Many women are finding themselves trying to conceive after the age of 35. Women these days are more independent and career oriented and as a result often decide to start the family late. By the time they successfully achieve their career goals, they reach the age of 35 or beyond. With increasing number of nuclear families, couples nowadays are planning the kids far apart and as a result the second pregnancies are mostly taking place after 35. Despite many challenges, women are successfully conceiving at 35 and after. But this can be riddled with many questions. Read on to know everything about getting pregnant at 35 and beyond.

Chances Of Pregnancy For Women Aged 35 And Over

Women aged 35 and over, have 15 to 20 percent chance of conceiving in a month. This means the likelihood of her getting pregnant in a year is 78 percent. This is because the quantity and quality of the egg declines as the age increases. Even if you manage to get pregnant, the pregnancy might not be as smooth as the pregnancy during your twenties.
As you get older, you are more likely to face certain health conditions (than younger women) that can bring about several complications before, during and after pregnancy. Understanding these risks is important to get better prepared before conceiving.

Risks Of Getting Pregnant At Or After The Age of 35

Here are some significant issues that are usually associated with pregnancy at 35 and above:

• Increased risk of preeclampsia
• Higher chances of ectopic pregnancy
• Risk of preterm birth
• Higher chances of developing gestational diabetes
• Risk of pregnancy induced hypertension
• Increased risk of miscarriage: Women aged 35 and over have 20 to 35 percent chance of miscarriage
• Increased chances of multiple pregnancies: The chances of multiple pregnancy are found to increase with age. This is mainly because most women have to undergo fertility treatment to get pregnant once they cross 35 years. Multiple pregnancies increase the chances of risk factors that can develop during late pregnancy
• Increased chances to undergoing a C-section: Older the mother, there are more chances for developing pregnancy complications that end up in a C-section

Risk To Baby When Mother Gets Pregnant At Or After The Age Of 35

The baby of an older mother is at a higher risk of:

• Developmental chromosomal abnormalities: Chromosomal abnormalities like Down syndrome is seen more among babies born to an older mother
• More prone to birth defects: Pregnancy at or above 35 increases the risk of birth defects in the baby
• Low birth weight: As the chances of preterm birth and multiple pregnancy increases so will the chances of having low birth weight babies

The Benefits Of Getting Pregnant At Or After The Age Of 35

Although getting pregnant after 35 poses a lot of health complications to both mother and baby but there are some advantages too. As an older mother you are:

• Well settled
• Financially independent
• Mature
• Realistic
• Dedicated to the idea of having a baby
• Well prepared for the forthcoming changes and adjustments that a new baby will bring to your life
• Will provide a positive and healthy environment to your baby as there is already a strong bond between you and your spouse

10 Valuable Tips To Increase The Chances Of Getting Pregnant At Or After The Age Of 35

Getting pregnant at the age of 35 and after can be very overwhelming. But there are a lot of things you can do to increase your chances of conceiving and having a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby. For that, there are certain precautions and preventive measures that you have to take. Here are some useful steps you can take:

1. Get a preconception checkup: When you decide that you are ready to get pregnant, it is vital to take a few steps before conception. Consult a doctor for a checkup to ensure you are healthy. He will assess your overall health and discuss lifestyle changes (if needed) that might improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy
2. Manage any preexisting health conditions: Never get into pregnancy with any uncontrolled health conditions like hypertension, thyroid or diabetes. With late pregnancy you are already at the risk of developing gestational diabetes and hypertension. Getting into pregnancy with preexisting health conditions will decrease your chances of conceiving. Get effective medication for any kind of health conditions and try and manage these issues through medicine and exercise before you conceive
3. Early and regular prenatal visits: The initial 8 weeks of pregnancy are very important for baby’s development. Early and regular prenatal care can increase the chances of having a safe pregnancy and delivering a healthy baby because regular prenatal check- ups help the doctor to closely monitor the health of both mother and baby to detect any problem early on. Finding issues like gestational diabetes and blood pressure earlier will help to start treatment on time, thereby reducing the chances of any harmful effects
4. Eat a balanced diet: Incorporate a wide variety of nutritious foods in your daily meal. Include foods that are rich in folic acid, calcium, iron and vitamin D. Include lots of fruits and vegetable and low fat food in your diet
5. Stick to a healthy lifestyle: Quit smoking and drinking alcohol which are a big NO during pregnancy. Also, never have any over the counter medication or supplements without the permission of your doctor
6. Keep weight in check: Lose weight if you are overweight before conceiving as it increase pregnancy related complications. Also gaining the right amount of weight is important during pregnancy. You should follow this very strictly when you get pregnant late.Being overweight increases the risk of a complicated pregnancy. Ask the doctor about how much weight you should gain during each month (initially) and each week (later stages) and stay within the limit
7. Take prenatal vitamins: It is a good choice, if all women of childbearing age take prenatal vitamins daily. Taking 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) of B- vitamin folic acid every day before and during the first 3 months of pregnancy helps in preventing birth defects like spina bifidia. It is more relevant when it comes to older women since they have a higher risk of having a baby with birth defects relating to brain and spine
8. Stay active: Staying active and regular exercise is very important if you get pregnant at and after 35. This helps to boost your energy levels. However, always discuss with your doctor before starting any new exercise routine
9. Sleep well: It is necessary to have a good night’s sleep. If you are not able to sleep well, inform your doctor. It might be a good idea to reevaluate your bedroom surroundings, too. It is necessary to switch off the TV and leave your laptop and cell phone at the door to get a restful sleep
10. Avoid stress: Any kind of stress, be it work related or personal, has been directly linked to irregular periods, which in turn can make tracking your ovulation and conceiving difficult

5 Home Remedies To Increase Your Success Rate Of Getting Pregnant At Or After The Age Of 35

Here are a few home remedies that may be useful to increase your chances of getting pregnant at and after 35:

1. It is essential to monitor your menstrual cycle and be aware about your fertile days. You can also use an ovulation predictor kit that will help predict the ovulation days for you thereby increasing your chances of conception
2. It is helpful to monitor your basal body temperature and keep a record of it. If there is a slight rise in your body temperature, it shows that you are successfully ovulating, and it is the best time to have sex
3. Look for any considerable changes in your cervical secretion. This will enable you to understand if the embryo is successfully implanted in the uterus or not
4. Avoid vigorous activities like running, climbing stairs, working out in the gym and lifting heavy objects during this period
5. It is also believed that massaging the uterus softly helps in promoting the supply of blood which leads to healthy growth of uterine tissue

You are now ready to have a baby but fear that you have missed your chance at motherhood since you are over 35. The good news is you can become a mom even in your late 30s but the conception will not be as easy as in your 20s. So go ahead, prepare yourself and take your chances. Have a healthy pregnancy!