Increasingly, women decide on the birth of their first child in adulthood. The term "old-born" is not used today, and if a medical professional uses it, this indicates his low qualification and moral backwardness. A woman who decides to become a mother for the first time after 35 years is called the "age-old primipara."
The reasons for a late pregnancy are as follows:
• pursuit of career growth and financial well-being;
• the presence of diseases;
• lack of own housing, material difficulties;
• fear of motherhood, unwillingness to raise a child.
In the twentieth century, a woman who was 25 years old was considered to be old-born. Then this border was shifted to 28 years. Today, Russian obstetricians believe that the optimal age for the first conception is 22-28 years.
Pregnancy can be successful even after 35 years, provided that the woman has not suffered in the past several abortions or spontaneous miscarriages. Deviations in the state of health are not considered an obstacle to conception, because modern medicine is able to cope with many diseases and reduce the risk to zero.
Positive aspects of late pregnancy
• a woman is psychologically ready for the birth of a baby. In adulthood, she responsibly approaches her health at the planning stage and during pregnancy itself. She easily abandons bad habits, clearly follows all the advice of a gynecologist. The fact that the child is welcome has a positive effect on the course of pregnancy (miscarriage occurs 2 times more often with an unwanted pregnancy);
• emotional maturity, life experience. People who have become parents after 28 years are more scrupulous about parenting. They strive to achieve spiritual intimacy with the child, take care of his physical, moral, intellectual well-being;
• financial and social stability.
According to foreign authors, childbirth after 40 years increases life expectancy. Menopause in such women occurs at a young age and is easier. Having a baby stimulates an active life, engage in their own health.
Cons of late pregnancy
There are also disadvantages of belated pregnancy associated with the psychological state of parents and the child:
• guilt. In adulthood, a woman gets tired faster, she does not have time to follow all the changes in social life. For example, a mother cannot participate in outdoor games for a long time;
• oblique views of others. Sometimes relatives and friends consider such parents to be selfish, who do not think about what their child expects in the future;
• anxiety. A late child may indeed be left without parental care at a young age. Confidence in the family helps to overcome fears;
• excessive custody. They try to surround the kid from all sides with attention, to protect him from any life's adversity. This leads to the fact that the late child grows up as a capricious, selfish, infantile person. It is important for parents to realize that one day he will be left without their support, so he should be encouraged to independence and responsibility;
• difference of views. The Turgenev problem of “fathers and children” is quite acute in such families. Judiciousness and tolerance will help to cope with the situation.
The dangers of belated pregnancy from a medical point of view
A woman should be aware of the possible risks of a late birth:
• chronic diseases. By the age of 30 years, deviations in the state of health are present in many women, including the gynecological plan (myoma, endometriosis). Pregnancy stimulates exacerbation of pathological processes, and gynecological diseases can complicate the period of pregnancy and childbirth;
• the risk of genetic abnormalities in the child (Down syndrome). And it doesn’t matter how the baby was born - first or last;
• decreased fertility - the body's ability to conceive. With age, the number of eggs decreases, ovulation occurs less frequently;
• the risk of ectopic and multiple pregnancy.
During pregnancy and childbirth, age-old primogenous women face the following dangers:
• the probability of a miscarriage increases: up to 39 years, spontaneous abortions occur in 10-17%, and after 40 years they account for up to 33%;
• diabetes of pregnant women;
• gestosis of the second half of pregnancy;
• weakness of labor;
• early detachment of the placenta, large blood loss during childbirth.
After 40 years, 47% of women need a caesarean section.
A late child may be born prematurely. Caesarean section and prematurity provoke the development of edema, dysbiosis in him. Mom doesn’t have enough milk, which leads to the transfer of the baby to artificial feeding.
How to prevent complications?
• give up unhealthy habits six months before the planned conception;
• find a well-established clinic and a competent doctor, be sure to follow its recommendations;
• take a vacation in the first trimester, especially if the work is associated with harmful factors;
• eat right. In the diet of the expectant mother, foods containing calcium and iron should be present. Vitamins A and E prevent miscarriage, it is also recommended to take folic acid and vitamin C. Pregnant nutrition should be fractional, smoked foods, fried foods, pickled vegetables are excluded from the menu;
• Avoid overwork, stressful situations. Master the special exercises for pregnant women (if there is no prohibition from the doctor);
• Do not take medicine without your doctor’s permission.
• forget about age, psychologically tune into the birth of a healthy baby.
The doctor prescribes additional studies to identify genetic abnormalities: ultrasound, analysis for hCG, estriol, alpha-fetoprotein.
During pregnancy, it is important to responsibly approach all the doctor's recommendations and throw negative thoughts out of your head. Much in life depends on a positive attitude and our attitude to the situation.
