In recent years, career women have been encouraged to fulfill their life dreams of having kids even when they hit certain ages. Often people tell us that age is just a number, but what does science say about this claim? Do women have an age limit for having babies? What are the risks involved in giving birth at advanced maternal ages?
What's Advanced Maternal Age?
Advanced maternal age (AMA) refers to being 35 or older while pregnant. AMA pregnancies have increased by a large percentage as younger generations delay childbearing [1]. A woman's chances of getting pregnant decreases as she gets older; hence fertility declines with time.
Biological Clocks: Tick Tock!
Every woman has her biological clock ticking since we're born with limited eggs that decrease over our lifespan. As the stockpile decreases, so does our ability to conceive naturally. This means that if you start trying for kids late in your forties, chances are low without medical intervention.
Pregnancy After 35 Introduces More Risks
According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), pregnancy after 35 comes along with many additional health risks:
Gestational Diabetes
Women who get pregnant past 35 face higher odds of developing gestational diabetes - this type only occurs during pregnancy [2].
Preeclampsia
Pregnancy-induced hypertension might develop among older mothers than among young ones leading to preeclampsia – one complication often associated with high blood pressure levels and damage on organs such as liver & kidney[3].
Miscarriage / Stillbirth
Older women also experience an increased likelihood of miscarriages coupled with stillbirths,[4] which can create significant psychological disturbance; thus it could be harder physically and mentally for them if their attempts fail even after several tries.
Chromosomal Abnormalities
Older women have an increased probability of giving birth to babies with chromosomal abnormalities, including Down syndrome (trisomy 21), which may lead to intellectual disabilities and chronic health problems [5].
Are There Any Age Limits?
No definitive limit determines when women should stop giving birth than natural menopause. The average age range is between 50-52 years globally [6]. However, factors like early onset menopause or other fertility-related conditions affect individual circumstances.
Depending on a woman's egg supply condition and overall health status at the time of conception, it’s still possible to conceive naturally after her fortieth birthday; however, chances continue to decrease rapidly. This means that AMA pregnancies have higher risks compared to those conceived in younger age brackets.
Egg Freezing
To extend childbearing opportunities artificially invented medical technologies such as egg freezing come into play where a young woman can save their eggs while they're fertile for future use when desired,[7] ideally through IVF treatment later in life – also useful if confronting medical procedures that cause infertility.
Risks Associated With Post-40 Pregnancy
The gestation period past 40 years old becomes riskier due to both maternal fetal complications;
Cerebral Palsy Risk
Pregnancy puts older moms' offspring under threat because there exists strong evidence linking autism spectrum disorders (ASD) & cerebral palsy with post-mid-forties pregnancies.[8]
Potential Preterm Birth
With each increasing year beyond thirty-five-years old comes one extra week added onto your pregnancy delivery date estimate meaning eventually reaching full-term could become increasingly difficult creating unintentional preterm birth[9].
Difficulty At Birth
Labor outcomes statistically disadvantage AMA mothers based on the inability or difficulty pushing with late-age related physical discomforts presenting further challenges[10].
Conclusion
In conclusion while motherhood often takes center stage throughout history, scientific data will help to guide women's decisions when it comes to their biological clock. With more and more advanced maternal age pregnancies, the onus is upon everyone who wants kids after turning 35 or becomes out of reach beyond natural or medical limitations!
In short, talk with your physician early about options available ahead of time by ensuring that fertility preservation has appropriately handled throughout a young woman's reproductive years while taking proactive take care of overall physical healths suggests advice.