Is pregnancy at 40 possible? Check out all the details in this article we prepared for you!
What many people, and especially men, do not understand is that a woman’s body has the famous “biological clock.”
And this idea is ingrained in our minds from a very young age. And as the years go by, we start to feel pressure even from ourselves.
Some people believe that, after a certain age, a woman can no longer have children.
But believe it or not, pregnancy at 40 is possible!
Many studies indicate that getting pregnant at 40 brings a number of benefits, such as: a woman has more education, may have an established professional career, and is much more likely to breastfeed.
If you want to fulfill the dream of becoming a mother, but are afraid because of your age, in today’s post I bring you all the necessary information. Take a look!
Up to what age can a woman get pregnant naturally?
My mother always said that after age 25, the female body begins to go through a series of changes, and you really can notice this little by little.
So much so that, after this age, the fertility rate drops by approximately 20% per month. There are even specialists who indicate that peak fertility is between ages 20 and 24.
So, once you reach age 40, the chance drops to 1% per month, and by 45 it is practically impossible.
Once a woman’s reproductive period ends, menopause begins, when the ovaries literally die.
All this is because a woman is already born with a certain ovarian reserve. And this cycle goes from the first menstruation until the arrival of the dreaded menopause.
Why is it more difficult to get pregnant after 40?
Studies state that the best period for a woman to get pregnant is between ages 20 and 30.
This is because, after age 35, eggs begin an aging process, which can make pregnancy at 40 more difficult.
But this is not the only factor that can get in the way of fulfilling the dream of having children.
In general, after age 35, some health problems may arise during pregnancy that can harm the woman and even the baby during gestation.
Tests to find out whether a woman can still get pregnant
If you want to become pregnant at 40 and are in doubt, there are a series of tests your doctor may recommend to be more certain whether this is possible. They are:
Basal Hormone Testing: a blood test that analyzes the production of female hormones, as well as ovarian function, the ovulation cycle, and the number of eggs.
Anti-Müllerian Hormone: this blood test indicates the state of ovarian reserve.
Transvaginal Ultrasound: this is one of the most commonly used methods in these cases, as it identifies which stage of ovulation the woman is in.
Why is it considered a high-risk pregnancy?
Pregnancy after age 40 is always considered high-risk. This is because a woman may be prone to conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, obesity, thyroid disease, among others. These conditions during pregnancy can put both the mother’s and the baby’s lives at risk.
In addition, at this age the chances of the fetus having some chromosomal problem increase, and it may develop a genetic disorder such as Down syndrome.
For all these reasons, specialists recommend that future mothers undergo tests beforehand before becoming pregnant and receive complete monitoring.
Care a pregnant woman at 40 should take
As we saw earlier, care should begin even before pregnancy. It is recommended to have a preconception consultation, in which the doctor can assess the risks based on the tests requested.
Something essential that every specialist recommends is starting to take folic acid a few months before becoming pregnant and then throughout the pregnancy. This helps reduce the risk of possible malformations.
Once pregnant, there are some precautions worth keeping in mind so that the pregnancy is healthy.
One of the main ones is having a balanced diet rich in nutrients and vitamins; this is extremely important for pregnancy at 40.
There are several other equally important precautions, such as: exercising (always with professional guidance); having family support and taking care of your mental health.
Being a mother at 40 is possible!
Now that we have seen everything related to health, being a mother at 40 is indeed possible. We all know that there are risks, but at the same time, by following a series of precautions and specialist recommendations, the big dream can become reality.
Perhaps you have reached this age without having children for several reasons, and certainly all of them are valid.
As mentioned at the beginning of the post, women face a lot of pressure from family and even from society.
We are taught from a very young age to take care of the house, with the idea that, when we are old enough, we must get married and have children. It makes it seem as if this is the only formula to follow in life.
But the way women see life has changed. Many first seek to establish themselves professionally so they can later offer a better quality of life to their future children.
So, if you want to have a pregnancy and gestation at age 40, know that you are not alone. Seek out a specialist and they can show you the best path to follow so that the dream of becoming a mother comes true.
Also see our post: What to do to have a smooth pregnancy. It will certainly be very useful and help you clear up doubts on the subject. And that’s not all, we have many other relevant topics to share.
