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Geriatric Pregnancy Advanced Maternal Age

Author -  <a href='https://www.medindia.net/content-team/dr-smitha-s-dutt.asp' target='_blank'>Dr. Smitha S. Dutt, PhD</a>
Medically Reviewed by <a href='https://www.medindia.net/medical-review-team/dr-lakshmi-venkataraman.asp' target='_blank'>Dr. Lakshmi Venkataraman, MD</a> on Mar 08, 2018
Medically Reviewed by Dr. Lakshmi Venkataraman, MD on Mar 08, 2018


What is Geriatric Pregnancy or Pregnancy in Women of Advanced Maternal Age?

Several women nowadays are choosing to have children after the age of 35 years. Education, financial independence, relationship stability are some of the causes for this trend.

Geriatric pregnancy is a term that was used in the 1970s to refer to pregnancy observed in women over the age of 35 years. However, doctors have stopped using the term since it is not respectful to women. The current trend in Western countries e.g., Sweden, Finland, and the United States, indicates a rise in the percentage, number and rate of women over the age of 35 who give birth for the first time. Pregnant women over the age of 35 are now referred to as women of advanced maternal age (AMA).


What are the Causes of Pregnancy in Women of Advanced Maternal Age?

The choice for a woman to bear a child is influenced by personal, professional, social, and other situations in life. Today, many women are choosing to have children at a later age for various reasons. Some of them are enumerated below:

What are the Risks and Complications of Pregnancy in Women of Advanced Maternal Age?

There are risks involved in bearing children after the age of 35. Women of AMA are associated with health complications and pregnancy risks. The risks affect both the child and the mother.

Some of the complications associated with women of AMA are:


There is no clear evidence that advanced age in mothers, leads to congenital heart defects in babies.

Some risks associated with fetuses or babies born to women with AMA are:


How can Women of Advanced Age Ensure a Safe and Healthy Pregnancy?

Women at any age should take precautions to ensure a healthy pregnancy and healthy baby. This becomes all the more important in women over the age of 35 years. Prior to getting pregnant and during pregnancy, women should take adequate measures as listed below:

Once a woman of AMA becomes pregnant, she should make regular visits to her physician to monitor her health and that of the fetus. This will ensure timely intervention in the event of any complication.

References:

  1. Babbidge C. The new, late baby boomers. BBC News. Accessed 21 Feb 2018.
  2. Lampinen R, Vehvil�inen-Julkunen K, Kankkunen P. A Review of Pregnancy in Women Over 35 Years of Age. The Open Nursing Journal. 2009;3:33-38. doi:10.2174/1874434600903010033.
  3. Pregnancy warning for older women. Published: June 17 2009. Cited: February 22 2018.
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  5. Getting pregnant. Published: August 05 2017. Cited: February 22 2018.
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  7. Reproductive Ageing. Scientific Impact No. 24. January 2011.
  8. Best KE, Rankin J. Is advanced maternal age a risk factor for congenital heart disease. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol. 2016;106(6):461-467.
  9. van Katwijk C, Peeters LLH. Clinical aspects of pregnancy after the age of 35 years: a review of the literature. Hum Rep Update. 1998;Vol.4(2):185-194.
  10. Mathews TJ, Hamilton BE. First births to older women continue to rise. NCHS data brief, no 152. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2014.
  11. Pregnancy over age 30. Health Encyclopedia.- (https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?ContentTypeID=90&ContentID=P02481)

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