‘WE MUST STOP SCARING OLDER MOTHERS’

A top midwife has hit out at medics for overstating the risks of later motherhood. Dr Christian agrees we need some perspective

Recently, the R CEO of the Royal College Of Midwives, Cathy Warwick, said of women having children later in life, “I’m not sure why we’re so worried about age and I’m not sure we should be terrifying women about it.” I agree.

There are some increased risks of late motherhood, but we know what they are and we know how to manage them. Women have been having babies later and later for decades without problems.

Cathy went on to say that even if you have your baby at 42 or 45, it’s a relatively small increase in risk if you’re “otherwise healthy.” She’s right. Weight is an important risk factor, and a lot of people are now overweight, so the more important message would be to make sure you’re a normal weight with a healthy lifestyle when you want to start a family – whatever your age.

WRONG IMPRESSION

There are problems with having a baby too young as well – both physically and emotionally. Rather than frightening women, we should be supporting them whatever time of life they choose to have a child.

The offspring of older mums are often referred to as “miracle” babies. That gives the impression it’s impossible to have a baby in later life, which is simply not true. The menopause occurs around the age of 50, which means you’re fertile and able to get pregnant until that point. The proportion of over-40s mothers has trebled in three decades.

Reporting can skew research, too. Recently, a US study of 800,000 women found that women giving birth in their 40s were “up to five times as likely to suffer severe complications.” That sounds terrifying, but those complications – things like kidney failure, obstetric shock, and amniotic fluid embolism – are incredibly rare, so even when you increase them fivefold they’re still very unusual.

The Down’s Syndrome risk also increases with age, but at 35 it affects roughly one in every 400 babies, and at 40, of every 100 babies, 99 won’t be affected by Down’s. The majority of pregnancies in older women are uncomplicated and end with a healthy mum and baby.

ALL ABOUT BALANCE

There’s a lot to be said for being a bit older, more established in your career, more comfortable with who you are and sure you’re with the right person. And there are far more risks if you get pregnant at 23 but are obese, or smoke 40 a day, than if you fall pregnant at 35 or 40 but lead a healthy lifestyle. Let’s get some perspective.