Pregnancy Over Forty

Filed in archive Pregnancy on February 15, 2007

I was 39 when I became pregnant with my youngest son. I have to admit I was worried. This was back in the seventies, and I'd lots of rumors about complications and risks. Of course, this was my sixth child. I think the complications and risks pertained more to women who had their first child after they were thirty-five.

My worries had been for nothing. My son, Frederick Joseph (or Freddie-Joe as we called him,) except for a touch of colic, was a normal, healthy baby. What are the complications and risks? Robyn's Nest talks about this:

While women in their late 30s and 40s are very likely to have a healthy baby, they do face more complications along the way. Besides the increased risk of diabetes and high blood pressure, women over 35 have an increased risk of placental problems. The most common placental problem is placenta previa, in which the placenta covers part or all of the opening of the cervix.

Does the worry about complications slow down the rate of birth for these older women? Apparently not. In fact, the birth rate for women over thirty-five is increasing. Parents these days want to be well settled in their careers, have a home and adequate money to raise their children. So they wait. Is this a good idea? The general consensus is yes.

Stories of Pregnancy & Birth over 44 years is filled with stories of women delighted to be pregnant despite their age. One letter reads:

I just turned 49 last month. I thought I was starting menopause, so I stopped using birth control. I just found out I am 5 weeks pregnant. I consider this a tremendous blessing from God. I finally found my soul mate and we want this child with all of our hearts. I believe if you can imagine it; you can do it.