Is Having a Baby at 35 Too Old?

April 20, 2021 0 Comments

Short answer is no. However, we have to think about the additional risks and challenges that come with age (e.g. hard to get pregnant, potential complications, raising a child at our mature age).

Truth about pregnancy at 30s

More and more women now actually delay becoming a parent. Some reasons could be: effective contraception, improvement in women’s education, gender equity, more participation in employment and business (e.g. having a child is furthest from their minds) and uncertainty about the future (more central reasons stated here in this academic research).

As a result, it’s becoming more common now to see women having their first child in their 30s. According to the Australian Institute of Family Studies: “The percentage of women having their first child over the age of 30 has risen from 23% in 1991 to 43% in 2011 and 48% in 2016.” Similar upward trends are also in the UK, USA and other developed societies. Indeed, it’s becoming normal to have a late pregnancy. There are also women who have decided to have their second or third child in their 30s and beyond.

However, there are additional risks and challenges that come with that. After all, getting pregnant at a later age is becoming difficult in the first place. This decline in fertility is the major concern of many new mums. Aside from that, there are also health concerns (perhaps as we age we become more vulnerable to diseases and the results of our lifestyles are starting to show now). Many women at their 30s and beyond are also worried about the increased risks of stillbirth and miscarriage which are valid concerns (sources: Maternal age and fetal loss: population based register linkage study and Maternal age and risk of stillbirth: a systematic review).

What to do

Despite those worries and additional risks and challenges, you can still have a successful pregnancy and childbirth. With the help of the doctors and your priority on health (both you and your partner should be in good shape), you can still get pregnant and have a healthy baby. The chances are slimmer but the possibility is always there. Also, the risks and complications can be all managed with proper care and regular monitoring.

If you’re now firmly decided about having a baby, note that the months ahead will be tough (and often discouraging). It might take a few months up to a year (or even a few years) before you get pregnant even with the use of modern methods. And once results show and during pregnancy, the months ahead will still be rough (even young mums feel this). It’s never been a smooth journey for mothers but the joy is beyond compare.

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