What age is too old to have a baby? Is it 45 or as late as 50?  Should you try to get pregnant before you turn 30 or can you push it off to 35? Exactly when does the infamous biological clock stop ticking? And does it give a warning first? If you missed your period, should you take a pregnancy test, or are you too old to have a baby? Are we racing against the clock or trying to stop the clock all together? And what exactly is a geriatric pregnancy? So many questions!

The phrase “geriatric pregnancy” is sometimes used by doctors when speaking about a pregnant woman who is aged 35 or older. Doctors began using the phrase around 1970. Fortunately, the phrase has become outdated. The occasional use of the phrase still creates confusion and a negative impression for many women, though. Why would a 35-year-old be referred to or categorized by a word that is defined by the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “something that is of, related to, or appropriate for an elderly person?” This is confusing because the word elderly is usually used for people who are aged 65 and older.

The problem is that using the phrase “geriatric pregnancy” causes us to associate the risks, concerns, and problems of old age to pregnancy. This negative association of being too old to have a baby creates exaggerated stress and fear for women facing pregnancy who are aged 35 or older.

Fortunately, doctors are replacing the phrase “geriatric pregnancy” with “advanced maternal age.” While that is a step in the right direction, there is still a need for clarity and understanding. So, what do we need to know about advanced maternal age? First, women should know that advanced maternal age does not mean one should automatically expect the worst. According to Web MD, “it’s not only possible to deliver a healthy baby after age 35, it’s quite common.” This is good news! However, Web MD points out that fertility starts to decline at age 30, so it may be more difficult for women to get pregnant beyond that age. But difficult and impossible are not the same!

Additionally, women need to know that advanced maternal age does not automatically mean one may have a difficult or dangerous pregnancy. It is recommended that women of advanced maternal age are more attentive to their overall health and pregnancy. This is important because women of advanced maternal age may be at greater risk for conditions that require more detailed or immediate care during their pregnancy and delivery. 

Finally, women should know that there are some benefits to having a baby at or after age 35. Wondering if you’re too old to have a baby implies there are only negatives associated with a pregnancy at this age. That’s not true. Women aged 35 or older are often at a point in their life where they are more settled. Women at this age have more life experiences and often have more emotional maturity and financial stability.

Another benefit is that women in their 30s and beyond usually have more patience and tolerance for little ones. Women at this stage of life also have the benefit of having friends and peers who have more knowledge and experience; they can offer valuable support and advice, if needed.  Click HERE to hear one woman’s take on pregnancy a little later in life.

So if you facing a pregnancy later in life, here is what you need to do:

• Don’t assume that you’re too old to have a baby.
• Take the necessary steps, as you would with any pregnancy, to do all you can to have a healthy pregnancy and delivery.