Navigating complications in pregnancy for the older woman
MORE women are delaying motherhood to pursue their individual goals; however, a woman’s biological clock does not stop ticking while she chases her dreams. The likelihood of conceiving gets slimmer with each passing year, but on the upside though, obstetrician-gynaecologist Dr Robyn Khemlani says even though women at an advanced maternal age are less fertile, there are ways to safely optimise their fertility and chances of a healthy pregnancy.
Here are some of the risks and complications that affect those who get pregnant at an advanced maternal age, and Dr Khemlani shares tips on how to navigate the complications we have some amount of control over:
Increased risk of gestational diabetes
“You’re more likely to develop gestational diabetes. This type of diabetes, which occurs only during pregnancy, is more common as women get older. Tight control of blood sugar through diet and physical activity is essential,” Dr Khemlani advised.
She notes that there are instances in which the woman may need medication. If left untreated, gestational diabetes can cause a baby to grow significantly larger than average — which increases the risk of injuries during delivery. Other possible threats include premature birth, high blood pressure during pregnancy, and complications to your infant after delivery.
Increased risk of high blood pressure
Research shows that a woman at an advanced age of maternity is more likely to develop high blood pressure during pregnancy. Therefore, Dr Khemlani said that your health care provider will need to carefully monitor your blood pressure and your baby’s growth and development. “You will need more frequent obstetric appointments and you might need to deliver before your due date to avoid complications such as pre-eclampsia and eclampsia,” Dr Khemlani said.
Increased risk of pregnancy loss
“The risk of pregnancy loss — by miscarriage and stillbirth — increases as you get older, perhaps due to pre-existing medical conditions or foetal chromosomal abnormalities,” Dr Khemlani said. Research suggests that the decrease in the quality of your eggs, combined with an increased risk of chronic medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, could increase your risk of miscarriage.
“Make sure to ask your health care provider to monitor your baby’s well-being during the last weeks of pregnancy, and report any changes in your foetus’ patterns,” the doctor advised.
Your baby is more likely to be premature
You’re more likely to have a low birthweight baby and premature birth. Premature babies often have complicated medical problems and some of them may not survive.
You might need a caesarean section (C-section)
Older mothers have a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications that might lead to a C-section delivery.
The risk of chromosome abnormalities is higher
Babies born to older mothers have a higher risk of certain chromosome problems, such as Down’s syndrome.
Your chance of multiples increases
Multiple pregnancies (twins) are more common in older women than in younger women.
