Age and PG Q

So i was talking with someone the other day and she was tellinge me that after a certain age you increase your liklihood of having a child with some sort of developmental problem ...

is this true?

anyone know anything about this and can give me info?

Re: Age and PG Q

No info but, I worry about this often I would be interested in any info as well.

Thanks for posting the q

Re: Age and PG Q

your risk goes up over age 35. Slowly at first then more so as you increase yoru age.

From online-What effect does increased age have on the baby?



It is also well known that older women run more risk of having a Down's syndrome baby. The rate is 1 in 400 at the age of 35, and goes up to 1 in 109 at the age of 40. When a woman is 45 the risk is 1 in 32 (compared with 1 in 1,500 at 25). There are other much rarer chromosomal abnormalities, such as Patau s syndrome and Edward's syndrome, which also increase in incidence with maternal age. Maternal serum screening and other tests can give approximations of risk, and amniocentesis can provide firm diagnosis, which allows a woman either to terminate a pregnancy, or help prepare her for the special needs her baby will have. No woman has to undergo any tests if she would rather not have this information.

Despite the increased risk with increased age of mother, it is important to remember that the vast majority of babies are fine, and except for the factor of chromosomal abnormalities, research suggests that the babies of older mothers are no more at risk of birth defects than the offspring of younger mothers.

Message edited 6/6/2006 6:48:10 PM.

Re: Age and PG Q

Ok - silly question then. Until 35 its all equal and then at 35 it suddenly becomes more of a worry or does it always steadily increase but not significantly until 35? sorry for all the questions. i keep putting off ttc but always with this concern in the back of my mind.

Re: Age and PG Q

Posted by itsbabytime

Ok - silly question then. Until 35 its all equal and then at 35 it suddenly becomes more of a worry or does it always steadily increase but not significantly until 35? sorry for all the questions. i keep putting off ttc but always with this concern in the back of my mind.

Re: Age and PG Q

Re: Age and PG Q

Posted by itsbabytime

sorry for all the questions. i keep putting off ttc but always with this concern in the back of my mind.

Re: Age and PG Q

In regard to Down Syndrome and other CHROMOSOMAL disorders:

I am 35 right now and my doctor told me that he will for sure perform an amniocentesis on me at the right time after I become pregnant for the sole reason of my age despite my family history. My mother had a child with Down (NOT Down's) Syndrome the year before I was born. She was 37. The child had just about every health related issue associated with Down Syndrome and did not live more than a few weeks. The only reason why she conceived another child (me) was because she knew she would be able to tell if it would and could happen again and she could make an informed decision. I was born a happy and healthy 9 and a half pounds at 22 inches long.

These are the risk factors for Down Syndrome:

-Having an older mother. Women who are older than 35 have an increased risk for having a child with trisomy 21 type Down syndrome. This risk increases continually with advancing age.

-Having an older father. Medical researchers are looking at the link between a man's age and the risk of having a child with Down syndrome. Early studies suggest that if a father is older than 40 and a mother is older than 35, they have an increased risk of having a child with Down syndrome.

-Having a sibling with Down syndrome. Women who have had a child with trisomy 21 type Down syndrome have a 1-in-100 chance of having another child with the condition.

Am I worried? Sure I am. I teach special education in a psychiatric day treatment center where each and every student has special needs. None of our students have Down Syndrome, however too much knowledge can be a very dangerous thing. Will my knowledge and nerves keep me from TTC? Hell no.

My sister, whose husband is an EMT used to monitor her baby's heartbeat with her husband's doppler almost every other day because she was convinced something was wrong. She also took him to a pediatric neurologist because she thought his clenched fists was a sign of cerebral palsy. We thought she was a looney tune. I refuse to be a looney tune. I want to enjoy my pregnancy when its my time.

There are so many other factors, other than age that can contribute to a child having a disability. Chromosomal disorders happen as a result of genetic defects caused by abnormal cell division in the egg, sperm, or fertilized egg that may cause developmental and/or physical disabilities. Those can and do increase with age - though they do happen in younger women as well. Excessive consumption of alcohol, drug intake, exposure to toxins and obesity while pregnant not only has an effect on a fetus but could have an effect on the mother as well.

Message edited 6/6/2006 10:05:29 PM.

Re: Age and PG Q

I am 36 and we plan on TTC this coming August. We know I will have an amniocentesis.

The risk is well documented and it increases with age. 35 is usually the age mark for the increased risk.

Re: Age and PG Q

I think there is a chart of the incremental decrease in PG on fertilityfriend.com

Just as an aside, my DHs Grandmother is 93 this year, she did not have her 1st child until she was 38, which was a big deal 55 years ago. She had her last child at age 40, with one miscarriage at age 45. All of her children were healthy at birth.

Re: Age and PG Q

Re: Age and PG Q

Can happen at any age, my coworker is 28 and her baby had a chromosonal disorder she had a miscarriage and thats how she found out. At her age she would not have had the amnio and even though she is sad she miscarried she is thankful too.

But the doctors dont worry as much until the age of 35 and up to do testing and insurance companies usually dont cover the anmino under 35.
I am having the amnio done.

edited to say yes my doctor said the fathers age as to do with it too , thank full my DH is 6 years younger than me he is 29 but still doing the amnio.

Message edited 6/7/2006 9:34:51 AM.

Re: Age and PG Q

I'm scared. We're ttc and this is something we don't even talk about. I'm 37 he's 46 and I know it's a possibility for something to be wrong.

I try not to think about it, but I wonder what would I do if something was wrong. I wouldn't terminate or anything like that, but, still. How do you handle a diagnosis like that?

Re: Age and PG Q

Re: Age and PG Q

Re: Age and PG Q

i try not to think about this but i can't help it. It is my world pretty much so i can't just turn a blind eye to it...

But i guess more importantly...i think about the age factor in it...


Yes anyone COULD have a disabled child....But there are obviously factors that increase your risk...

Re: Age and PG Q

Thanks for all the helpful info ladies and to Redhead for posting the question. Although its good to be aware I guess we just have to keep thinking about ALLLLLLLLLL the healthy babies born everyy day to older moms! We will be fine to all!