40 can i have a baby

So, why do people feel the need to make comments about it? Anna Vlachos May 24, Just the other day, I was dropping Alex off at school with my two daughters—Maia, 2, and Selina, 7 months—when another mom approached me. Were there complications? Why did you wait so long? I was a hard-working, career-driven woman—a reporter and an anchor in Toronto. I met my husband later in life. I was 40 when we got married and pregnant soon after.

When I set eyes on my firstborn, I was 41, but I knew instantly that motherhood was going to be my new passion. Having a baby after the age of 40 has become an increasingly common occurrence.

In fact, the Centers for Disease Control and Preventiom CDC CDC explains that the rate has increased since the s, with the number of first-time births among women ages 40 to 44 more than doubling between and Mathews TJ, et al.

First births to older women continue to rise. There are multiple reasons why women are waiting to have children , including fertility treatments, early careers, and settling down later in life. For one, you might have already established your career and can dedicate more time to raising children. Or your financial situation could be more favorable. You may have also had a change in your relationship status and you want to have a baby with your partner.

These are among some of the most common benefits of having a child at age However, some research suggests potential other benefits, including:. However, any pregnancy after age 40 is considered high risk. Your doctor will monitor you and the baby closely for the following:. Advancements in fertility technological have been a driving force in the increase in women waiting to have children.

Some options available to women include:. The number of egg cells oocytes you have also decreases significantly after the age of In , women between the age of 40 and 45 gave birth at the rate of Overall the U.

This means that you are very likely to find other mothers your age in your childbirth class, prenatal groups, and parenting circles. One of the biggest barriers to pregnancy in your 40s is your fertility. Certainly, there are women who have no issues getting pregnant well into their 40s.

Though statistically speaking, you are less likely to get pregnant and more likely to need the aid of fertility treatments the older you are when you are trying to conceive.

Fertility treatment means different things for different people. It can mean anything from conceiving while taking oral medications and having regular intercourse to using donor eggs and trying to conceive with in vitro fertilization IVF. About one-third of women over 35 will get help from a fertility specialist , and that number increases with age—half of the women trying to conceive in their early 40s will do so.

One thing of particular interest will be the supply and quality of your eggs. The number of eggs and the health of said eggs diminishes the older you get. There are tests your doctor can do that can estimate how well your eggs are holding up, and this would be a part of your fertility testing. In general, after the age of 35, if you have not conceived after 6 months of well-timed intercourse with no birth control, you should seek the help of a fertility specialist. Every pregnancy carries the risk of miscarriage , and that risk does go up with age.

Part of that risk in your 40s is that you are more likely to have a chronic condition at this point in your life than previously. A chronic condition like diabetes, high blood pressure, or thyroid disease can complicate your pregnancy and potentially increase the risks of miscarriage and pregnancy loss, including stillbirth.

This is one of the reasons that preconception care is very important. By meeting with your practitioner prior to pregnancy, you can minimize these risks by getting a chronic condition under control. You may also have a medication review to see which medications you're taking would be compatible with pregnancy.

You may find newer medications to switch to and take time to ensure they work for you before attempting a pregnancy. Pregnancy certainly changes your body. Women who have children both earlier and later in life are quick to note that pregnancy in their 40s was often more physically challenging than it was in their 20s or 30s.

One of the biggest risks to your comfort with a midlife pregnancy will be your overall fitness level. Someone who has been very active and has few daily aches and pains, in general, is more likely to have a fairly normal course with pregnancy-related physical symptoms.

If you are already experiencing the aches and pains commonly associated with midlife, you may find that some of the physical symptoms of a changing pregnant body to be more pronounced. The good news is that if you are already exercising, there is usually no reason to stop. Prenatal exercise classes can help you have a safe and easy pregnancy.

Your doctor or midwife can advise you on what alterations you need to make to your scheduled workouts. Keep in mind that moving is one way to alleviate the stress and strain of pregnancy on your body.

Even if you are new to exercise, you can still reap the benefits. Swimming, walking, and yoga are three things that many practitioners recommend to women who have not been exercising much prior to pregnancy or for women who are having some setbacks in the workout schedules. Pregnancy alters your emotion via hormones. The mood swings that can accompany pregnancy are well known. This should not be much different due to age. Though, as a more mature woman, you probably have something your younger counterparts do not—the ability to cope with these changes more effectively.

Financial and relationship concerns can lead to emotional irritability during pregnancy. While age is certainly not a cure-all for these woes, with age comes a certain amount of stability.

This might mean that some of the stress many young people feel about finding a house or a stable job is something that you may not be dealing with at this stage of the game. One of the main reasons women say that they have delayed having children into their 40s is to ensure that they are financially stable.

National Birth Defects Prevention Study found that women greater than age 40 are at increased risk of having babies with multiple types of heart defects, genital abnormalities, skull deformities, and esophageal malformations. For others, this is a time when decisions about expanding the family are made. Here, you and your doctor can discuss your specific risks based on your own health and family history.

At this time, you and your doctor can also sit down and develop a strategy for obtaining the best outcome in the healthiest possible way. While the journey may hold more challenges and difficult decisions, it is possible for women to conceive and maintain pregnancy over the age of Making this decision can be an exciting, yet overwhelming time in your life. For more information on how we can help you prepare for pregnancy after 40, visit our preconception visits page.

You can also set your appointment online. We look forward to hearing from you. Allison Giles discusses fertility rates, risks to mother and baby, and other considerations for women trying to conceive over age 40 Over the past century, the average age at which women have their first child has increased for many reasons.

This change in societal standards poses newer questions for a growing number of women: Is 40 too old to have a baby?

How common is pregnancy at 40?