Pregnancy in women over 40 is no longer surprising. Many women who have reached this age awaken their maternal instinct, whether for their first child or after having been mothers for some time, or simply become pregnant unplanned.
Pregnancy at any age has its advantages and disadvantages. There is no denying that the chances of getting pregnant after 40 are much lower, as the egg reserve decreases significantly with age. Furthermore, older eggs are more likely to develop problems, increasing the risk of miscarriage and birth anomalies. Women also have a higher chance of developing high blood pressure, diabetes, or other conditions that further complicate pregnancy.
Fernando Maia, the manager of the Fetal Medicine Service at the National Institute of Women’s, Children’s, and Adolescent Health Fernandes Figueira (IFF/Fiocruz), explains that it is important to observe some key facts regarding pregnancy at this age. “A pregnant woman over 40 is always considered high risk. These patients are more prone to pre-existing conditions that complicate pregnancy, such as obesity, hypertension, thyroid diseases, diabetes, etc. They also face greater inherent risks during pregnancy, such as miscarriage, Down syndrome, gestational diabetes, pre-eclampsia, premature birth, macrosomia, placental anomalies, multiple pregnancies, stillbirth, and restricted intrauterine growth,” he explains.
According to Maia, some tips are important to reduce the likelihood of complications. “If there is any pre-existing medical condition, discuss the pregnancy with your doctor to find out if the disease is under control and how pregnancy may affect your health condition,” he emphasizes.
Motherhood at this age is a phenomenon we cannot ignore. Today, it is possible to rely on more information and increasingly prepared health professionals. “The pregnant woman should seek information about the increased risk of genetic diseases, malformations, and other gestational complications. Another important point is to seek information about the tests she can undergo during pregnancy to identify these complications,” Maia shares.
Motherhood Becomes More Mature
According to bank employee Ana Sueli Almeida, who became pregnant 16 years after her second pregnancy. At 44, she gave birth to Thiago, and even though she did not choose to have children at an older age, it allowed her to have a different and more responsible view of motherhood. “You become more tolerant, but you have to be careful with that tolerance, due to the need for limits, and I haven’t lost that. But today, I enjoy my time with them more, I weigh the arguments. I think this has to do with maturity,” she shares with a sparkle in her eyes.
From her perspective, older mothers have better maternal skills because they are less impulsive. “When you are younger, you dance along with the waltz, over time I became more grounded, I have more skills and especially more patience,” she assesses.
Source: blog.saude.gov.br, by Luíza Tiné