📝Writer EggU Counselor Mi-yan
In recent years, the average age at which women become pregnant has been increasing due to the trend toward later marriage and an increase in women prioritizing their careers. While medical advances have made it possible to give birth to a healthy baby even during older pregnancies, the risks increase with age. However, even if you know that having a child while young is best, you may wonder whether embarking on such a major life stage as pregnancy and childbirth—when you're not mentally ready, when your career is on track, and when you have a stable social status and can do what you want—is the best choice for you. So, let's consider what knowledge and considerations you should have when your pregnancy and childbirth period is likely to fall into what is commonly known as "late-age childbirth," or when it does occur .
Late-life childbirth and its risks
While there is no medical definition of "late-age childbirth," first-time pregnancy or birth is defined as a "first-time birth at an advanced age" if the woman is over 35 years old. The term "late-age childbirth" often conjures up negative connotations, such as "high-risk pregnancy," "high incidence of complications such as preeclampsia and gestational diabetes," and "high incidence of chromosomal abnormalities." I myself am one of those who have given birth at an advanced age, becoming pregnant at 36 and giving birth at 37. When I was 33, single and without a partner, I experienced a vague sense of anxiety: "Will I be able to have a child? Even if I were to find a partner now, if it takes several years to get married and pregnant, it might be an advanced-age birth...and if that happens, will I be able to give birth to a healthy baby?" I also felt the weight of the biological clock .
Isn't that how most women feel today?
What you can do to minimize the risk
The risks mentioned above are certainly real. However, it's also true that they can be minimized . In fact, I myself was able to give birth to a healthy baby without any of these complications. While it may seem trivial, there are many things you can do, such as eating a well-balanced diet before pregnancy and making regular diet and moderate exercise a habit to avoid excessive weight gain. Eating a good breakfast, even if it's a simple one, instead of skipping it is one thing you can do. Nutrients that women often lack, such as folic acid and iron, which are difficult to obtain from food, can be efficiently obtained through supplements. If you smoke or drink alcohol, gradually reduce your intake before pregnancy and prepare to quit smoking and alcohol smoothly during pregnancy. These are also things you can do.
Having your uterine and ovarian conditions regularly checked by your regular gynecologist is something you can do even before you become pregnant. It's also a rule to go for regular prenatal checkups during pregnancy . This will help detect any abnormalities early. If you're concerned about chromosomal abnormalities, it's very important to educate yourself and proactively prepare for checkups, understand what additional tests are available, and fully understand your options. And if you have a partner, it's essential to discuss your future, your hopes, intentions, and risks .
What we can do
Pregnancy and childbirth are topics that tend to be viewed negatively as people get older. However, by unraveling the issues one by one, we can gain a correct understanding of the risks, learn ways to minimize them, and put them into practice, which will hopefully help us to approach pregnancy and childbirth in a positive light .
However, the fact remains that we have a biological clock . Pregnancy itself becomes increasingly difficult, especially after the age of 35. That's why those who think they might become pregnant and give birth in their late 30s should be especially aware of their own bodies . The egg testing kit, EggU, visualizes the number of eggs remaining in the body and the risk of infertility. Through online counseling with experts, we help you think about what you can do now to one day conceive, and support you in creating a life plan that suits you. Please check out the details at the link below!
📝Writer EggU Counselor Mi-yan
After obtaining a nursing qualification in Australia, she experienced marriage, pregnancy, infertility, pregnancy, and childbirth in her late 30s, and struggled with her career and life plans. Currently working as a nurse, she also works as an EggU counselor and career/life coach.
