What is the difference between getting pregnant at 25 and 35? What age is considered an advanced maternal age?

With the relaxation of the two-child policy, more and more people have chosen to have a second child. Today, let's talk about how old a woman is considered an advanced maternal age. If a woman is too old and is considered an advanced maternal age, she needs to make various preparations for pregnancy. Today, let's talk about things about advanced maternal age.

How old is considered advanced maternal age?

With the continuous development of the times, more and more working women have emerged. They often miss the best childbearing period for work. According to experts from the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, in medical terms, pregnant women over 35 years old are "older mothers". However, because they are usually over 34 years old when they get pregnant, they are usually over 35 years old when they give birth. Therefore, whether they are primiparas or multiparas, pregnant mothers who are over 34 years old when they get pregnant are collectively referred to as "older mothers".

The difference between fertility at 25 and 35

1. The eggs are old

When a woman chooses to have a baby at the age of 25, the quality of her eggs is at its best during the development of her body. Medical evidence shows that the best childbearing age for women is 23-28 years old. The later the birth, the more the eggs will be affected by the environment and pollution, and the quality of the eggs will also decline, making it more likely that the chromosomes of the eggs will be abnormal, thus giving birth to deformed babies.

This is the biggest risk faced by women who give birth over the age of 35. The incidence of congenital idiocy will double with the age of the pregnant woman. Medical research predicts that if it is about 0.11% at the age of 25-29, it will increase to 0.26% at the age of 30-35, and will rise to 0.56% at the age of 36-40.

2. Chromosome degeneration

As women age, the chance of errors in this cell breakdown process increases. The likelihood of chromosomal dysfunction and chromosomal mutations also increases. Experts have reported that in patients over 40 years old, 95.8% of unfertilized oocytes had chromosomal degeneration, while in the ≤34 year old group, only 23.7%. Decomposition errors or genetic errors in older oocytes may hinder the normal development of fertilized eggs, reduce women's chances of pregnancy, or cause miscarriage.

Furthermore, the amount of peroxide accumulated in and around oocytes increases with age, and peroxide can reduce the activity of eggs and subsequent embryos, reduce a woman's chances of becoming pregnant, or cause miscarriage.

In addition, the zona pellucida covering the egg will become thicker over time, thus blocking the entry of sperm and causing a decrease in the chance of fertilization. The eggs of older women (especially those over 40 years old) may also undergo apoptosis, leading to a sudden decrease in fertility. Therefore, even if assisted reproductive technology is chosen, the younger the woman, the higher the success rate.

3. The uterus is not suitable for embryo development

Because with age, the endometrium will undergo a series of changes in morphology and function. The function of the endometrium is that the endometrial secretion can make the uterine cavity warm and prepare for the implantation of the fertilized egg. Only when the embryo is implanted in the endometrium can it continue to develop.

The endometrium undergoes periodic changes under the regulation of hormones secreted by the ovaries, and this periodic change of the endometrium generally lasts until about 45-55 years old. After that, the periodic change of the endometrium stops and enters menopause. The endometrium after menopause, due to the loss of the effect of ovarian hormones, is atrophic, with short epithelial cells, few and small glands, and reduced or absent secretions.

As women approach menopause, the endometrium may become thinner and less suitable for implantation of fertilized eggs; vaginal secretions become less fluid and less easy for sperm to enter. Therefore, the older a woman is, the lower the chance of natural conception. As age increases, the occurrence of some diseases such as endometriosis, uterine fibroids, and infections may lead to infertility.

4. Many pregnancy complications

Pregnancy complications are the third biggest risk faced by older mothers. Due to their advanced age, many older mothers may have mild diabetes or high blood pressure, but their body functions are normal and they are unaware of it. Once pregnant, changes in body functions and hormone levels will induce these hidden diseases, which will not only affect the normal development of the fetus, but also put the pregnant woman's life in danger.

Giving birth at an advanced age may also lead to cancer. According to recent epidemiological survey data, the incidence of breast cancer in women who give birth for the first time over the age of 35 is much higher than that of women who give birth for the first time before the age of 30. The older the age of first childbirth, the higher the incidence of breast cancer.

5. Difficulty in giving birth

Compared with 35 years old, it is much easier to have a normal birth at the age of 25. This is because women at the age of 25 have strong uterine expansion and contraction strength, good elasticity of the birth canal, and soft pelvic joints, which meet the basic physiological conditions for a normal birth. However, giving birth at the age of 35 will face the risk of dystocia, so more people choose cesarean section. This is because as women age, the birth canal, perineum, and pelvic joints will become harder and less likely to expand, and the contraction force of the uterus and the stretch force of the vagina will also decrease.

Some older mothers have a slow or even no cervix opening during childbirth, which prolongs the delivery time and makes heavy bleeding and dystocia more likely. For this reason, the cesarean section rate of older mothers is higher than that of ordinary mothers.

Pay attention to disease prevention after pregnancy

Older women are more likely to develop gestational hypertension, so in the middle and late stages of pregnancy, you should monitor your blood pressure regularly, control your salt intake, supplement calcium, iron and folic acid, have a balanced diet, absolutely avoid smoking and alcoholic beverages, and don't overwork your body. If your blood pressure rises abnormally, see a doctor as soon as possible.

Postpartum: There is a lot to learn about "confinement" for older mothers

There are some differences between the confinement methods of older mothers and younger mothers, so how should older mothers spend their confinement? For older mothers, there are too many misunderstandings about confinement. Because it is not easy for older pregnant women to have children, so they are naturally more expensive; in addition, their bodies are indeed weaker than those of younger mothers, so they need to pay more attention to maintenance.

Rest is required for 42 days after delivery

The first thing that elderly pregnant women should pay attention to after giving birth is rest. Not only should they rest in the first few days after giving birth, but they should also rest in a quiet, well-ventilated place throughout the puerperium (42 days after giving birth). It is not advisable to carry weight or do housework too early. 60% of elderly pregnant women have caesarean sections, and they must rest in bed on the first day after the operation. Six hours after the operation, they should turn over more often, which can promote the discharge of blood stasis, reduce infection, and prevent pelvic venous thrombosis and lower extremity venous thrombosis.

Minimum range of motion required after surgery

24 hours after the operation, the mother can get out of bed and move around. After 48 to 72 hours, the mother can walk more. This can promote intestinal peristalsis and reduce the occurrence of intestinal adhesion, constipation and urinary retention. Of course, how long is appropriate to walk slowly depends on the mother's physical condition.