I had my first at 27 and my 4th(and last) at 35
Due to life circumstances I had my 2 kids 15 years apart. Just lucky I guess that I have never had fertility issues and it only took one month (at age 35!) to conceive my son.