The influence of elderly childbearing on maternal and infant health
With the development of society and the increasing trend of population aging, the phenomenon of elderly childbearing has gradually become universal. Elderly childbearing refers to the phenomenon that women become pregnant and give birth when they are over 35 years old. However, the elderly childbearing has a series of effects on the health of mothers and infants. This article will discuss it from four aspects: physical health, mental health, pregnancy complications and child development.
Physical health impact
The elderly childbearing will have a noticeable impact on the mother's health. First, women's fertility will gradually decline. With the increase of age, the number and quality of eggs will gradually decrease, increasing the risk of disease and abortion. Secondly, older women are more likely to suffer from some chronic diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes, which will increase the risk of delivery. Third, the incidence of complications during pregnancy will also increase significantly, such as hypertension during pregnancy, gestational diabetes, etc. These complications not only pose risks to the mother itself, but also affect the fetus.
For infants, the elderly childbirth also has potential risks to their health. As the mother's age increases, the risk of a baby suffering from chromosomal abnormalities will increase, such as Down syndrome. In addition, the weight of children born at an advanced age is generally lower at birth, and the mortality rate within one month after birth is also higher than that of infants born to young mothers.
Mental health impact
In addition to physical health, elderly childbearing also has a significant impact on mothers' mental health. In modern society, women are under various pressures, including the transformation of multiple roles such as family and work. If the responsibility of childbirth is added to it, it will bring them more psychological burden. Especially for the elderly child-bearing people, they often need to go through more medical processes and examinations. These processes are a kind of psychological pressure for women, which will have a negative impact on their mental health. The study also found that older mothers are more likely to suffer from postpartum depression, which will further affect the establishment of the mother infant relationship and the development of the baby.
Pregnancy complications
The elderly women who give birth are prone to suffer from a series of pregnancy complications due to their limited physical conditions. For example, older pregnant women have a greater risk of gestational diabetes than younger pregnant women, which will have a negative impact on the pregnant women themselves and the fetus. In addition, older pregnant women are also at greater risk of complications such as pregnancy induced hypertension and postpartum hemorrhage. These complications will not only increase the difficulty of mother's delivery, but also may have a long-term impact on the life and health of the fetus.
Child development impact
Older childbearing also has a potential impact on children's development. Research has found that children born at an advanced age often lag behind their peers in intellectual and psychological development. This may be related to the increasing age of the mother and the increased risk of disease. As the mother's age increases, older children may face more pressure in life and education, which will also have a certain impact on their development.
To sum up, the elderly childbearing has a significant impact on the health of mothers and infants. In terms of physical health, mental health, pregnancy complications, child development and other aspects, there are certain risks in elderly childbearing. Therefore, women should fully consider their own physical condition, age and other factors when deciding to give birth, and choose the right time for themselves and the baby.
