The first pregnancy at the age of 40 is the opinion of doctors. At what age is a woman considered late in labor?

Many of the fair sex are in no hurry to feel the joy of motherhood. However, time does not stand still. A woman can succeed in terms of career and material wealth, and only after that decide on a brave step. But is there any chance of getting pregnant at 40 without complications, and what are the pros and cons of such a pregnancy? This is exactly what will be discussed.

Is pregnancy possible at 40: what is the probability?

There is a lot of controversy about late pregnancy. Many believe that conception is quite possible, but it is quite difficult to bear a child, since during pregnancy at the age of 40, the risks of developing various pathologies increase several times. In addition, there is a possibility of miscarriage. A woman can become pregnant at this age, but the period of childbearing and generic activity usually pass with complications.

It also prevents older women from deciding to get pregnant psychological problem. In this case, expectant mothers have a feeling of fear and a lot of questions: how to bear a child, give birth or not, will the birth go without complications, will the parents have time to raise their baby?

But do not worry about this, although there is a risk of complications, but getting pregnant at 40 is quite realistic. Moreover, at this age, a woman retains the natural ability to conceive a baby. But do not delay the decision, since every year the probability of getting pregnant becomes less and less.

Healthy pregnancy at 40: preparation

Since there is a risk of complications at the age of 40, women need to take care of preparatory stage. Such precautions will help the body to come to the right state for conception and gestation:

1. If you decide to conceive a child, the first step will be a visit to the doctor. After consulting with a specialist, you will receive answers to all your questions. In addition, a medical examination will help assess the state of your health and the readiness of the body for a planned pregnancy.
2. The next step is to discuss all options childbirth. Most women give birth without problems naturally. But since complications in childbirth are possible at 40, make a birth plan with your doctor, and also discuss the likelihood of a caesarean section.
3. It is also worth discussing methods to increase fertility with your doctor. This may be taking pills or hormonal injections. If there are problems with the reproductive system, then the doctor can correct the problem with the help of surgery.
4. Change your lifestyle. This applies primarily to the nutritional diet. During pregnancy, a woman's body at any age needs constant replenishment of nutrients. Therefore, expectant mothers should eat only healthy food. It is also worth giving up bad habits(alcohol, smoking, coffee), exercise.
5. Keep track of your weights. Being overweight or underweight can negatively affect the course of pregnancy.

How is pregnancy after 40 years?

Older mothers find it much more difficult to conceive and bear a fetus. But don't give up on motherhood. Although the risk of complications and pathologies of the fetus is much higher, however, many mature mothers successfully overcome all difficulties and give birth to healthy babies.

The first thing you might encounter future mom, this is the process of conception, since with age the likelihood of pregnancy decreases. But do not despair: modern methods of treatment help to cope with this problem.

What to do if pregnancy occurs? What threatens pregnancy at 40?

Yes, adult women have a much higher risk of losing a child, but with all the necessary measures, this probability is much reduced. Proper nutrition, gymnastics for pregnant women, rest and constant supervision by a doctor - this is what is necessary for normal gestation.

Is pregnancy dangerous at 40: pros and cons - doctors' opinions

To understand how dangerous pregnancy is in adulthood, you should discuss all the pros and cons.

Let's look at the benefits first. Speaking from the point of view of medicine, a woman at the age of 40 is more conscious about her health and planned motherhood. And this is very important during pregnancy. Also, mature mothers are much more attentive to their children. Concerning financial side, then a woman at 40 already has solid ground under her feet, because it was not in vain that she put off motherhood for so long.

The main disadvantage late pregnancy are difficulties with conception. After the age of 40, women produce much fewer eggs. And those that go through the process of maturation increase the risk of developing congenital pathologies in a child due to the presence of chromosomal abnormalities. In addition, women are not always able to bear a child, because there is a risk of miscarriage. Therefore, many doctors believe that pregnancy in adulthood is not only dangerous, but also harmful.

The next disadvantage of pregnancy after 40 are complications. At this age, many have a whole "bouquet" of health problems. And this condition can provoke problems with the placenta, premature birth, low weight baby.

Before deciding to take a serious step, every 40-year-old woman should familiarize herself with the statistics:

• miscarriage - 34%;
• the birth of children with Down syndrome - 1-3%.

In addition, women in their forties are much more difficult to go through the recovery period after childbirth. Therefore, doctors are not positive about pregnancy at this age.

But there are also specialists who are ready to support a woman in her decision. Age is not a sentence. Modern technologies allow you to conceive a child even after 45 years. Therefore, it is up to you to decide how ready you are for motherhood.

How to keep a pregnancy at 40 with a negative Rh?

When pregnancy occurs, a woman must undergo a mandatory examination for the Rh factor. With the likely possibility of developing a Rh conflict, the blood of the expectant mother is examined once a month until the seven-month period. After 32 weeks, such an analysis is carried out twice a month, and in the last weeks before childbirth - every week. Such events help to recognize the onset of a Rhesus conflict in a timely manner.

If a pregnant woman has antibodies in the blood, the number of which increases, then we can already talk about the beginning of the Rh conflict. Under these circumstances, the expectant mother and her baby will need additional treatment, which is carried out in the perinatal center.

Finally, I would like to remind you once again that age is not an obstacle to pregnancy. Yes, at age 40, the risk of complications increases significantly. But with the professional support of doctors and a great desire, you can overcome all difficulties and feel the joy of motherhood.

Especially for - Marina Amiran

You are pregnant. Well, it seems like you should be happy, but for some reason there are only questions in my head “Maybe it’s too late?”, “Will I be able to give birth to a healthy baby?”, and all because you are no longer a girl, and your age has exceeded the fourth decade. Do you think that child over 40 cannot be born healthy, because this period is the most dangerous for childbearing?
Throw all doubts and nonsense out of your head. Start rejoicing that you will soon become a mother, and trust that your pregnancy will pass without complications. Of course, doctors will tell you that it is dangerous to give birth at this age, and the pregnancy itself will be difficult.

If you have definitely decided for yourself that you are ready to become a mother, do not back down. By the way, after 40 children gave birth to world stars, such as Madonna, Iman, Annette Bening, Cherie Blair, Susan Saradon and Jerry Hall.

We offer to consider the most popular questions that arise among those who are going to have a baby after 40 years.

At what age is a woman considered late in labor?

In the early 80s, those who gave birth to children after 28 years old were considered “late” mothers, and in the 90s, those women whose age was more than 35 years old began to be called “old-timers”. Nowadays most often “late” women in labor include women over 37 years old.

What are the chances of giving birth after 40?

As a woman ages, her chances of getting pregnant decrease steadily. After 30 years, they fall by 20%, from 35 years old - by 45-50%, and from 40 years old - by about 90%. Of course, these figures in no way indicate that a child after 40 is an unfulfilled dream.

It is possible to give birth, and this was confirmed by scientists in North Carolina, who have been observing for two years for 782 pairs old age. The results showed that only 70 couples failed to conceive after having sex without condoms for two years. Principal researcher David Dunson says couples who want to have a baby after 40 should have patience and wait, while not forgetting about maintaining a constant sexual life. As a result, the intervention of modern reproductive technology can be avoided, unless there are good reasons for this.

Why do women give birth so late?

If we compare how forty-year-old women lived 10-30 years ago and how they live now, we can observe a high improving the quality of life. Today, such women have good health, can take care of themselves by visiting fitness and spa centers, besides, modern medicine can work real miracles. Dr. Julia Berryman believes that women over 40 are more ready to get pregnant, since they have already taken place in life, have a good job and all other benefits.

What is the percentage of mature women in labor?

IN last years there has been an increase in the number of women giving birth in adulthood. Today, a child after 40 is born in 2% of pregnant women. A recent study indicates that out of seven pregnant women, one pregnant woman is over 35 years old.

Does the age of a man affect pregnancy after 40?

Scientists at the University of Bristol conducted a study that showed that mature women have to wait longer for pregnancy if their partner is the same age.

So, it has been proven that a woman who is 3-5 years younger than a man is less likely to become pregnant after 40 than a woman whose man is her age or 2-3 years younger. British researchers have confirmed this fact. They interviewed several women who indicated that their child after 40 was born from men who were several years younger than them.

What else can interfere with pregnancy after 40?

The following can prevent you from conceiving a child:

• Wrong nutrition.
• Overuse coffee. If you drink more than two cups a day, then the ability to conceive decreases, and the risk of miscarriage also increases.
• Use alcohol.
• Smoking after 35 years, it threatens with congenital malformation of the fetus and the birth of a child with low weight.
• Thinness and fullness also negatively affects the birth of children in adulthood.
• stress. The more a woman is nervous and worried, the less likely she is to have a baby after 40.

Do I need to seek medical help?

In adulthood, when it has already exceeded 35, a woman begins perimenopause, When very difficult to catch ovulation days. That is why it is best to seek the help of a doctor who will determine what can be done. Most likely, he will develop a special diet and prescribe vitamins. Some doctors advise their patients to undergo acupuncture, which has a positive effect on the development of ovulation.

What effect does age have on pregnancy?

The older a person gets, the more likely they are to develop any disease. As a rule, closer to 40, many women have chronic disorders, including diabetes. In addition, blood pressure can still increase, and the risk of malignant tumors is very high. Of course, such violations negatively affect the birth of children after 40.

And even if the woman does not have any diseases, hypertension, diabetes, and bleeding can occur at any time during pregnancy.

Postpartum complications increase already at the age of 20-29, but most often, and this is 20%, they appear at the age of 35-40 years. As a rule, with the development of modern medicine, any pregnancy disorders are recognized already on early dates therefore more likely that a child after 40 years of age will be born healthy.

How is childbirth in adulthood?

Often, in order to give birth after 40, women have to induce labor, do epidural anesthesia. Many women in labor cannot give birth on their own, so they are given C-section .

Some studies show that much depends from the mood of the women in labor. Those who are more clearly aware of everything, it is easier to fulfill the requests of doctors and agree to a caesarean section.

Does the risk of giving birth by caesarean section increase with age?

While such dependence not installed. Surgery has the same percentage, both at 30 and at forty years.

Can the age of the mother affect the development of the child?

High probability the fact that a child after 40 will be born unhealthy or developmentally disabled. The risk of having a child with a disease such as Down syndrome.

According to recent studies, after 30 years, one child in 400 is born Down, and after 40 - one in 32. In addition, late births can end ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage and stillbirth. It has not yet been possible to determine the cause of stillbirth in older pregnant women, while one out of 440 babies is still born today.

What is the percentage of miscarriages in women of mature age?

Miscarriages have become a frequent occurrence in our lives. Compared to new mothers, the risk of miscarriage in mature women is about 50% higher. Childbirth after 40 most often has such an outcome.

Here, by the way, obstetric and genealogical history plays a role. It will not be difficult to understand that women who have never had a miscarriage have a lower risk of miscarriage at the age of 40 than those who have experienced such a pregnancy outcome at least once in their lives.

How common are preterm births?

A child after 40 years old can be born prematurely, but only if the woman gives birth not the first child. Those who are expecting their first child most often give birth at term.

Does the chance of having twins or triplets increase with age?

The older the woman, the more likely that she will give birth to more than one child. But a greater chance falls on fertility fraternal twins.

There is an opinion that later children are more prone to diabetes. Is it so?

Yes, type 1 diabetes in later children depends on how old the mother was at the time of birth. At 35, it is about 25%, after forty 30% or more.

For example, a woman can give birth to a child after 40, who has adolescence to develop diabetes, while the probability is 3 times higher than in children born to young mothers.

Should a pregnant woman be under increased medical supervision?

Yes, a pregnant woman should most often go to the doctor, take tests and undergo various studies.

What is the probability that the doctor will prescribe surgery?

Yes, Doctors today tend to play it safe, appointing women in labor instead of the usual birth of a caesarean section. But today, all over the world, based on practice, doctors are trying to avoid such actions, increasingly directing women in labor to natural childbirth.

Maybe it's better to refuse the birth of a child?

There is a certain risk of having a baby after 40, but this is not a reason to refuse pregnancy. After all a healthy woman and at that age can give birth to a completely healthy child.

What types of tests are used to diagnose the pregnancy of "late" mothers?

There are two types of tests used in the process of monitoring a pregnant woman. This scanning and diagnostics. Scanning tests give only preliminary conclusions about the likely presence of deviations:

The study of hormonal levels in the blood. It is used to identify the risk of chromosomal abnormalities, including Down syndrome. Time of carrying out - 16-18 weeks of pregnancy.

Ultrasonography also used to detect various anomalies, including Down syndrome and various genetic disorders. A child after 40 is examined at 10-18 weeks of pregnancy.

Diagnostic tests provide more accurate and reliable information:

Chorionic test (CVS)- uterine cells are taken for research, during the diagnosis of which the presence or absence of Down syndrome, as well as some other genetic disorders, is revealed. A test is carried out at 11-13 weeks of pregnancy, the accuracy of the study is 99.9%.

Amniocentesis used to study amniotic fluid, during which the diagnosis of muscular dystrophy, Down's syndrome and many other genetic disorders occurs. The data obtained is accurate with 99.9%. Terms of carrying out - 16-19 weeks of pregnancy.

Alpha fetoprotein- a blood test, which is performed at 15-18 weeks. It is used to detect Down syndrome and defects of the nervous system.

Cordosentesis is a fetal blood test that helps detect rubella, toxoplasmosis, and Down syndrome. It is carried out at the 18th week of pregnancy.

Are tests dangerous for mother and child?

All tests do not pose a risk to the pregnant woman and her fetus, with the exception of amniocentesis, chorionic test and cordocentesis. When taking uterine cells for research, there is risk of miscarriage, and this may happen in one in 100 cases. The risk of miscarriage during cordocentesis and chorion test is 1-2%.

Should every woman do these tests?

No, not necessarily. Usually, every fifth woman, going to give birth to a child after 40, refuses to from passing such tests. This is their right, but it should be remembered that in some cases it is simply necessary to do this or that test from a medical point of view.

And the truth is that mature women do better with their children?

Research shows that "mature" mothers are more calm, balanced and, as a rule, spend more time with their child. Life experience, accumulated over many years, makes itself felt precisely in the period of raising children. As a rule, they better shopping experience. By the way, according to statistics, the children of "late" mothers are more well-mannered and are distinguished by increased academic performance at school.

Can the birth of a child be a shock to the mother?

Undoubtedly, before that, a woman devoted her whole life to herself, and now 24 hours a day it is necessary to be near the baby. Fatigue, which is inherent in young mothers, does not leave those who have given birth to a child after 40.

There is an opinion that mature mothers live longer.

Research conducted by scientists at the University of Manchester showed that women who give birth at the age of 35-40 have a greater chance of surviving to 80-90 years. It was not possible to establish the reasons for this, but there is an assumption that the increase in the life of old-timers is due to postponing menopause to a later date.

They gave birth to late children

• Geena Davis gave birth to a daughter, Alize Keshwar, at the age of 46. Two years later, twins appeared in the family.
• Kim Basinger gave birth to a daughter, Ireland, at 42.
• Beverly D, Angelo At 46, she gave birth to twins by artificial insemination.
• Great Madonna gave birth to her first child, daughter Lourdes, at the age of 40, and 2 years later, her son Rocco was born. Hearing rumors that she was allegedly going to adopt a baby, the great star threatened to sue, as in fact she was accused of not being able to have children anymore. Most likely, in the near future, the pop diva will decide to give birth to her third child.

The birth of a baby is a happy moment, no matter how old his mother turned. Future "late" mothers once again want to wish patience and good mood. You will definitely be fine. So be prepared for the fact that all your time will be spent on a small creation. Is this not a woman's happiness?

Pregnancy after 40 years is a very serious topic, requiring a thorough approach, a thorough analysis of all the pros and cons, especially taking into account the changes that have occurred in a woman’s body since the very favorable period to conceive a baby is a thing of the past. But still…

Childbirth after 40 years in recent decades has become an increasingly frequent occurrence in our lives. And what pleases - the number of successful pregnancies is also increasing. What is the reason for this, let's not be afraid of this word, happy statistics?

There are many factors contributing to this.

Why do children become more frequent after 40?

Firstly, at such an adult age, a woman comes to the decision to give birth to a child consciously. Therefore, pregnancy is preceded by preparation, both physical and moral. The expectant mother tries to follow the recommendations of doctors, healthy lifestyle life, avoid stressful situations, get as many positive emotions as possible.

Secondly, pregnancy at the age of 40 is a completely conscious phenomenon, since the material basis of the future family has been prepared.

Thirdly, the level of development of medicine today makes it possible to cope with many health problems of the expectant mother, including those that were insurmountable just a few years ago. New drugs and technologies appear, thanks to which those who have long lost hope of giving birth at the age of 40 have real chances to conceive, endure pregnancy, and become happy mothers.

In addition, modern couples often resort to in vitro fertilization, as well as far-reaching pregnancy planning - egg vitrification (in other words, freezing of biomaterial in order to use it in the future). Thus, the problem of childbirth after 40 years is often resolved very successfully.

You can't discount the fact that women these days are more educated, armed with information, less superstitious. Today's adult mothers of toddlers are, of course, beautiful, happy and less and less worried about the opinions of others: "At her age ...".

We also do not use the medical epithet "old-timer" in this article, as you may have noticed. We are talking about “adult”, “mature”, “accomplished” as a person, prepared to become a mother, knowing the price of real happiness.

And yet, childbirth after 40 years has not only pros, but also cons. Or at least be very, very attentive to yourself.

Risks of Late Pregnancy: Not a Cause for Disorder

... And the reason is to carefully weigh everything, think it over, prepare well to successfully endure pregnancy, even after passing the 40-year threshold.

How to minimize risks? Childbirth after 40 years: what does preparation for pregnancy include? How to behave as an adult expectant mother? This is what will be discussed in this part of our article.

Risks, what are they, what are they associated with? How to increase the chances of a successful pregnancy and is it possible? In most cases, the answers to these questions will be positive, BUT! if you are honest enough.

The first, main problem on the way to a happy birth of a child after the age of 40 is conception itself. As you know, with age, the number of female eggs decreases. If at the beginning of childbearing age (the medical language of the pubertal period) there are about 300 thousand of them, then by the age of 43 their number is so small that the chances of getting pregnant are reduced to only 1-2%. However, even a small fraction should not be discounted if pregnancy is still undesirable! Well, if you still intend to become a mother at this age - let's try!

In this article:

Late pregnancy today no longer surprises anyone. Increasingly, there are women who decide to give birth to a child in adulthood, when the children of their peers are already finishing school. This is due to the development of medicine, and a number of social aspects. Many women are set up first to receive a higher education, or even two, they strive to make a career, secure a high financial position, or even just “live for themselves.” Given modern advances in medicine, a woman is quite capable of bearing and giving birth to a healthy child in adulthood. Therefore, the number of so-called late-born children is increasing every year.

At what age is a woman considered a "late childbirth"?

A couple of decades ago, the terms "old primiparous" (women who gave birth after 28 years) and old primiparous (those who turned 35) existed. Now these terms are no longer available, and from the point of view of modern obstetrics, women who plan to give birth to their first child after 37 years are considered late mothers.

What are the chances of giving birth to a full-fledged baby after forty?

Of course, with age, the probability of pregnancy becomes less, and the percentage of probable conception decreases significantly with age, amounting to only 10-15% by the age of 40. Embryo implantation is blocked by hormonal surges. But this does not mean that pregnancy is impossible. The results of observation of more than seven hundred married couples of mature age showed that it is possible to give birth. Only 70 women who were sexually active without protection for two years failed to conceive.

Numbers are numbers, but it should also be borne in mind that the body of each woman is individual. Much depends on the state of health of potential parents. Sometimes an older lady has significantly fewer health problems than a girl. And, nevertheless, the older the woman, the more difficult pregnancy and childbirth are tolerated. On the other hand, many experts argue that a woman who becomes a mother after 40 lives longer, because late childbirth has a rejuvenating effect and has a positive effect on a woman’s health - the likelihood of problems such as stroke, osteoporosis, genitourinary infections and etc.

Should I go to the doctors?

In the period when a woman's age exceeds the mark of 40 years, perimenopause occurs. At this time, the menstrual cycle is disrupted, the days of ovulation become more and more difficult to catch. Here you can be advised to consult a doctor who will help determine the days suitable for conception, select a specific diet, taking into account individual characteristics. Sometimes doctors prescribe acupuncture, which has a positive effect on the development of ovulation.

When pregnancy has come, visiting a doctor is especially important. Indeed, today there are practically no people who become healthier with age, especially in our difficult environmental situation and intense rhythm of life. Often, by the age of 40, a woman has a whole bunch of any diseases. This may be a chronic disorder, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, which is especially dangerous because it leads to oxygen starvation of the embryo, lack of nutrients, and, consequently, delays the development of the fetus. With age, the risk of developing malignant tumors also increases. All this has a negative impact on the birth of a child.

If such diseases are absent, this does not mean at all that they will not appear during pregnancy. With age, there is also a threat of miscarriage, which can cause a serious psychological wound to a woman.

Metabolic disorders or high blood pressure can lead to premature aging of the placenta and its detachment from the walls of the uterus.

Significantly reduce the risk of such complications in late pregnancy will help to visit a doctor at the earliest stage. Modern technologies in medicine make it possible to identify any violations of pregnancy already in the very first stages, which significantly increases the chances of safely giving birth to a healthy baby. Therefore, it is absolutely not worth evading visiting a doctor in this situation.

Does a man's age affect pregnancy?

A study conducted by scientists from Bristol showed that with the same mature age of partners, pregnancy occurs much less frequently than when a man is several years younger than his partner. Age problems exist in men. When a man turns 40, the chances of becoming a father are significantly reduced - up to 60%, and after 45 years - up to 35%. Of course, there are cases when a man became a dad even at 60 and 70 years old. But this is rather a rare exception that proves the rule. In addition, it has been proven that children born to men who have become fathers at a later age are more likely to suffer from diseases such as schizophrenia and epilepsy.

Of no small importance here is the preservation of sperm quality throughout life. To do this, you need to lead a healthy lifestyle: exclude smoking and alcohol abuse, eat right, avoid overheating of the body. And of course, do not postpone the birth of a child for later.

Why are they giving birth so late?

The increase in the number of women who become mothers in their 40s is primarily due to a higher standard of living than a couple of decades ago. Numerous spas and fitness centers are at the service of women today. Not to mention the current level of development of medicine. Thanks to this, women have the opportunity to take care of themselves, maintain not only their own health, but also the health of their unborn child and not think about age.

The moral and material readiness for the appearance of a child increases with age. modern woman passionate about her work and career. She first sets the task of finding housing, material well-being, the ability to travel the world, your own business, etc., such a long list of "want". And especially - to meet a suitable partner so that you can marry him. And all this before pregnancy.

Thus, women today are deliberately pushing back motherhood. This also has its advantages. It has been established that a woman in adulthood is more responsible in planning pregnancy and childbirth. And subsequently, the child is given much more time and attention, especially if material wealth is already provided. On the other hand, there is a possibility of the birth of an unhealthy child or having any developmental disabilities.

How is childbirth

A huge impact on childbirth at any age, and especially in adulthood, has a positive attitude of the woman in labor. Still, labor often has to be induced. Many mothers after 40 cannot give birth on their own, they have to do a caesarean section. This is a simple operation and the risk of carrying it out does not depend on age. And here is the probability ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage or stillbirth is quite high.

Miscarriage is not uncommon these days, but older women have a 50 percent higher risk of miscarriage than younger women. Premature birth can only occur if this is not the first child. The first child is usually born at term.

In order for childbirth to be resolved safely, certain rules must be followed:

1. Responsibly approach your health issues: eat right and fully, consume the necessary amount of vitamins, take walks in the fresh air, exercise special exercises for pregnant women, as well as to engage in passive sports such as swimming or yoga.
2. Regularly visit your doctor, follow all the recommendations, undergo the necessary examinations and tests in order to be able to solve problems that arise with the method of intrauterine treatment.
3. If any complications occur, do not neglect inpatient treatment.
4. Always radiate positive energy, positive, good mood, love for your future baby. Avoid stress and fear of childbirth.

A woman can give birth to a healthy and strong baby at any age - both at the age of 40 and at 50. Provided that she is healthy, responsibly treats future motherhood, has a certain vitality and a desire to give life and her love to a little man. Then there is absolutely nothing to worry about in late childbirth.

Useful video about childbirth after 40 years

Many pop, theater and film stars today become parents at a rather late age, when they are far from being over 40, but even over 50 years old. This topic is widely discussed in the media, perhaps it was these events that prompted the reader of Letidor to send a letter to the editor.

She shared her opinion on the topic of why giving birth after 40 years is even married woman already too late. We considered her letter quite curious and publish it on an anonymous basis.

I have a friend who, like me, is a little over 40. Once upon a time, about 20 years ago, she tried to plan her future, and so one of the important items on her list was a child. She planned to give birth to him before the age of 30, even if she did not marry. She did not marry, there was still no time for children, the years passed in work and pleasures for her beloved. Suddenly, after 40 years, from all sides they began to shower her with “good” advice in the style of

“give birth, it’s not too late”, “give birth for yourself, otherwise you will be left alone in old age”, “give birth, because only then will you take place as a woman.”

All these advisers, most of whom had children, did not take into account the fact that the friend was lonely, that her parents were already elderly people, and could not help her in any way.

When she called to get my opinion, I told her that she would not even think of listening to anyone and that it was impossible to advise in such a matter in any case.

Later, I formulated for myself eight reasons why I myself would not give birth to another child at my age, even if I accidentally became pregnant.

1. The risk of giving birth to a sick child. It has long been no secret to anyone that the risk of giving birth to a child with chromosomal abnormalities, including Down syndrome, increases in direct proportion to the age of the mother. Not so long ago, I stumbled upon the site of gynecologist Tatyana Rumyantseva, where she admits that the risk of having a child with chromosomal abnormalities increases with age: at 20 years old it is 1 in 525, at 30 - 1 in 385, at 35 - 1 in 200, and at 40 - 1 to 65.

At the same time, the forecasts of modern doctors are quite optimistic, because medicine has made a huge leap in the field of genetics, and already in the first trimester it is possible to detect fetal chromosomal abnormalities.

But what if all the tests confirm these violations?

That is, a woman is just beginning to tune in to new life, get used to the idea that everything will be different now - and suddenly you need to make a decision: get rid of a sick fetus or raise a disabled child.

2. Heavy pregnancy. At this age, many women already acquire a number of diseases that only get worse during pregnancy. Miscarriage, missed pregnancy and preeclampsia - this is only a small list of possible complications.

Now imagine that this expectant mother goes to work and there is nowhere else for her to count on material support. It is unlikely that such an employee, who spends most of his working time on sick leave, will be appreciated in the team. Of course, if this is not the owner of her own business.

3. Serious material expenses. So far, we are talking about those expenses that will be required not after childbirth, but before them. After all, it is possible to reduce the risk of genetic abnormalities in the fetus, if in advance, preferably even before pregnancy, go for a consultation with a reproductologist and genetics. But how many women who want to have a baby can afford it? Not to mention the tests that will have to be taken, but which are not included in the insurance.

Few people with average earnings can afford such expenses.

Add also the costs of the contract for childbirth, and after all, a woman after 40 is recommended to give birth not in an ordinary maternity hospital, but in a perinatal center, where prices, depending on the region, of course, are exorbitant. Yes, there are specialists and equipment, a different level of diagnostics, they can provide assistance quickly and efficiently, but this requires great financial resources.

4. Fear of being alone. All these “prospects” for the future, when there will be no one to serve a glass of water, are no reason to have a baby at all. Such an approach, from my point of view, is the first thing that should make a woman discard all thoughts of pregnancy.

A child is not a pet, a servant, a companion, or a nurse.

You have no right to take his life away from him to brighten up your own. Get a dog or a bird, you can talk to them, although they require care, they are quite affordable at any age.

5. Give birth for yourself. This is another reason that encourages many women, often single women, to "have" a child. In general, this point has something in common with the previous one. What does "for yourself" mean? A normal mother gives birth to a child for himself, for love, for happiness. The “begetting for yourself” approach is pure selfishness.

What right do you have to give new life to subjugate it to yourself? A child is a creature just like you and has the right to live his own life, different from yours. A mother can only give life, this is how nature works, but she gives it not for herself, but for a new person with his own destiny.

Caring for a child in the first year of life, and even at the age of six or seven years, is hard physical work. The baby is worried about colic, he does not sleep well at night, he has hypertonicity and periodically teething - all these seem to be minor problems, but they require strength and patience.

If a young mother at the age of 25 copes with these problems quite easily (and this is a question), although even she needs a good sleep, then for a woman after 40 every such sleepless night will seem like hell.

No matter how it turns out that at some point she will break down on the child and yell at him, curse her once voluntary decision to become a mother.

I'm not talking about postpartum depression, it's still a diagnosis that requires health care I only mean physical activity which becomes more and more difficult to cope with over the years.

7. Raising a child is not playing with a doll. Suppose a woman coped with the first difficulties and, when the child was three years old, went to work. Who will sit with the child? I asked this question to my friend when she asked me about my opinion about pregnancy.

Ideally, the child can be enrolled in kindergarten and/or entrust parenting to grandparents. But if a woman gives birth at 25-35 years old, her parents are usually 50-60 years old, at this age they are quite deftly coping with their grandchildren. My friend is 42, she late baby, about how old are her parents - counted? No more questions.