NEWS & KNOWLEDGE

Nowadays, it is found that couples tend to marry later or marry at an older age, resulting in having children at an older age. The risk that is often found in older people who want to have children is that it is more difficult to have children. Having children for older people can find the following 5 risks:

1. Risk of infertility

Mothers who are 35 years old and above will be in a state where the quality of eggs starts to decline or the eggs gradually shrink with age, causing the number of eggs to decrease, and the chance of fertilization between eggs and sperm will decrease as well.

2. Risk of complications

When women get older Complications during pregnancy will increase, including:

• Gestational diabetes is caused by the body not being able to use insulin effectively, resulting in abnormal blood sugar levels.
• Preeclampsia In older pregnant women, there is a risk of high blood pressure, which requires close monitoring and treatment from the attending physician. If not treated properly, it can be harmful to the mother and fetus.

3. Risk of miscarriage

As women age, the quality of their eggs declines and the risk of chromosomal abnormalities in the embryo increases, resulting in a higher risk of miscarriage.

4. Maternal risks during childbirth

It may be caused by difficult birth, postpartum hemorrhage, or cesarean section instead of natural birth.

5. Risk of having a child with Down syndrome

In older mothers, the baby may be at risk of having Down syndrome. The baby may be born with intellectual disabilities. Especially mothers who become pregnant after the age of 35 have a chance of having a baby with Down syndrome. And the older the pregnancy, the higher the risk. Therefore, the baby in the womb should be screened for Down syndrome.

Pregnancy for women over 35 years old is a risky period. You should consult a doctor to plan your pregnancy and have a pre-pregnancy check-up to reduce the risks to both the mother and the baby.

By:

Assoc.Prof. Matchuporn Sukprasert​​​​​​​