This crazy world we live in is demanding and the priorities in a woman’s life have changed markedly in the past fifty years. More and more women choose education, career, and traveling before they are ready to get married and/or have a baby. That is why more and more women opt to get pregnant after they turn 40. This much is certain being as, in many Western countries the mean age at which women have their first first child has crossed the 30 threshold.
Of course, it is possible to get pregnant after 40, but the chances are much lower than for younger women. Studies have shown that at age 40, only some 44 % of women will get pregnant and give birth within one year, while over a four-year long period that number rises to 64 %. To be more specific, this means 44 among 100 women will conceive within one year. This number are based on a general population of women aged 40. The numbers are lower if a woman has a medical condition that could interfere directly or indirectly with conception.
Why is this so? The answer is very simple. As you age, so do your eggs. A woman is born with all her eggs and when puberty begins, these eggs are maturing and readying for conception. Moreover, ovarian reserves drop as one ages and is estimated to be at only three percent of capacity by the time you reach your forties. This means that the ovaries’ potential to produce fertile eggs is much lower compared to the potential of someone who is 24 years old which is considered to be the peak of a woman’s fertilization capacity.
Having a first child in your forties may mean that you end up only having one child, because the biological chances for a second or third child are decreasing rapidly. But chances not most definitelies so there is no place for pessimism. On the contrary, you want to approach the project of having a baby with joy and curiosity – two attitudes that could also improve your chances to succeed. Also, commit yourself, together with your partner, to living a healthy lifestyle and eating well-balanced meals made of healthy, unrefined foods. Be sure to get plenty of physical activity and add some relaxation techniques or even prayer to your routine. You’ll also want to enjoy a rich social life. All of these things could bring you closer to success and satisfaction.
Besides this, consider that as a 40-year old woman, you have a different attitude toward life than someone who is 25, for example so consider that too. Don’t be afraid to try some counseling about your expectations, fears, and hopes as well as about your possible childlessness. There are pros and cons to not having a child and nothing is black and white. Make an effort to find out as much as you can.
You should also know that there is a increased risk for chromosomal abnormalities in pregnancies in mothers over 40. For example, in a 40 year old woman, there is a 1 in 100 chance that the child will be born with Down Syndrome, while at 45 years old, this number increases to 1 in 30 pregnancies. And while that statistic can be troubling, there are methods to follow these risky pregnancies closely and you can discuss them with your OB/GYN so you can have the healthy pregnancy you have always hoped for.
Natural methods of conception is the best and safest way to get pregnant. To learn effective and natural ways to conceive a baby despite irregular menstrual cycle and ovulation, please visit WaysToConceiveABaby.com.
———
Visit us regularly for more information on being expectant moms.
