Planning for pregnancy after age 35? Here’s what you need to know

More women are getting pregnant at an older age. Meghan Markle was 37 when she gave birth to her first child, Archie, and 39 when she welcomed her youngest daughter, Lilibet. Closer to home, local celebs like Zoe Tay, Stefanie Sun, Jamie Yeo and Fann Wong all had children after turning 40.

For her first birth, Meghan was one of the older royal mums, so the Palace took extra precautions to make sure she had a healthy pregnancy with no complications.

But unlike the rest of us, who don’t have leading specialists and doctors on stand-by, what does it mean if we fall pregnant or are trying to conceive over the age of 35? Fertility expert Dr Joseph Sgroi lifts the lid on what it means to be an older-than-average mum.

1. There’s an inevitable decline in the chances of conception

Despite more women choosing to start a family later in life, unfortunately, biology hasn’t caught up with the times. In fact, Dr Joe says there’s a decline from around the age of 30.

“Below 30 the chance of conception is around 20-25 per cent per month. By 35, that it is around 17 per cent per month and by 40, around 8-10 per cent per month,” he says.

2. There are higher risks, depending on your history

Another blow is that becoming a mum over 35 means more risks, though it ultimately depends on any underlying medical conditions the woman has, such as their pre-pregnancy BMI and blood pressure.

“Mothers over the age of 35 have an increased chance of pregnancy-related diabetes and high blood pressure. This can sometimes lead to babies smaller or larger than average,” says Dr Sgroi.

All the better to do a thorough checkup before planning to get pregnant, so you can identify any potential underlying issues and remedy those first.

3. Your child may actually be smarter

But it’s not all bad news – babies born to mothers over the age of 35 have better neurodevelopment outcomes. Research shows that mums who are 35 or older tend to have children who display faster cognitive development than those who are 30 and younger, possibly because mums over 35 typically have more access to resources such as education.

4. See a specialist if you’ve been trying for half a year

Generally speaking, it’s not necessary to go for fertility treatment once a woman hits 35. But if you and your partner have been trying for six months without any success, that’s when you should go to your GP and be referred to a fertility specialist. They will be able to conduct tests and advise you on the next possible steps for conception.

5. Don’t wait too long

Of course, it’s important to be physically, financially and emotionally ready should you want to conceive a child. But Dr Sgroi also says that things do start to slow down with age, with the chances of natural conception dropping rapidly after 40. It’s why many women resort to IVF.

6. It’s possible up to age 52

Depending on health, women can become mums older than you may think.

“If a woman had no medical conditions that might impact on her own health or that of a developing baby, then accessing donor eggs up until the age of 52 is reasonable – though we should also take into account that the child will have older parents and it may result in impacts later on in life,” says Dr Joe.

7. Examine your lifestyle habits

Many couples who struggle to fall pregnant assume it’s out of their hands. What they may not know is that sometimes a strategic change in diet, lifestyle and outlook can make all the difference.

In fact, according to the Fertility Society of Australia, one-third of people aged 30-39 have lifestyle habits which may be impacting their fertility, including excessive drinking, smoking and weight problems.

8. Your overall health and stress levels matter

“Our bodies reproduce when we’re in a prime state of health,” explains Reine Du Bois, a naturopath based in Byron Bay. “So that’s why when we’re younger we’re more likely to get pregnant because our livers are younger, our kidneys are younger, our blood is cleaner. It’s not just about the ovaries, it’s about our overall health and as we get older we also take on more and become more stressed and nutrient-depleted.”

9. Nourish your body

Even with IVF and IUI options, we need to ensure we’re in optimal health first before going for fertility treatments.

That means cutting out smoking and drinking, and ensuring our body has all the nutrients and vitamins it needs in order to be a healthy environment for housing a baby. A thorough checkup and blood count will reveal any deficiencies your body has, and seeing a nutritionist may help.

This article was originally published in Singapore Women’s Weekly.