Pregnancy for Older Women - Mississippi State Department of Health

HEALTH TOOLKITS

INFORMATION DESK

News & Events Listen & Learn Topic Library

Pregnancy for Older Women

More women are waiting until later in life to bear children.

Thirty years ago, the average age for first-time mothers was 21; today the average is 25.
More women are waiting until they are in their thirties or even forties before conceiving.

Age can increase the difficulty and complications of pregnancy.

Decline in fertility begins in a woman's thirties. This means that pregnancy is still possible, but can take longer.
Women over 35 have a higher risk of miscarriage and premature delivery, as well as other conditions such as high blood pressure.
The chance of having a child with a genetic disorder or birth defect also rises as a woman ages.
Nevertheless, healthy women from 35 to 40 can still have healthy pregnancies.

Older mothers can improve their chances of a healthy pregnancy.

Mothers of all ages, especially older mothers, should try to be in the best health they can before they become pregnant.
Your physician can recommend specific steps to reduce the risk of complications in pregnancy.
Good prenatal care during your pregnancy is essential to keep mother and baby in the best of health.


		email this page		print this page