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With the start of the year comes reflection and nostalgia, which is why I have had time to think about the fact that being a mother has been one of the best roles I have fulfilled as a woman. It’s not an easy task, but it’s always very rewarding; that’s why I can proudly say that my life has been better thanks to my daughters.
However, there is also another group of women who decide NOT to be mothers, and that’s a respectable choice.
And today, we also find other women who have postponed motherhood for different reasons, such as achieving job stability, pursuing projects, and, of course, finding a stable partner.
That’s why it’s now normal and common to find first-time mothers at 40 and even at 45 and 50. And although age is a determining factor, health is also a great ally.
If a woman is in good health and her ovarian reserve is adequate, it’s very likely that she will be able to have a pregnancy at any age. Of course, it’s also necessary to have medical checkups and ultrasounds to prevent any complications.
However, there are always risks for women over 40, such as hypertension, gestational diabetes, C-section, placenta previa, or premature birth, and even miscarriages.
It’s important to explain why age is a determining factor in getting pregnant. You see, for every year that pregnancy is delayed, the chances of getting pregnant are reduced by 5% due to the decline in egg quality and reserve. This is why doctors explain that it becomes more difficult to conceive after the age of 35.
Studies by the American Society for Reproductive Medicine state that after the age of 40, the chances of achieving pregnancy in a single ovulation cycle are reduced to 5%. At age 44, the chances drop to 1.6%, which is why egg donation is recommended. This technique involves a woman receiving eggs from an anonymous, young donor to be fertilized with sperm from her partner or a donor through in vitro fertilization to achieve pregnancy. This is an option for cases where women have fertility problems and cannot use their own eggs.
Now, paternal age is also a factor to be considered, as sperm quality also declines as men get older.
And although there seem to be more disadvantages to becoming a mother after 40, there are also many advantages:
- These are women who have thought long and hard about their decision to become mothers. According to scientific studies by the American Dietetic Association, mothers over 40 are better prepared for motherhood because they have achieved greater financial, professional, and emotional stability than they did in their 20s.
- A new study from Harvard University reveals that mothers who give birth after 40 generally tend to age more slowly and live longer than other women.
- Postpartum depression is less common in mature women.
Regarding this finding, researchers at Boston University and the Long Life Family Study found that women who had their last child after age 33 are twice as likely to live past age 95, and those who gave birth after age 40 are four times more likely to reach age 100 compared to those who had their children at a younger age.
Scientists found that the ability to conceive naturally at an older age may reflect a slower rate of biological aging and a stronger genetic makeup.
This doesn’t mean that women should delay motherhood, but it does show that nature is perfect and that at every stage of a woman’s life, the body prepares biologically to give life.
Late motherhood could be associated with better maternal well-being and greater socio-emotional development of the child, whether conceived naturally or through assisted reproduction treatment.
Many famous women have become mothers after the age of 40, including Madonna, Jennifer Lopez, Susan Sarandon, Kim Basinger, and, in our country (Colombia), former beauty queen Paula Andrea Betancourt, actress Manuela González, and TV presenter Jessica de la Peña, among others.
Geriatrician and professor Thomas Perls states that: “The fact that many women have had children after 40 suggests that there is a clear relationship between late motherhood and longevity.”
As time passes and science advances, awareness has grown around the fact that pregnancies in women over 40 can indeed be safe and healthy. Ultimately, this is a decision for the parents, and the most important thing is that the child feels loved, wanted, and accepted by their family.
Do you know of any similar stories? What do you think? Looking forward to your thoughts.
Traducción del español: Catalina Oviedo Brugés
