Everything You Need to Know About Pregnancy at 30 and the Risks Involved

The number of women giving birth in their thirties is increasing day by day. Read on to learn about the possible risks a pregnant woman over the age of 30 may face and the precautions women need to take to enjoy a healthy pregnancy in their thirties.

Late pregnancy is a highly discussed and debated topic, especially among today’s professionally ambitious women. Many are worried about conceiving after the age of thirty. Let us explore this topic thoroughly and try to get rid of misconceptions.

Nowadays, women are marrying late compared to the past decades. The common age of marriage for girls used to be around 22 years, which has now gone up to 27 years or even higher. Family planning and conceiving come even later. As a result, the number of women giving birth in their thirties is increasing day by day.

When a woman conceives well into her thirties, she needs to plan her pregnancy better to medical complications. The first step towards self-care is following a balanced and nutritious diet. Additionally, it is recommended to stop smoking or consuming alcohol when you are pregnant.

Certainly, there are some risks women often face in their late pregnancy, such as:

• Miscarriage

• Birth defects

• Twins (which some may not consider a risk or problem and some may)

• High Blood Pressure

• Gestational Diabetes

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• Difficult labour

Some risks involved in pregnancy after 30

Here are some risks women above the age of 30 may experience during their pregnancy:

1. Miscarriage

Pregnant women in their thirties are vulnerable to a high risk of miscarriage (early pregnancy loss). For all pregnant women, the first three months (commonly called the first trimester) are very critical.

2. Birth Defects

There can be birth defects in late pregnancy. As women age, the risk of chromosome problems also increases, and there is a risk of having a baby with missing, damaged, or extra chromosomes. For instance, down syndrome is one of the most common chromosome problems that arises with late childbearing.

3. Multiple Pregnancies

In women over the age of 30, there is an increased risk of multiple pregnancies, such as twins or triplets. The reason for multiple pregnancies is that as the ovaries age, they are more likely to release more than one egg during ovulation every month. Subsequently, multiple pregnancies carry a risk of preterm or premature birth.

4. High Blood Pressure

Nowadays, high blood pressure has become a prevalent problem. Whether women conceive at the age of 25-30 or later, high blood pressure has become common among women of all age groups. Therefore, when you are late in your pregnancy, you must be extra cautious of your daily salt intake. You should keep decreasing your salt intake from the very first day of your pregnancy.

5. Gestational Diabetes

Another complication women may have to face in late pregnancy is gestational diabetes. It is becoming a common problem for older women. For this, you must consult a good obstetrician-gynaecologist about the diet to follow before you get pregnant and even throughout the course of your pregnancy.

Risk Factors of Pregnancy at 30

Women may experience the following problems while getting pregnant at 30 or above:

1. Trouble in conception

Starting in their early 30s, women begin to become less fertile. As a result, it may take them longer to get pregnant.

2. Complications during pregnancy

Women in the 30 years or more category are prone to a higher risk of diabetes and high blood pressure during pregnancy. Additionally, women over 30 are more likely to have multiple pregnancies.

3. Complications during delivery

Pregnant women are more likely to deliver babies via caesarean section. Additionally, women who have their first baby after age 30 are at an increased risk of other delivery complications, such as prolonged labour.

Chances of pregnancy at the age of 30 years or older

The chances of getting pregnant start declining as women turn 30. The number of eggs in ovaries decreases as women get older, thereby affecting fertility According to a recent study, it simply means that if 100 fertile women aged 30 years or older try to get pregnant, in 1 cycle, only around 20 will be successful, and the others will have to try again.

Summary

Late pregnancy is becoming common with changes in lifestyle and priorities. Women wish to pursue their career goals and live life, before settling down or taking on the responsibility of raising a child. Soon, pregnancies at 30 years of age or older will become the norm.

So, it's not like you can't have a healthy pregnancy or a healthy child if you are planning pregnancy at the age of 30, provided you take care of your health and diet. You may also opt for prenatal testing after consulting with your obstetrician-gynaecologist.

References

1. Cavazos-Rehg PA, Krauss MJ, Spitznagel EL, et al; (2013). Maternal age and risk of labor and delivery complications. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
2. Lampinen, R; Vehviläinen-Julkunen; K and Kankkunen, P. (2009). A Review of Pregnancy in Women Over 35 Years of Age. www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov