Problems of Having A Late Pregnancy

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Nowadays we see many celebrities getting pregnant at 40 and giving birth easily. However, things may not be as rosy as you assume. Becoming pregnant after 40 or even later might have been made possible by advancements in science but a late pregnancy comes with its set of problems. This does not mean that you cannot get pregnant in your middle ages. However, you must be fully aware of the risk and problems of having a late pregnancy.

First of all, the biological clock of your body keeps ticking and when you get pregnant after 40 you are stretching the hands of that clock. Most late pregnancy problems arise from the fact that you are not at your fertile best. Your hormonal cycles are now preparing for menopause and not pregnancy.

Another problem with late pregnancy is that your body is ageing. It is not just your eggs but your overall body that ages. You may suffer from chronic age related diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure by now. Such diseases coupled with your general hormonal under-activity can cause chromosomal defects in the baby. All these late pregnancy problems can affect you only when you conceive. You might face problems in conceiving to begin with.

Here are some of the problems associated with late pregnancy that you must know.

Problems of Conceiving

When a woman is born, all the eggs are already present in her ovaries. One or two eggs mature every month during your menstrual cycles. So if you are 45-years-old, all the eggs in your ovaries are the same age as you.

Low Hormonal Activity

As you enter your 40s or even late 30s, your body starts preparing for menopause. Naturally hormonal activity is low. Thus, your pregnancy hormones will not be soaring.

Fibroids

As you age, your reproductive system starts developing problems like cysts and fibroids. You can conceive with fibroids but it makes your pregnancy complicated.

Chronic Age Diseases

As you cross the 40 mark, the body starts ageing at a faster pace. That is why, chronic diseases like diabetes and high blood pressure start attacking you now. These diseases makes your pregnancy a high risk one.

Ectopic Pregnancy

Ectopic pregnancies are commoner among older women. When you conceive at an older age, your chances of having ectopic pregnancies increases manifold.

Chromosomal Defects

Certain chromosomal defects like non-dysjunction of the last chromosome is very common in late pregnancies. It leads to genetic disorders like Down's Syndrome.

Risk of Cancer

Late pregnancy have been linked to an increased risk of cancer, especially breast and ovarian cancer in women.

Pressure On Your Heart

Giving birth to a baby puts tremendous pressure on your heart. It is almost like running a 1000 kilometres! So at 40, this strain might be a little too much for your heart. Moreover, the oestrogen that protected your heart in youth is waning now.

Placental Problems

With age, the elasticity of all our body muscles decreases. The same holds good for the uterus which is required to stretch a good deal during pregnancy. The inability of the uterus to stretch beyond a point might cause placental disruption.

Birth Defects

Late pregnancies are always associated with chances of preterm birth. Premature deliveries in turn are associated with birth defects. The most common birth defects among the babies of 40 plus women is cardiac disorders.