Advanced maternal age risks is an old medical term that was used to refer to pregnancy at an age of thirty five and above. It was considered that conceiving over the age of thirty five was risky, but research has shown a high success rate though there are many complications that come along. Chances of conception after the age of thirty five are low because age reduces the fertility of the egg from the late 30s. However, conception beyond this age depends on the health status of the mother, but of much concern is the associated risks. There are numerous complications that may arise from advanced maternal age which include chromosomal defects,still births, maternal deaths, miscarriages, gestational diabetes and high blood pressure.
Chromosomal Defects:
Advanced maternal age is linked with increase in chromosomal defects. These are genetic complications that may bring health risks to the baby. Some of the common chromosomal defects are the down syndrome and cystic fibrosis. There are no medical cures for these defects but they can be handled if detected by the doctor early enough. In most countries, doctors advice patients to terminate pregnancies if genetic defects are noted early. The most prevalent of these complications is down syndrome, which is a defect associated with eggs that have aged. Research suggests that as the eggs get old, they are prone to errors that cause trisomies. One of the trisomies, which is trisomy 21 is what is called down syndrome. These chromosomal defects can be curbed through the use of a special preconception diet that has a high concentration of antioxidants such as Vitamin A, D, and zinc.
Miscarriages:
The risk of miscarriages in advanced maternal age is caused by the presence of other genetic defects. These defects cause miscarriages because of the tests that must be carried in expectant women to determine their presence. One of the tests carried out on advanced maternal age mothers is amniocentesis. The test greatly increases chances of miscarriage in both advanced and early maternal ages. Besides this, most miscarriages occur during the first four months of pregnancy and usually increase with increase in age because of reduced quality of the egg. At the age of forty five, women experience a fifty percent chance of miscarriage. The risk of miscarriage can however be reduced through the use of homeopathic drugs which induce hormonal balance before and during pregnancy.
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Still Births:
Still births constitute common risks associated with advanced maternal age. This is a term referring to death of a fetus after twenty weeks of pregnancy. It is two times higher than normal in women conceiving at the age of forty and beyond. These deaths are not common during birth, and may be detected through a test called ultrasonography.
Diabetes:
Advanced maternal age risks include gestational diabetes as well. This is a diabetic infection that develops during pregnancy. Its effect is a resulting big baby, with a risk of being injured during birth. It results from increased levels of glucose in the blood after pregnancy. Almost 18 % of all women experience gestational diabetes. It is a dangerous infection that will cause low blood sugar levels to the baby after birth, and sometimes type 2 diabetes some time during the child’s life.
High blood pressure:
High blood pressure may develop in women that have not experienced the problem before. The most chronic type called preeclampsia mostly affects women above the age of thirty five and the unborn babies too. It usually happens in the first twenty weeks of pregnancy and may cause organ failure,stroke, death and even failure to both the mother and the baby.
Other complications:
Other problems associated with advanced maternal age may include placental problems. The placenta develops a problem called previa, whereby the placenta develops and covers the cervix. This brings difficulties with vaginal birth, necessitating Cesarian section.
Premature birth can not be left out. This is birth of a baby before term. Premature birth poses learning problems to the child.
Conclusively, though advanced maternal age may be preferred for conception due to financial and other related issues, the risks that come along are many and should be taken into consideration, to avoid risking both the lives of the mother and baby.