Many risks are associated with pregnancies where the mother is 35 years of age or older at the time of conception. The mother is at a higher risk for factors such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure, and early pregnancy (Newberger, 2020). The baby is also at increased risk for genetic abnormalities such as down syndrome and other defects.
Down syndrome is the main risk I think of regarding the topic of high risk or mature pregnancy. The risk for the baby having down syndrome increased t 1/365 at the age of 35, as opposed to a risk of 1/1,300 at the age of 25. Down syndrome is when a baby is born with trisomy 21, or an extra 21 chromosome. Frequent indications of a baby include a flat face profile, higher risk for mental delay, loose skin, decreased muscle tone, and other phenotypic features (Newberger, 2020).
Turner syndrome is another risk factor associated with mature pregnancies. Turner syndrome is only present in females when one of the X chromones are missing or underdeveloped. Babies with Turner syndrome experience congenital defects, shortened height growth, kidney abnormalities, and other physical denotations. Females born with Turner syndrome may have difficulty conceiving or infertility later in life (Mayo Clinic Staff, 2018).
Klinefelter syndrome is yet another genetic abnormality highly associated with 35 or older pregnancies. Klinefelter syndrome is present in males, as it is the presence of an extra X chromosome among the normal XY. Males born with Klinefelter syndrome experience slowed or underdeveloped sexual maturation. This condition can include not only one but up to three extra chromosomes (NIH, 2020).
Advancements in modern medicine include genetic screenings, anatomy ultrasounds, and growth scans. These tests happen around 11 to 20 weeks of pregnancy. Fetal monitoring is prevalent in women with pregnancies age 40 and up. Cell-free fetal DNA is also a common test in women with pregnancy at age 35 and older. Cell-free fetal DNA testing tests the mother’s blood for genetic problems with the baby early in the pregnancy (www.urmc.rochester.edu, 2020).
My personal beliefs on pregnancy over the age of 35 stem from an empathetic standpoint. The choice to procreate should be a personal decision. However, with this choice comes immense responsibility and as a responsible adult, the mother and father should take steps to ensure the baby has the best quality of life. It is hard to say I would consider or not consider late pregnancy at this point in life. I think society has a problem when this concept due to the president of having children at a young age; however, as life expectancy and modern medicine develop, I believe societal thought on the subject will as well.
Newberger, D. S. (2000, August 15). Down Syndrome: Prenatal Risk Assessment and Diagnosis. Retrieved from https://www.aafp.org/afp/2000/0815/p825.html
Turner syndrome. (2017, November 18). Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/turner-syndrome/symptoms-causes/syc-20360782
Klinefelter syndrome - Genetics Home Reference - NIH. (2020, February 11). Retrieved from https://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition/klinefelter-syndrome#genes
Risks of Pregnancy Over Age 30 . (2020). Retrieved from https://www.urmc.rochester.edu/encyclopedia/content.aspx?contenttypeid=90&contentid=P02481