Pregnancy Risks After Age 30, From Low Fertility To Child Birth Complications

Having a baby and experiencing the joy of motherhood is the most wonderful feeling. But to make this feeling wonderful, it is necessary to conceive at the right time, or for that matter at the right age.

Women these days are opting for pregnancy when they have already entered their 30s. Late marriages, career and financial constraints are a few reasons behind this change. But at times, getting pregnant post-30 can get a little complicated.

Gynaecologists suggest that women might have to bear several complications when they conceive post-30, or may even face difficulty in conceiving. Therefore, it is always better to know about the risks as well as benefits involved in pregnancy after 30. For now, let us take a look at some of these complications.

#1. Let's face it, fertility goes into a free fall post-30

The older you get, higher is the risk of a complicated late pregnancy. A woman’s body goes through various physical and hormonal changes after the age of 30. And with each passing year, there is a decline in her fertility rate.

As per fertility specialist, James Goldfarb, Director of infertility services and IVF at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, Ohio:

"There's a clear drop-off in fertility between ages 29 and 35, but the majority of 35-year-old women still won't have a problem. However, by 38 or 39, age becomes a big factor.”

The main reason behind this is that women in their 30s tend to ovulate less frequently, making conception harder than the women who ovulate regularly in their 20s, thus leading to a late pregnancy. According to leading fertility specialist, Sherman Silber:

 “Overall, in your 30s you have only 15 per cent chance of getting pregnant in any single ovulation cycle.”

#2. Risk of child birth complications

The chances of miscarriage increases gradually with age. According to ASRM (American society for Reproductive Medicine):

"About 20 per cent pregnancies in the age group 35-39 end in miscarriage. This is 10 per cent higher than the chance of women in their twenties."

Even the possibility of a cesarean birth rises at the age of 30. According to experts, the increased C-section rates are due to fetal distress (signs that your baby is unwell in the womb) or prolonged second-stage labour (commonly known as the pushing stage), which is more common in women post-30.

#3. Chances of birth defects are a possiblity

The chances of chromosomal abnormity increases in a child, born to a mother who is 30 or above. The possibility of a child being affected by 'Down syndrome' (delay in physical growth) is higher. As per ASRM:

"The chances of baby with Down syndrome are 1 in 1,250 for a woman at age 25, but at 30, the likelihood shoots up to 1 in 1,000 and 1 in 400 at 35."

4. Pre-existing conditions can play a spoilsport

With every passing year, the biological clock of women ticks and so does their health conditions. Some health conditions like endometriosis, blocked fallopian tubes and fibroids can hinder the conception process in women in their 30s. Problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, kidney problems and heart problems also complicate the late pregnancy, thus risking the baby’s life. Dr. Rustom P. Soonawala, a specialist in women’s health says:

“Incidents of hypertension and gestational diabetes in 30-plus pregnancies are in the range of 8-12 per cent, compared with 5 per cent in the younger age group.”

5. A ray of hope

Well, it is true that age can hamper the fertility of a woman, but this does not mean that she can be labelled as infertile. Most doctors suggest that till the age of 35, couples should have unprotected intercourse for one full year to conceive. And, if it does not work out, then they should seek medical advice. In case of women above 30, this time period increases by six more months. With major breakthroughs in the field of gynaecology, conceiving a baby is not that difficult after all. With techniques like IVF, chances of late pregnancy can be well imagined. Ace choreographer Farah Khan says:

"I got married at the age of 40, and both, my husband, Shirish, and I were keen to start a family soon. God bless IVF because it's never too late to conceive anymore."

So ladies, if you are planning to start family post-30, it is recommended to consult a gynaecologist as yours will be a late pregnancy. However, this does not mean that you cannot conceive naturally, but a doctor can help you in having a healthy and uncomplicated pregnancy. So, all the best.