Nowadays, there are more and more women getting pregnant after 40. The truth is that many women are just so busy establishing themselves in the workplace or going through college that they simply do not settle down until later in life. This means that they might not meet the person with whom they want to start a family until their thirties or even later.

It is a fact that many women in their 40s find it quite difficult to conceive. If ever they do, they are more likely to experience gestational problems. Thus, if you are among the women attempting to conceive after 40, you should equip yourself with the knowledge on the problems and complications involved and how to address them so you can go through pregnancy successfully.

The first problem women getting pregnant after 40 face is the supply and quality of their eggs. By the time a woman reaches 40 years old, there’s not many eggs left to be fertilized and the reduction of egg supply occurs at an exponential rate. Hence, the possibility of conceiving is lessened when compared with younger women.

According to research, women in their 40s have approximately a 40-50% likelihood of getting pregnant. Some of the remaining eggs are typically faulty so it could increase the chances of genetic abnormalities or problems with implantation. To be able to determine these risks, women usually undergo the procedures like chorionic villi sampling and amniocentesis.

Women getting pregnant after 40 have a higher chance of experiencing miscarriages, still births and giving birth to a child with congenital defects. It is important for a woman and their spouse to be tested for genetic abnormalities. Even the health of the ovaries, uterus and sperm should be determined. Make sure to have regular prenatal visits with your physician to ensure that the fetus develops normally and that the mother is healthy. Watch out for conditions that may occur during pregnancy such as gestational diabetes and pre eclampsia (pregnancy-induced hypertension).

The process of giving birth may also present some complications. Women getting pregnant after 40 are susceptible to having a premature birth. Doctors may indeed recommend a cesarian delivery at a pre-planned time to ensure the safety of the procedure. Later in pregnancy, problems such as placenta previa or premature placental separation may put the life of the mother and baby in danger. The amniotic fluid may be stained with meconium (earliest stool of newborns) which could compromise the baby’s condition. The mother can also suffer from postpartum hemorrhage.

Here are some additional tips that can help in getting pregnant after 40:

It is important for a woman not to be obese to conceive successfully. Obesity causes increased level of estrogen in the body, which may prevent fecundity. It can also lead to difficulties such as diabetes, miscarriages and hypertension. It’s not just being obese. Being underweight imposes drawbacks as well. If a woman’s body mass index is lower than 18, ovulation can be hindered. It doesn’t matter if she is menstruating regularly.

It is not advisable for women to drink coffee if they want to get pregnant. Caffeine can cause fertility problems especially if one is considering in vitro fertilization (IVF). Aside from caffeine, smoking also poses complications in pregnancy. Lastly, manage the stress in your life. Eat properly, exercise regularly and have enough sleep. These simple acts can normalize your hormone levels, which is favorable when getting pregnant. Lastly, don’t forget to always stay positive and never lose hope.

What you must not do is give up hope. Getting pregnant after 40 is indeed possible for many women and if you find that you are not conceiving naturally, do not delay in getting advice from your doctor about assisted techniques including IVF Treatment