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Pregnant and 40-ish: Is it Really So Bad?
Pregnant 40- to 44 year-olds are at a greater risk for complications like pre-eclampsia, gestational diabetes, miscarriage and children with chromosomal disorders. Yet these so-called older moms are giving birth at ever so slightly higher rates every year.
Between 2o07 and 2008, births for women over 40 increased 4 percent, while births for women under 40 decreased 3 percent.
Just how scary is it to get pregnant after 40? Well, the numbers don’t look good. But they’re also not a condemnation.
At 40, 1 in three pregnancies ends in miscarriage (1 in 2 at 45+).
1 in 66 women who were pregnant between 40 and 44 had a baby with a chromosomal disorder (1 in 21 at 45+).
More than 80 in 1,000 get gestational diabetes at 40+, while 48 in 1,000 get pre-eclampsia.
And yet, it’s not all bad.
Older moms are better off financially and better positioned to ask for flexible work schedules. They are better able to find ways to spend time with their families.
One mom featured in CNN’s piece on older pregnant moms got unexpectedly pregnant and gave birth for the first time at 44. Of course, she was overwhelmed with all the negativity during the pregnancy but had a perfectly healthy boy. She and her husband are so smitten with their sudden family, they’re thinking of trying for another. She’s 45.
So which is better — young or old motherhood? Even Ariel Gore can’t answer that and she had her first as a teen and her second at 38.
Would you have a baby in your 40s? Did you?
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6 Comments
[...] Pregnant and 40-ish: Is It Really So Bad? [...]
Film Questions Right and Wrong in Parenting | Strollerderby commented on Apr 26 10 at 2:50 pmAmy commented on Apr 23 10 at 3:40 pmI had my first child at 19 and the second at 38. Everything from the pregnancy itself to the carseats were different but I wouldn’t change anything…EXCEPT… I am trying for another. I had one “only child”, I don’t want to have another. While my son grew up with no siblings, I want my daughter to have one. I am 40 – almost 41 and keeping my fingers crossed. (but nothing else!)
lisa commented on Apr 23 10 at 8:23 pmI got pregnant at 40 (miscarried at 39) and it was a blast. I loved being pregnant. Yes, I developed gestational diabetes but really that was nothing compared to some of the other complications mentioned. I’m now 46 and although I’d love another baby, I think it’s safe to say my time is up.
Diana commented on Apr 29 10 at 12:18 pmComments
I had my only child at 44, after getting married at 40. It was the greatest joy of my life to be pregnant and deliver him. I developed placenta previa and spent some time on bedrest, but even with that I loved every minute. My son is a wonderful, bright, happy little star, now 6 years old. We tried for more, but were unsuccessful. I thought for a long time, even still at 51, that I would like to have that experience again, but I believe in many ways it’s better for our son this way, at this point in all our lives. My husband is 10 years younger than I and we have an incredibly wonderful life together and enjoy every day. Although I could have been a single mother at 32, I chose not to. Honestly, I was way too immature and selfish and had I done that I would never have met my wonderful husband and had our incredible little boy.
Saoirse commented on Aug 03 10 at 5:20 pmI’m 43 and pregnant with my first child. At 41, I realized I couldn’t wait any longer for a partner. Before this I would not have been able to afford to do it alone. Nothing about this is so bad, and one of the things you have to learn to sluff off while pregnant is all the chatter about ‘risks’. Block it out unless it applies to you for a reason. And don’t read “What to expect…”‘ Just be happy, enjoy your health and deal with any issues that come up when they do.
Connie commented on Aug 14 11 at 10:33 pmI was 40 years old when me and my partner decided on having kids…I had already had a 20 year old son from a previous marriage and then deciding to have more with another man..the pregnancy went fine although there was an issue with sewing me back up ’cause my son tore me up..he was a 7lb 10oz baby. but all in all the birth went well! No complications, just my son was a little gassy in the abdomen after he was born. He is now 5yrs old and doing just fine. Now I would say to all mothers that decide to have more kids after the age of 40…just make sure you have a somewhat healthy body, don’t eat too much food ’cause it is harder to lose when your older.
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