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What Experts say on- Pregnancy during the 30’s – Benefits and Risks

Dr. Priya Banerjee

Dr. Priya Banerjee (M.D. (Obs. & Gyn.) is an obstetrician and gynaecologist working as an online consultant. She has 15+ years of experience and is an expert in treating infertility services including IUI, IVF, ICSI etc. She has 10+ years of experience in medical writing. Dr. Priya Banerjee is an Infertility Specialist who helps women find fertility options around the country.

Pregnancy is one of the most awaited stages in a couple’s life with which they are ready to begin a new chapter in their lives. Even though it is often seen that fertility and age show an inverse relationship but with the admirable rise in the number of female employees in the Indian workforce, more and more couples are planning pregnancies in their 30’s. Fertility is a complex issue and is based on various factors such as age, family history, medical history, STD’s, frequency & timing of coitus, dietary & lifestyle habits, and more. Fertility depends not only on age but also gender. Whereas men have a widened fertility age bracket with their role only until conception, women’s role on the other hand extends throughout pregnancy besides having a shorter fertility lifespan. The 30’s is the age bracket in which the partners have already evolved and matured as a couple, are ready with plans for future, and also their fertility clock starts ticking. Getting pregnant at any age always has its pros and cons. Here we bring to you a guide on the benefits and risks of pregnancy in the 30s by the famous obstetrician and gynecologist Dr. Priya Banerjee.

Benefits of getting Pregnant during 30’s

1.Financial Stability:

From the moment a female conceives naturally and is termed pregnant, she has various tests, medicines, and procedures to undergo throughout the nine months of her pregnancy. Deciding to have a child is taking up responsibility for a new life and it is also mandatory to have financial planning of the child’s life well in advance. By the 30s, couples have time to save for pregnancy, childbirth, and the child’s initial years and this is a primary reason for a couple to delay their pregnancy till their 30’s.

2.Emotional Maturity:

Life can become very stressful for a couple with a baby to take care of if the partners do not have a tacit understanding with each other and are not well-aware of each other’s preferences, opinions and emotions.  The current generation believes in understanding their partners, having a career and getting their lifestyles aligned before jumping to the next stage of their married life i.e. being parents. As per the Indian Marriage Culture, a couple would have developed a healthy, stable and smooth relationship by the time they reach their 30’s as they would have already spent around 3 years together.

3.Individual Characteristic Development:

Till the 30’s, it is expected that individuals and couples have travelled enough, established a work-life balance, settled in a career and overall life and are physically and mentally capable of taking up the responsibility of a child. Even though age can’t define the maturity level of an individual, but it is rational to believe that often during the 30’s an individual has gone through the required experiences in their life to be fully aware of themselves, to understand their partner’s and children’s views, and overall family welfare. By that time, they are also calm and wise enough to provide support and set a good example for their child.

4.Having a Support Group:

For a couple who has a baby in an the early stage of their marriage, there are high chances that they might only know a few couples with children. But during their 30’s they can turn to their colleagues and friends who have also become parents to understand, accept, and adapt to the changes. This will not only decrease their social awkwardness but also give them the necessary confidence required for good parenting if their peer group also shares the same beliefs as them.

5.Decreases the Aging Process:

During pregnancy, a female’s body releases several hormones which can slow down the aging process. This is a very important aspect for consideration for many actresses and models before they plan their pregnancies.

Risks pertaining to Pregnancy During 30’s

  • Ovulation Issues:

  In current times, girls are experiencing early menstruation which means that the menstrual age has shifted from the mid or late teens to early adolescence due to which adult females also have to experience early menopause. From the start of the 30’s, the ovulation gets a bit irregular, resulting in a reduction of the availability and quality of eggs. This is the reason why many women have started experiencing irregular menstruation in their late thirties.
  • Lifestyle Issues:

Following unhealthy lifestyles can prove to be detrimental in the long term. For example- habits like smoking and alcohol when less can pose risks on your foetus, but their high consumption since a young age can affect your fertility by your 30’s. Besides this, various other co-morbid conditions like obesity, diabetes, high blood pressure, and stress can also affect your fertility.  

  • Natural Pregnancy Complications:
Females deciding to experience pregnancy in the 30’s need to take extra care of their diet and physical activity in order to avoid complications of Pregnancy like difficult labour and sustained labour pain due to improper opening of the cervix, or incorrect baby movements, or weaker contractions to get the baby out. Besides by your 30’s, you are more likely to develop gestational diabetes or high blood pressure which are very risky for both mother and foetus.

  • Higher Risks of Miscarriage:
A woman’s body during the 30’s, especially in the late 30’s is a bit resistant to several hormones released during pregnancy which leads to higher risks of experiencing miscarriage and stillbirth. Age has an undiscovered impact on pregnancy and foetus development and it also affects the quality of the eggs, foetuses, and other biological restraints which can lead to miscarriages and stillbirths.

  • Health of the Baby:
  An experienced Ob-Gyn will advise a pregnant woman to have extra prenatal tests, frequent ultrasounds, and more foetal check-ups as infants born to women in their late 30’s often face many health risks such as Down’s syndrome or Spinal cord defects. So if you are in your 30s and planning your baby, make sure to keep the aforementioned points in mind so as to have a safe, healthy and pleasant pregnancy.
Happy Parenting!!

CORRESPONDENT: MANU GUPTA

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