Many women see the big four zero as their last chance saloon when it comes to baby-making.
Regardless of the reasons for postponing pregnancy until later in life, the fact remains that the chances of getting pregnant at 40 years of age or over are significantly lower. After 45, the possibility of conception is greatly reduced and the risks of miscarriage and chromosomal abnormalities increase considerably.
However, all ages have advantages and disadvantages in relation to pregnancy:
Advantages of being an older mum
Without doubt the biggest advantage older mums have is the life experience they have accumulated over the years. Couples who have been together for a long time have usually weathered all sorts of storms, providing a solid foundation for building a family.
There are several studies that support the fact that older mothers make better decisions than younger ones, especially when it comes to feeding their children, where they are more effective in favouring the consumption of healthy foods like fruits and vegetables. Breastfeeding rates also tend to be better as women age.
Older mamas frequently have a more solid economic situation and financial security, with a well-trodden career path or profession already behind them.
Women who become mums later in life have been shown to focus more directed attention on their children. Gone is the FOMO that younger first-time mothers can experience, who often miss the freedom and social life they had until kids came along.
Disadvantages of being an older mum
The biggest disadvantages of postponing pregnancy until after forty are largely physical. At this stage of a woman’s life there is a sudden drop in fertility.
It’s not all about the ladies either; the quality of men’s sperm also decreases as the years pass. So, although men’s quantity doesn’t tend to drop, their ability to fertilise is reduced. The possibility of genetic defects is also higher compared younger men’s sperm.
Sadly, miscarriage rates among older pregnant women are higher, with an average of 24 percent at 40 years, 38 percent at 43 years and 54 percent at 44 years.
Pregnancies in later life do bring several potential complications with them. Older pregnant women are more likely to develop gestational diabetes and hypertensive syndromes, which generate higher-risk pregnancies with higher complication rates and caesarean deliveries.
Still want to go for it?
At the age of 40, statistics indicate that you have about a five percent chance of conceiving within a single ovulation cycle. If you try for a year you have between a 40 and 50 percent chance of getting pregnant, but just three years later your chances fall drastically to between one and two percent.
If you do not get pregnant after three months of having frequent, unprotected sex (two or three times a week), ask your GP to refer you to a fertility specialist or clinic who can evaluate if you are a good candidate for assisted reproduction.
And remember, a mother’s love is ageless.
