What are the risks of giving birth at an advanced age to babies?
With the development of society and the progress of medical technology, more and more women are delaying childbearing and choosing to conceive at a later age. However, there are some risks to the health of babies in the elderly. This article will elaborate on the risks of aging childbirth to babies from several aspects.
1. Increased risk of genetic diseases
When an elderly woman is pregnant, the decline in egg quality may increase the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in her baby. One of the most common is Down syndrome. Down syndrome is an abnormality caused by three rather than two chromosomes of chromosome 21, which can cause mental retardation and physiological defects. Research shows that the probability of Down syndrome for women over 35 years old is about one in 350, while that for women under 30 years old is one in 1300.
In addition to Down syndrome, elder childbearing is also associated with other chromosomal abnormalities, such as Edward syndrome, late onset congenital heart disease, etc. These diseases will have adverse effects on the physical and intellectual development of the baby.
In addition, there may be gene mutations in the sperm and eggs of the elderly parents, which further increases the risk of the baby suffering from genetic diseases. Therefore, couples with a family history of genetic diseases should be particularly cautious when giving birth at an advanced age.
2. Increased risk of baby development
Babies born at an advanced age are often smaller and weigh less at birth. This is because with the growth of age, the production of luteinizing hormone in women will decrease, leading to endometrial dysplasia, affecting the growth and development of the fetus. At the same time, elderly mothers may have chronic diseases, hypertension and other health problems, which will also have a negative impact on the development of the baby.
In addition, the elderly fertility is also related to the risk of placental hypofunction and placental abruption. The placenta is an important organ for the fetus to supply nutrients and oxygen. If the function of the placenta declines or is peeled prematurely, it will lead to fetal malnutrition, hypoxia and other problems.
In addition, older babies may also face premature delivery, hypoglycemia, respiratory distress syndrome and other problems. These will increase the risk of infant death, and even cause some harm to the surviving infants.
3. Increased risk of neural tube defects
The study found that the risk of fetal neural tube defects was significantly increased when older women were pregnant. Neural tube defect refers to the congenital abnormality caused by the absence of normal closure of neural tubes during fetal development. The most common ones are meningocele and meningocele.
The neural tube defect is related to the intake of vitamin folate, while the intake of vitamin folate may be insufficient for elderly women due to the decline of body absorption capacity and possible changes in diet structure. Therefore, it is recommended that elderly women supplement enough folic acid before pregnancy preparation and early pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects in their babies.
4. Increase the risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth
Older women may face more health risks during pregnancy due to their aging body. For example, the probability of older pregnant women suffering from gestational diabetes, pregnancy induced hypertension, pregnancy with preeclampsia, etc. will increase significantly. These complications may pose a potential threat to the life and health of pregnant women and fetuses.
In addition, elderly women may need to have a caesarean section to cope with problems such as decreased uterine contractions and prolonged labor, which will also increase the incidence of postpartum complications. Postpartum complications include uterine bleeding, infection, etc., which have a negative impact on the recovery of pregnant women.
Summary
The risks of older childbearing to babies mainly include increased risk of genetic diseases, increased risk of baby development, increased risk of neural tube defects and increased risk of complications during pregnancy and childbirth. These risks are related to the physical condition and physiological changes of elderly women. Therefore, women who are planning to give birth at an advanced age should consult their doctors in advance to fully understand their own health conditions, and carry out pregnancy preparation and prenatal examination under the guidance of doctors to reduce risks and ensure the health of their babies.
