Does giving birth at an advanced age increase the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth?
With the progress of modern medical technology and society, more and more women choose to have babies at an advanced age. However, the growth of age also brings some potential health risks. This article will elaborate on whether giving birth to a baby at an advanced age will increase the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth from the following aspects.
1. Natural fertility rate decreases
The female fertility rate decreases with the increase of age, especially after the age of 35. With the decline of ovarian function, the quality of women's eggs will also decline, resulting in increased difficulty in pregnancy. In addition, the abortion rate of elderly pregnant women will also increase accordingly. These factors will lead to the reduction of the natural fertility rate of the elderly mothers, and more assisted reproductive technology is needed to achieve the purpose of pregnancy.
Some studies also found that the abortion rate and early fetal malformation rate of older pregnant women after IVF pregnancy will also be higher than that of young pregnant women. This is because older pregnant women are often accompanied by basic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, which adversely affect embryo implantation and growth and development.
2. Increased risk of pregnancy complications
The risk of complications faced by older pregnant women during pregnancy is higher than that of young pregnant women. For example, older women have a higher risk of gestational diabetes than younger women. This is because the insulin sensitivity of elderly pregnant women decreases, and the body's ability to regulate blood sugar is affected. Gestational diabetes not only increases the risk of complications of mother and fetus, but also easily leads to dystocia, macrosomia and other problems.
In addition, older pregnant women are more likely to suffer from serious pregnancy complications such as pregnancy induced hypertension, placental insufficiency, amniotic fluid embolism, etc. These complications not only threaten the health of mothers and fetuses, but also may lead to pregnancy interruption or premature delivery.
3. Increased delivery complications
Older women also face more risk of complications during childbirth. As the age increases, the strength and elasticity of the parturient's pelvic muscles decline, and the size of the fetus may not match the parturient's pelvic cavity satisfactorily, which may easily lead to dystocia or even rupture. In addition, the elasticity of perineum tissue of elderly pregnant women is weakened, which is prone to birth injury. More experienced doctors are required to conduct careful labor process management.
In addition, due to the weakening of uterine muscle and cervical function of elderly women, the possibility of incomplete uterine contraction and placental abruption during delivery is also high. These complications will seriously affect the safety of mothers and fetuses, and even endanger life.
4. Impact on the fetus
The birth of babies by older pregnant women may also have an impact on fetal health. On the one hand, the basic diseases and drug treatment of elderly pregnant women may cause fetal abnormalities or malformations. On the other hand, the increase of mother's age also increases the risk of prenatal death and stillbirth. In addition, the placental function of elderly women may be adversely affected, resulting in fetal hypoxia, malnutrition and other problems.
In general, giving birth at an advanced age will increase the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. The decline in the natural fertility rate, the increased risk of pregnancy complications, the increase in delivery complications and the impact on the fetus are all challenges that older pregnant women need to face. Therefore, when considering giving birth at an advanced age, pregnant women should fully understand the relevant risks and medical interventions, and conduct comprehensive assessment and management under the guidance of doctors.
