My wife and I are planning to have a baby. Being mid-30, she's concerned of complications. Please advise?

Question

We hear so many people say that the older a woman gets, the more difficult it is for her to have a baby. Because of that, my wife is concerned and I'd like to have feedback from other women who have had babies past 35. Did you have complications? If so, what did you experience? What advice do you have for us? Anything we should do to increase our chance of having a healthy baby?

Thank you for your time.

Answer 1

I have friends that had children during that age and they are perfectly healthy....I guess its only matter of precaution during the pregnancy....

Answer 2

Having a baby at an older age does pose some extra complications but these days with women's health issues more in the public eye, people are learning how to keep problems at bay. I had a perfectly wonderful pregnancy at 40 with no lasting medical problems.

Go see your doctor and explain your concerns, he/she may be able to help you with advice on how you should eat if you do get pregnant, how much you should rest, work, exercise and much more. It's important to be under a physicians care all through you pregnancy, even during the planning stages.

Answer 3

Talk to your doctor about the risks involved with starting this late. See if anyone on her side of the family has ever given birth around this age and if there are any complications involved. A lot of this has to do with her genetic background. I strongly believe that the better you take care of your body, the healthier the baby will most likely be. Make sure your wife eats right and exercises to maintain a healthy lifestyle before getting pregnant. The healthier she is, the healthier the baby. =)

Answer 4

Hello, I understand your concern. As long as your wife is in relatively good Health and keep's her check-up appointments she should do just fine. Yes , there are alway's risk's with any pregnancy, and increase with age.But , through experience , I can tell you that if your trying to decide soon , then have your wife get a complete physical by her Doctor or GYN. Some of the complications are, TOXEMIA , EDEMA and ANEMIA . But rather be frightened by it have that physical . There is so much more they can do now. So GOOD LUCK! ( this site is very straight foward and will have all your answers )

Answer 5

I was 35 when I had my son, and I did have complications. My pregnancy was uneventful, but I had a cesarean section to deliver my son after 23 hrs of labor. This was not related to age, it's just that he was sunny side up (face up) and as a result, stuck in the birth canal. After he was born I had two major infections (one in my cesarean wound, and a painful breast infection called mastitis) which my OB-GYN believes were caused not by age, but by not enough protein in my diet. Thankfully, my son was not affected by these problems and is, to this day, very healthy. It's true, the risk does increase as women get older, but your wife is still within childbearing age and can still have a healthy pregnancy and baby.

Recently, my OB was telling me about a new test that they can perform to check for various conditions such as Down's Syndrome or Spina Bifida, for example. They do this by measuring the back of the baby's neck, while in the uterus. They can tell a lot by this test and it is something like 90% accurate, unlike the AFP which can have a lot of false positives. I did not opt for the AFP test when I was pregnant for my son because I have known a lot of people who have gotten false positives and thought something was seriously wrong with their baby, and as it turned out, all was well.

I have a lot of friends presently in their mid to late thirties that are still having healthy babies. I do know someone who had a baby with Down's Syndrome, but she was about 25 at the time.

To increase your chances of having a healthy baby, read and learn as much as possible. Of course, a healthy lifestyle helps. It seems that if you are concerned you will do what is necessary to ensure the best possible outcome. Best wishes to you!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prenatal_testing

http://www.expectantmothersguide.com/library/philadelphia/pregnancyafter35.htm

http://www.webmd.com/content/article/51/40823.htm

Answer 6

once your in the 35 plus range it could get more complicated for the woman, my wife was 39 when we had our last one. majority come out just fine and the current record is 68 which a woman just had six months ago in the news. once a woman passes 35 which is her sexual peak and 19 for men say the doctors. her body slowly starts the stages of menapause. many people think it starts at 50 plus, but more are starting at 40 now and some a few earlier.

Answer 7

I got pregnant at the age of 39 and had the baby at 40 I got pregnant the 2ND time so I had a period tyred again and then missed the next period. I found it more easy at this age then when I was younger. The labour was not as long or as hard I have 5 kids now 23, 19,18,15,and 5 year old. Good luck.

Answer 8

Well I personally had my children early but my mother had me when she was 31 and I am the oldest. My middle sister she had when 39 and my youngest sister when she was 42 and from what she told me I was the hardest since I was the first(pain wise) she told me that she didn't have any complications with my sisters. I asked her about pregnancy complications because I had alot and I had my first at 18 and then my second child at 20. I think that my mother had to have an amniocentesis(sorry if it is spelled wrong) with my youngest sister to make sure that she didn't have down syndrome. I believe that is one of the complications but don't quote me on that I really have no clue but speak to your doctor they will tell you the complications she might face due to her age but I know my and my sisters came out perfectly healthy. I wish you the best of luck and God Bless you both!!!

Answer 9

I myself didnt cuz of course im only 19..but i know that a woman i knew had one mid 30's too and is having yet another one. supposedly she only had blood pressure problems..my advice to you...just keep observing changes in the body..such as headaches..whatever so that worse case scenario youd be able to possibly save the baby. The baby may also have to come early to prevent from anything that may be critical to her or the baby. but make sure that she isnt taking ANY pills prescibed or not. i was taking a prescribed medicine and did not know yet that i was pregnant and if i had continued to take it i was asking for a misscariage. it did make me bleed A LOT more than normal. So tell her not to Only take what the doctor says is safe for pregnancy

Answer 10

I had my first, and so far only, child at 41. Yes, I had a partial previa in which the placenta was close, but not covering, the cervix for most of my pregnancy. I had a tiny blood vessel grow very large, causing nose bleeds and needing to be removed at around six months. I had some bleeding that got me on partial bed rest, meaning that I could shower, go to the bathroom, eat at the table but I basically had to sit all day. I had swelling in my feet and leg all the way up to my knees. Eventually, my water broke and they put me on Patocin. I dilated only up to 3cm, so I had to have an emergency C-section. My son was absolutely fine. I say if she's healthy and you are able, go for it. Good luck!

Answer 11

my aunt had my pretty cousin at 35 and the birth was normal. today she is a healthy 10 year old who talks like she is 25. she is into drama and computers and is very active. my other cousin had a baby at 36 ir older. she had to stay in the bed for some reason but she had my healthy cousin MIa who is pretty, healthy, and smart. she is 8yr and happy. you have older women who have kids at 42 and 60 with no problems. young women in their 20s have health complications. it just depends on health, genetics, and god. eat healthy, take prenatal pills, don't do drugs, see your doctor when you are suppose to, if you have doubts see your doc. exercise and BE happy. congratulations