Get Pregnant

These days, most women feel that forties are now new thirties, and it is not too late to have babies.  However, the odds of getting pregnant are much lower as women age, and after 45, it is practically impossible to get pregnant with own eggs.  Getting pregnant after 40 can be quite discouraging and daunting task form many women as there are many misconceptions regarding starting a family late in life.  Though the trends are changing, there are definitely many advantages of conceiving at the early age.

Folic acid is a form of folate that helps reduce the risk of birth defects that can affect the spinal cord and brain, hence as per recommendations by FDA, all women over 40 who are trying to conceive must take folic acid supplements to reduce the chances of serious birth defects.  Taking drugs, alcohol and smoking reduce the chances of getting pregnant and may also lead to premature birth, miscarriages and low-birth weight babies.  Much like teenage pregnancy, older women find themselves overwhelmed with several concerns and questions regarding their condition, including how is the pregnancy going to affect her health, how the father of the baby feel, what will it be like to raise a child at this stage of life and how the new born will impact the career and retirement plans.  Though it is almost impossible to get pregnant with your own eggs after the age of 45, the fact remains that women at that age do get pregnant, some naturally, and others with the help of fertility treatments.

There are definitely certain advantages of having babies late in your life, as this gives you enough time and opportunity to see the world.  Symptoms of pregnancy for older women are quite similar to those of pregnant woman of lesser age, and many women confuse it with early menopause.  There are also certain psychological and physical benefits over the younger counterparts, and older women tend to have the healthier life-style, are more highly educated, and are financially more stable.  Aged women have positive perceptions of their bodies, and can tolerate the symptoms of pregnancy more easily.

Women who get pregnant after the age of forty also are at the higher risk of bearing the child with genetic abnormalities.  As these moms usually are more connected to their employers, they are more likely to go back to their job part-time rather than quitting altogether.  There are also emotional benefits for couples who wait to have children as they are more focused on their children.  For women becoming pregnant after 40, chances of developing the health problems such as high blood pressure, diabetes and preeclampsia pregnancy are higher.

Age of partner can also affect the fertility, and though men can father a child even in their forties and fifties, the quality of sperm deteriorates quite significantly.

One Response to “Getting Pregnant after Forty”