Is having a baby passed 30 dangerous?

Question

I am about to turn 30 yrs old. My husband and I want to start planning our fourth and final child, but we are concerned with whether or not it is a high risk pregnancy. We are going to conceive anyway, but we are concerned about the age. We know the older you are the more dangerous it is. What is the oldest you can be and it still be safe?

Answer 1

I think more important than general random statistics is this:

Are you and your husband both healthy?

Do you have diabetes, hypertension? Are you overweight?

If your husband is healthy he will genetic contribution will be most likely healthy and viable.

If you are of average weight, eat healthy and exercise and do not have hypertension or diabetes you are unlikely to be at more risk than a 25 year old.

Get yourself in the best shape possible, eat healthy, start taking folic acid, take a good multivitamins, walk for exercise outdoors (vit k). And most of all have fun!! While you are waiting for pregnancy, enjoy the practicing!

I work in a hospital and I don't see age related problems, I see diet/health/lifestyle problems related to poor pre-natal care, obesity, diabetes, hypertension etc.

Good luck!

Answer 2

In your thirties, you may have a better perspective on who you are and what you want in life. So mentally and emotionally, you're in better shape but what about the physical aspects of having a baby now? Fertility decreases significantly by mid - thirties. So getting pregnant may take longer (anywhere between four to six months) even if you're physically fit and have no medical issues. In addition, you have an increased risk for pregnancy-related conditions like gestational diabetes and placenta previa, where the placenta grows near the cervix and causes bleeding and possible miscarriage. Also, your risk of having a baby with a chromosomal problem such as Down's syndrome increases. For these reasons, thirty-five is the age doctors consider the start of "high-risk" pregnancy. But don't let the term frighten you. There are tests to determine all these factors and if you follow a healthy regimen and doctor's orders, you can certainly enjoy a normal pregnancy and a healthy baby in your 30's as many women do!

Answer 3

No!

Many of the "myths" surrounding older pregnancies have been debunked in the past 15 years and it's funny that you'd talk about 30 as being "old". A pregancy isn't even considered to be entering the high risk category anymore, until one is over 35.

Currently in BC, Canada, the average age of a woman starting a family is the late 20s...never mind having a 4th then!
The average age in both Canada and the US is much older than it used to be and the number of women starting families in their later 30s nowadays is phenomenal. In the UK, I think 30 is a very common age to start.

Even risks of Down Syndrome have been challenged as research is showing that there are more factors than age alone, that contribute.

My wife's siter had all three of her children after age 34 and one in her 40s. And both of our children were born when we were in our 30s. Ok...we're dating ourselves now. The point is that all the pregnancies were normal, healthy, and all of our children are also normal and healthy. In fact when my wife had our first child there were two babies in the hosp...one with Downs and the other Spina Bifida. Both were born to moms in their 20s.

Right now, my wife's colleague is having her first child. I think she's due next month. She is 37. From what my wife has heard all tests show that baby is just fine.

Answer 4

You are not safe at any age. I don't mean this to be rude, but there was a gal at my Mom's hospital who came so close to checking out last week it wasn't funny and she is only 25 (placenta accretia).

Doctors consider women over 35 to be riskier. At 30, you are just older, but still in the prime age for childbirth. Most of the problems with being 30 vs. 25 are having a different partner, having a first baby, greater chance of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. There is also a slightly higher chance of miscarriage.

Answer 5

Your chances of complications as you go through your thirties are very slightly elevated over women in their twenties, but they are still low. In your early 30s, you are not "high risk," merely a slightly elevated risk. If you are healthy and get good prenatal care, your risks are extremely minimal. I just gave birth to a beautiful, healthy girl (no trouble conceiving, no problems with the pregnancy) at age 39. Good luck.

Answer 6

Past 30 there's a higher risk of miscarriage, but as long as your doctor says you're healthy there's no reason to worry. There's no set age limit, just whatever your body can handle. However, keep in mind how old you'll be at certain milestones in your kids lives. If you're 47 and have a baby, you'll be almost 70 when they graduate high school.

Answer 7

it is true that the older you are the more dangerous it is to have a baby, after you turn 30 the chances of your baby having trisomy 21 (aka down's syndrome) is much, much higher. also, chances of miscarriages and stillborns are higher as well. the peak of fertility apparently is around 26-28...at least you have 3 wonderful kids already, some women don't even have one child when they're 30.

Answer 8

30 is fine, you start getting high risk 35 +, so you should be fine. My cousin and my aunt both had very successful pregnancies and births around 30 and 32. I think you will be fine, good luck and baby dust!

Answer 9

35+ for women & 40+ for men is considered high risk. Higher chances for birth defects & pregnancy complications. You should be fine.

Answer 10

Thirty is just at the beginning of "risky" pregnancies but it's in your later thirties and into the forties that the real high risks begin. Don't worry too much!