pregnancy after 35

The age at which women embark on motherhood today is getting older by the year in most countries. Many women initially have other priorities such as studying and starting a career. As a result the proportion of pregnancies occuring in women over the age of 35 is increasing.

There is a good chance that pregnancy in women over 35 will progress smoothly, but all the same it is sensible to be aware of the possible complications. The most important risks of a pregnancy later in life are an increased chance of a miscarriage, and the possibility that the child will have a chromosomal abnormality. In addition, a number of general complications of pregnancy can occur more frequently in women of 35 and over. The chances of delivery by Caesarean section become greater as the age of the expectant mother increases.

In this section, the age-related chances of a miscarriage and the increased chances of chromosomal abnormalities are discussed.