Doctors are well aware that old-bearing women, as well as their future children, due to many factors, face more problems than young mothers. Therefore, women in early pregnancy should be properly aware of the dangers associated with late childbirth. In this regard, Estet-portal presents to your attention the results of a study in which Finnish scientists determined what additional risks are exposed to women who decide to give birth after 35 years.
The risks associated with pregnancy increase if the mother-to-be is 35 years of age or older. The risks associated with being overweight, smoking, gestational diabetes and preeclampsia are significantly higher in older mothers than in new mothers, according to a large new study from the University of Eastern Finland.
In the context of this study, old-timers include women who give birth after the age of 35. Over the past decades, the percentage of old-bearing women has increased significantly. The risks and harms of pregnancy and childbirth after the age of 35 increase significantly.
Reeta Lamminpaa, M.P.H., analyzed data from about 700,000 Finnish mothers-to-be and their newborns from medical records from 1997-2008.
The relationship between age and additional risk factors for complications during pregnancy and after childbirth was studied in four risk groups: expectant mothers diagnosed with preeclampsia, smoking expectant mothers, expectant mothers with obesity and overweight, and expectant mothers with gestational diabetes.
The results obtained were compared with the corresponding results obtained from the analysis of similar data from younger mothers (up to 35 years old).
In all four risk groups, the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth were higher than those of younger expectant mothers. Age alone was not a significant risk factor, but when combined with other risks, it posed an increased risk.
Smoking expectant mothers over 35 years of age were more likely to give birth to premature babies and babies with low birth weight for gestational age, as well as intrauterine fetal death.
Overweight or obese expectant mothers often had gestational diabetes, preterm birth, fetal death, preeclampsia, and low birth weight for gestational age. In addition, being overweight increases the risk of caesarean section in older women.
Study results published in BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, BMC Public Health, and Journal of Maternal-Fetal and Neonatal Medicine.
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