What is advanced maternal age?
Women's Care
St. Joseph’s/Candler OB/GYN Dr. Jerry Lucas discusses the risks, benefits and pregnancy tips for those 35 and older wanting to get pregnant
It’s becoming much more common these days – women are waiting later in life to have babies. They may be focusing on their career or waiting to become more financially stable before having a child.
It makes sense. But unfortunately the older you get, the more risks that are associated with getting pregnant, staying pregnant and delivering a healthy baby.
The good news: If you are 35 and older and become and stay pregnant, there are far more healthy deliveries than bad ones, says Dr. Jerry Lucas, OB/GYN for St. Joseph’s/Candler Physician Network. He’s been an OB/GYN for 25 years.
Request an appointment with Dr. Lucas here.
Why did we specifically say 35 and older? Because that’s how The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) defines Advanced Maternal Age (AMA).
You are considered AMA if you deliver at 35 or older. You could become pregnant at 34, but if the delivery happens once you turn 35, you are still considered advanced maternal age, Dr. Lucas says.
“So why this cut off? This cut off comes because at this junction in life you start to see a slight but significant rise in some of the complications that come along with pregnancy,” Dr. Lucas says. “Everything from hypertension to diabetes to genetic disorders.”
Additionally, a woman’s ability to get pregnant after 30 declines. A woman’s peak reproductive years, according to ACOG, are between the late teens and late 20s. By the time you are 35, there’s a slight decrease in fertility. At age 40 and older, your chances of getting pregnant and staying pregnant are about 50 percent, Dr. Lucas says. That decreases each year you age.
This also means an increase of miscarriages in those 35 and older. For those that maintain pregnancy, they are at higher risk of preeclampsia (high blood pressure that develops due to pregnancy), gestational diabetes (diabetes that develops during pregnancy), type 2 diabetes and genetic issues, such as Down syndrome.
Related Article: The known and unknown of preeclampsia in pregnant women
“Think about it this way – you’ve lived life enough to know some of these conditions can creep in, especially if there’s a family history of high blood pressure or diabetes,” Dr. Lucas says. “So now you’re 35 and talking about getting pregnant, and if some of those things are inherited from our family, it does make for a pregnancy with a little higher risk to it.”
But it doesn’t make it impossible or all doom and gloom, Dr. Lucas adds. He’s delivered many successful babies in women 35 and older who naturally got pregnant. The oldest? 47.
Things you can do now to help with a pregnancy if you are AMA
If you are 35 and older and still plan to get pregnant, Dr. Lucas says one of the best things you can do is to be in the best health possible leading into your pregnancy. This actually applies to any woman wanting to get pregnant.
“Try having a normal body weight, follow a proper diet, exercise, don’t smoke – so living a healthy lifestyle prior to going into pregnancy and that will lower your risks by itself,” Dr. Lucas says.
Dr. Lucas also recommends taking a prenatal vitamin starting three to six months before you plan to start trying to conceive. This will increase vitamin and nutrient intake that can help with a healthy pregnancy, especially the first trimester. Unless you’ve had a history of miscarriages, Dr. Lucas typically doesn’t recommend extra folic acid supplement beyond a prenatal vitamin.
Related Article: Should expecting mothers take prenatal vitamins?
Additionally, seeing your OB/GYN regularly and having a preconception checkup can be helpful going into pregnancy, particularly if you are at higher risk, Dr. Lucas says.
There may be a small genetic component associated with pregnancy. That doesn’t particularly mean if your mom had a history of miscarriages, you will too. But if your parents have a history of high blood pressure, then you can take that into account and do all the things – diet, exercise, not smoking, reduced stress – to help decrease your chances of getting it.
“There are things that we need to pay more and closer attention to in that mom that is 40 and beyond, but the reality of it is, we have more career driven women these days than back in the ‘40s and ‘50s,” Dr. Lucas says. “I’m absolutely seeing more women wait to have children, and there are far more successful deliveries than there are bad ones. You just may have to take a few extra precautions.”