Not too many years ago, getting pregnant after age 35 was considered nearly impossible, and definitely frowned upon. In today’s age, with so many technological advancements and advancements in the health care industry, becoming a mom after age 35 is no longer out of the realm of possibility, but it does come with its own set of risks and important things to remember. Here is our list of things to remember if you are trying to become a mom after 35. Claim Your 20 Free Pregnancy Tests – Click Here
A woman in her 20’s has a 20-25% chance of getting pregnant each month. In her early 30’s, her chances have declined a bit to 15% each month. Once a woman reaches age 35, her monthly chances have declined to 10%. Once a woman reaches 40, her chances of getting pregnant any given month drop to 5%.
Therefore, the average wait for a woman over 35 to conceive is 18 months to two years. So, don’t give up hope if you don’t get pregnant right away. Getting pregnant after age 35 does require a lot of patience. You might want to see a fertility doctor if you are past the 18 month mark with no success, however.
Babies born to older mothers sometimes have a higher risk of chromosome abnormalities, which also increases the risk for miscarriage. Some studies say the risk of miscarriage over age 35 is between 20% and 30%.
For some reason, these conditions are more common in pregnant women over age 35. Your doctor will need to monitor you carefully to watch for signs of both gestational diabetes and hypertension.
The chance of having twins increases as you get older, and if you are using IVF, your chances could increase even more.
One in ten babies is born to a mother who is 35 or older, and the number is continuing to steadily grow as our generation is waiting longer to get pregnant. By taking care of your body, not smoking or drinking, getting enough exercise, etc. you can increase your chances of delivering a healthy baby. And goodness knows, 35 isn’t considered too old to become a mother, by any means.
If you are already pregnant, be aware that your doctor will probably order more prenatal testing for you than they would normally do for a younger mom. Don’t be alarmed by this, because it is perfectly routine and your doctor is just trying to make sure you and your baby have the safest experience possible.
Being in tune with your body and your cycles is going to be a great help in getting pregnant. Start tracking your cycles, get to know your basal body temperature and use an ovulation prediction kit if you need to. This is a great way to be proactive in getting pregnant. And when you are at an older age, time is of the essence! Especially those getting pregnant after 40.
Since the quality of an older woman’s eggs is sometimes part of the issue with getting pregnant after 35, you should try to increase your egg health and quality by eating foods with lots of melatonin. Some examples of these foods include coriander, celery seed, flax seed, fennel, sunflower seeds, poppy seeds, and St. John’s Wort.
As you can see, getting pregnant after age 35 certainly comes with it’s own set of risks and challenges, but it is far from impossible. With the right guidance and planning, great moms can happen at any age! And hey, even the experts say it’s okay. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists have issued a report that reads: “Age need not be a barrier to a safe, healthy pregnancy!” Happy TTC!
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