A number of scientific studies conducted several years ago found that after age 35, the risk of having a baby with low birth weight (less than 2,500 grams) and the risk of premature birth (before week 37) increases.
Infants and children born with low birth weight often suffer from shortness of breath; also, insufficient birth weight can have negative effects on heart function and brain development.
A new joint study by the London School of Economics and the Max Planck Institute for Demographic Research in Rostock showed that advanced age of late-bearing women is not the true cause of increased risk.
Recommendations for pregnant women over 40
- Regular check-ups
- Healthy diet and lifestyle
- Genetic counseling
- Prenatal diagnostics
