The influence of elderly childbearing on maternal and infant health
Elderly childbearing refers to the childbearing of women over 35 years old. With the development of society and the improvement of women's sense of autonomy, more and more women choose to conceive and give birth at an advanced age. However, whether the elderly childbearing has an impact on the health of mothers and infants has always been a topic of concern. This article will discuss the influence of elderly childbirth on the health of mothers and infants from four aspects: childbearing age and risk of pregnancy and childbirth, risk of birth defects, incidence of pregnancy complications and mental health of mothers and infants.
Childbearing age and risk of pregnancy and childbirth
Scientific research shows that the elderly childbearing is closely related to some pregnancy and childbirth risks. The increase of female age will lead to the decrease of fertility, because the quality and quantity of eggs will gradually decrease with the increase of age. In addition, the hormone level of elderly pregnant women will also change, increasing the risk of premature delivery, placental dysfunction, gestational diabetes and other complications.
In medical practice, many famous obstetrics and gynecology hospitals provide special prenatal medical services for elderly women. For example, Hongde Maternal and Infant Health Center of Peking Union Medical College Hospital provides comprehensive prenatal examination and personalized guidance for elderly pregnant women to reduce the risk of pregnancy and childbirth. Therefore, for women who choose to give birth at an advanced age, it is very important to actively seek professional prenatal medical services.
Risk of birth defects
A study has shown that older childbearing is associated with an increased risk of birth defects. This is mainly because the growth of female age will increase the probability of chromosomal abnormalities in embryos. The most common chromosomal abnormality is Down syndrome, which has a serious impact on the intelligence and physical development of patients.
However, even if the risk of childbirth at an advanced age is high, advances in medical technology also provide hope for reducing the risk of birth defects. For example, the research team of the medical school of Heidelberg University in Germany has developed a non-invasive prenatal gene detection method, which can effectively screen chromosome abnormalities such as Down's syndrome and provide more comprehensive prenatal diagnosis services for older pregnant women.
Incidence of pregnancy complications
Compared with young pregnant women, older pregnant women are more likely to have pregnancy complications. Chronic diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, hypertension and diabetes, are the risks that older pregnant women may face. At the same time, older pregnant women also need to monitor their blood pressure, blood sugar and fetus more frequently during pregnancy inspection to ensure the safety of mother and baby.
In order to reduce the risk of pregnancy complications, elderly pregnant women need to follow the guidance of doctors and maintain a good lifestyle, including a balanced diet, appropriate exercise and adequate rest. In addition, it is also very important to have regular prenatal examinations and consult a professional medical team.
Maternal and infant mental health
Older childbearing not only affects the physical health of mothers, but also may bring challenges to the mental health of mothers and infants. Because pregnancy and newborn rearing are a new experience for older pregnant women, they may face greater anxiety and pressure. At the same time, elderly childbearing may lead to longer labor and higher cesarean section rate, which may be a psychological burden for mothers.
Therefore, older pregnant women need professional psychological support and guidance. Many hospitals of obstetrics and gynecology have set up psychological consultant teams to provide related psychological counseling and support services for pregnant women. For example, the mental health clinic of Ruijin Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine provides individual and group psychological counseling for elderly pregnant women to help them cope with anxiety and stress.
Summary
To sum up, elderly childbearing does have a certain impact on the health of mothers and infants. Older childbearing increases the risk of pregnancy and childbirth, the risk of birth defects, and may lead to pregnancy complications. At the same time, the elderly childbirth also brings challenges to the mental health of mothers and infants. However, with the continuous progress of medical technology and the improvement of medical services, older pregnant women can reduce risks and improve the health level of mothers and infants through active prenatal examination, personalized guidance and psychological support.
