The risk of childbirth at an advanced age
With the development of society and the improvement of people's living standards, more and more couples delay childbearing and choose to become pregnant at an advanced age. However, the elderly childbearing has brought a series of health risks and pregnancy and childbirth problems. This article will elaborate on the risk of elderly childbirth from four aspects: increasing difficulty in childbirth, risk of fetal abnormalities, complications of pregnant women and difficulty in postpartum rehabilitation.
Increasing difficulty in childbearing
The increase of age will lead to the decrease of women's fertility and the chance of normal pregnancy. As women's ovarian function gradually weakens, the quality and quantity of eggs will decrease, which makes the fertilization process more difficult. The survey shows that the pregnancy rate of women over 35 years old decreases by about 5% every year, and the pregnancy rate of women over 40 years old is even lower.
In addition, elderly women may need to experience assisted reproductive technology, such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) or surrogacy. These techniques themselves have certain risks, such as ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, multiple pregnancy, etc. At the same time, the burden of economic pressure and psychological pressure will also increase, affecting the physical and mental health of both spouses.
Risk of fetal abnormalities
Older childbearing increases the risk of fetal abnormalities. With the increase of age, the possibility of fetus suffering from chromosome abnormality also increases. The most common chromosomal abnormality is Down syndrome, whose risk is significantly increased in pregnant women over 35 years of age. In addition, the risk of other common embryonic malformations will also increase, such as nervous system development abnormalities, cardiac structural abnormalities, etc.
For the elderly women, the application of prenatal screening and prenatal gene detection technologies is particularly important. However, these techniques also have a certain rate of misdiagnosis and missed diagnosis. Sometimes further prenatal diagnosis, such as amniocentesis or villus biopsy, is required. These examinations will increase the risk of complications for pregnant women and fetuses.
Pregnancy complications
Older pregnant women are more likely to have a series of complications, such as pregnancy induced hypertension, gestational diabetes, oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios. These complications will bring certain risks to the health of pregnant women and fetuses.
The physical function of elderly pregnant women has begun to decline gradually, often accompanied by the existence of chronic diseases, such as heart disease, diabetes, etc. These chronic diseases will increase the risk of complications of pregnant women during pregnancy and delivery, and may even endanger the lives of mothers and babies in serious cases.
Postpartum rehabilitation difficulties
The elderly pregnant women also face some difficulties in the process of rehabilitation after childbirth. Due to the growth of age, the rate of postpartum recovery is not as fast as that of young mothers, and the recovery of body functions is relatively slow. Postpartum depression and physical fatigue are also relatively common.
In addition, for older women who wish to become pregnant again, the chance of becoming pregnant again is getting smaller and smaller with the increase of age. This brings challenges and pressure to couples who wish to have two or more children.
Summary
Older childbearing has brought a series of health risks and pregnancy and childbirth problems. The increased difficulty in childbirth reduces the chance of pregnancy, increases the risk of fetal abnormalities, and increases the risk of complications for pregnant women. It is difficult to recover after childbirth. Therefore, for elderly couples, it is necessary to fully understand these risks and consult a professional doctor before deciding to give birth to the elderly to make a wise choice.
