It is estimated that pregnancy at 35 and 40 years of age increases the risk of developing congenital malformations by 1 and 2.5%, respectively.

In recent decades, it has been observed that women are choosing to postpone the timing of pregnancy
pregnancy
for different reasons, whether professional, cultural or social. This event occurs more frequently in developed countries, where women seek greater economic growth, professional development, and emotional stability before deciding on a career.
pregnancy
This has led to an increase in older pregnant women.

Advanced maternal age was defined in 1958 by the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics as women 35 years of age or older; however, with the sociodemographic changes mentioned above, some authors now consider advanced maternal age or geriatrics to be 40 or even 45 years of age.

Such considerations correspond to Dr. Néstor Salcedo Estrella, specialist in gynecology and obstetrics and human reproduction of the Hospital Metropolitano de Santiago (HOMS), consulted on the subject on the occasion of the commemoration of the World Day of Obstetrics and Pregnancy.

What complications can arise in a pregnancy at an advanced maternal age?

Complications associated with advanced maternal age can be divided into maternal complications and fetal complications. The first group includes acquired excess weight, maternal mortality, hypertensive heart disease, and other diseases.pregnancygestational diabetes, premature rupture of membranes, spontaneous abortion, higher frequency of cesarean section, preterm delivery and obstetric hemorrhage. These complications, in turn, increase the risk of neonatal complications.

Hypertensive disease of pregnancy
pregnancy
Preterm birth, premature rupture of membranes, and gestational diabetes are associated with preterm delivery; in addition, children born to mothers with gestational diabetes have two to six times the risk of fetal malformations.

At the newborn level, what are the most common complications?

The most common ones are low birth weight, prematurity, orbito, increased risk of admission to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, respiratory distress syndrome, perinatal asphyxia, Apgar less than seven at one minute and five minutes, and neonatal mortality. On the other hand, it is estimated that apregnancyat 35 and 40 years of age increases the risk of developing congenital malformations by 1 and 2.5%, respectively. Up to two thirds of miscarriages in older mothers present some chromosomal alteration, as is the case of Down syndrome, in which there is a progressive risk of developing it after the age of 35.

What other conditions can the complications be associated with?

In addition to the complications caused by pregnancy
pregnancy
In addition to complications caused by pregnancy, advanced maternal age is usually associated with complications from pre-existing conditions such as hypertension, surgical history and diabetes.