Late pregnancy: where is the limit for having a baby?
Valuation of the professional career, cost of living increases, desire to travel, difficulty meeting the future dad, etc. The age of the first child has declined in recent years. It is now around thirty years and the number of pregnancies late increases regularly in France. According to Inserm (National Institute of Health and Medical Research), 19.2% of women are over 35 at the time of birth (2010 figures). But with age, the design becomes more difficult and the pregnancy is not without risk.
After 35 years, fertility declines and the arrival of baby can be delayed for several months or even years. To promote conception, hormonal treatments can stimulate ovulation and facilitate the initiation of baby. The use of in vitro fertilization (IVF) is also not a guarantee of success because again the chances of success depend on the age of the patient. mum.
However, in addition to the difficulties of procreation, the beginnings of pregnancy can also be complicated: eggs have more chromosomal abnormalities with age, and fertilization leads more frequently to a non-viable embryo or one with serious genetic abnormalities (such as trisomy 21, which has a frequency from 1/1 500 to 20 years is 1/64 to 42 years). These abnormalities increase the risk of miscarriage, spontaneous abortions are more numerous (they exceed 30% after 40 years). Premature births are also more common.
After 40 years, pay attention to the health of the mum
The pregnancies therefore, there are more risks for the baby that pregnancies at a younger age. But they can also complicate or aggravate the state of health of the mum who already suffers from a pathology such as diabetes or high blood pressure. With age, the pregnant woman can more easily develop diabetes or toxemia of pregnancy (renal complication). When the fetus is not viable because of a serious anomaly or in case of endangerment of the mum, the use of the medical interruption of pregnancy (IMG) is inevitable. More frequent with age, it is a painful test on the psychological level for the mum, especially if she lives her first pregnancy. After 40 years, this first pregnancy is then often the last, annihilating the desire for maternity of the mum. After 42 years, the approach of menopause complicates all the more the risks for the mum and the baby. Beyond age 50, ethical considerations take precedence over health issues: will an aging woman be able to take full responsibility for her health? baby ? What will be the impact of the age difference on the psychological development of thechild ? Thechild risk of losing one's mother before the age of 18, etc.
Whatever the reasons for a pregnancy late, whether it's a first child or the last of a sibling, the ideal is to anticipate complications and discuss them with your doctor. Now, the futures moms receive quality monitoring and surveillance (including antenatal diagnosis and available medical treatment). If the ideal is to design a child before the age of 35, this increased support for pregnant women - within the limits of a reasonable age, around the age of 40 - makes it possible to address pregnancy calmly in most cases.
To read: I am waiting for a child, by Laurence Pernoud, published by Editions Horay, 2012-2013 edition.
