The influence of elderly childbearing on mothers and infants
With the development of social economy and the improvement of people's living standards, more and more women choose to conceive and give birth in their later years. This phenomenon is called elder childbearing. However, the elderly childbearing may have a series of effects on the health of mothers and infants. This article will elaborate on these impacts from four aspects: fertility risk, pregnancy complications, fetal development and childhood diseases.
Fertility risk
Older pregnant women may face higher fertility risks. First of all, they are more prone to various pregnancy complications, such as pregnancy induced hypertension and gestational diabetes. These complications may have a lasting adverse effect on the mother's body, or even endanger her life.
Secondly, women who give birth at an advanced age are also more likely to have a risk of fetal malformation. Research shows that with the growth of age, the probability of fetal chromosomal abnormalities will also increase. For example, pregnant women over 35 years of age have a significantly increased risk of Down syndrome. These fetal malformations may lead to physical and mental health problems of infants, and bring heavy burdens to families.
In addition, the delivery risk of elderly women who give birth is relatively high. Due to the growth of age, the elasticity and contractility of women's uterine muscles may decline, which may lead to difficulties and pain in the delivery process. At the same time, other complications may occur during the delivery process, such as uterine rupture and postpartum hemorrhage.
Pregnancy complications
In addition to reproductive risks, older women may also face other complications during pregnancy. On the one hand, they are more prone to pregnancy stress and anxiety. Because of their older age, they may pay more attention to the health of the fetus, especially the development of the fetus in the uterus. This fear may bring unnecessary pressure to them and have a negative impact on the health of mothers and babies.
On the other hand, older women may experience more physical discomfort and complications during pregnancy. For example, they may be more prone to problems such as pregnancy overreaction and anemia during pregnancy. These physical discomfort may affect the quality of life of pregnant women and may increase the risk of premature delivery and low birth weight infants.
In addition, elderly women may also need more medical intervention and treatment due to pregnancy complications. For example, they may need to conduct more prenatal screening and prenatal examination to ensure the health of the fetus. These medical interventions may increase the family's financial burden and cause additional pressure on the mother and baby's body.
Fetal development
Pregnancy of elderly women may also have an impact on the development of the fetus. First of all, the egg quality of elderly women declines with age, which may lead to the decline of the quality of fertilized eggs. This may increase the risk of embryo termination, spontaneous abortion and early fetal death.
Secondly, the uterus environment of elderly women may not be ideal, which may affect the growth and development of the fetus. For example, some studies have shown that older pregnant women may be more prone to problems such as placental insufficiency and fetal intrauterine growth restriction. These problems may lead to insufficient nutrition and oxygen supply of the fetus and affect the normal development of the fetus.
Finally, the pregnant behavior and lifestyle of older women may have some impact on the fetus. For example, older pregnant women may be more likely to be exposed to various harmful substances during pregnancy, such as tobacco smoke and alcohol. These harmful substances may enter the fetus through the placenta and have adverse effects on the health of the fetus.
Childhood diseases
Research shows that children born at an advanced age may be more likely to suffer from certain diseases. First, children born to older women may be more likely to suffer from neurodevelopmental disorders, such as autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. These diseases may have a lasting impact on children's learning and social skills.
In addition, children born to older women are also more likely to suffer from certain genetic diseases. The decline in egg quality of elderly women may increase the risk of chromosomal abnormalities and genetic mutations. These genetic diseases may have a serious impact on children's health, and even require long-term treatment.
To sum up, the impact of elderly childbearing on mothers and babies is multifaceted. From reproductive risk, pregnancy complications, fetal development to childhood diseases, they may have different degrees of impact on the health of mothers and infants. Therefore, women should fully consider these risks when choosing to give birth at an advanced age, and make rational decisions under the guidance of doctors.
