Ask Sofia: Are There Benefits to Having a Baby Later in Life?
While many people would have you think the opposite – that you will be mistaken for grandma, you are taking too big of a risk, you don’t have the same stamina you had when you were in your 20s – there are many benefits to having babies later in life. We have many patients in their late 30s and 40s who are wonderful examples of this trend. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, births to women ages 35 and over – even women in their 50s – continue to trend upwards.
If you wait to have a baby, your child will be more likely to graduate from high school and attend college. Your child will benefit from the fact that you are more likely to be financially, educationally and socially well off. And your child will enjoy advances in medicine and society that wouldn’t have been available two decades ago. He or she may even be taller, according to a recent study published in “Population and Development Review.”
Granted, health risks do increase with age – including genetic abnormalities, pregnancy complications and challenges in conceiving – but maintaining your health during pregnancy can mitigate many of these. This starts with regular prenatal check-ups and also entails a healthy diet and exercise, plus good prenatal habits.
Dr. Donna Block was recently interviewed about this trend in the “Star Tribune,” noting that: “By the time you’re in your late 30s or early 40s, you already have a few decades of real life experience. You’re established in your career, you’re economically comfortable enough, and you probably are a little better prioritized about how to spend time and money. Women who come to me at this point, who make the choice, really want it and are committed to changing their lives.”
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