• Home
  • Contact
  • New Patient
  • My Chart
  • Reviews
  • (608) 729-6300
  • 5801 Research Park Blvd, Suite 400, Madison WI 53719
Madison Women's Health
  • Pay My Bill
  • Providers
    • Karla Dickmeyer, MD
    • Ashley Durward, MD
    • Isabel Nellen, DO
    • Erin Schoenecker, MD
    • Beth Wiedel, MD
    • Sarah Yanke, MD
    • Sarah Juza, MD
    • Stephanie Brasser, DNP
    • Shannon Wixom, APNP
  • Services
    • Telehealth
    • Well Woman Care
    • Expanded Care Services
    • Pregnancy Care
      • Planning for Pregnancy
      • Newly Pregnant
      • Testing for Birth Defects and Genetic Disorders
      • During Pregnancy
      • Delivery
      • After Pregnancy
      • Pregnancy Resources
    • Lab Services
    • Surgical Treatments
    • Ultrasound
  • Patient Information
    • Your Visit to Our OBGYN Clinic
    • Insurance Plans
    • Our Policies
    • Patient Forms
      • Registration Form
      • Personal Health History
      • Insurance Coverage
      • Genetic Screening Questionnaire
      • Authorization form TO Madison Women’s Health
      • Authorization form FROM Madison Women’s Health
      • HIPAA Acknowledgment
    • Resources
  • About Us
    • About our Clinic
    • SCOPE Certification
    • We Care
      • Weave of Hope®
    • Careers
  • Classes / Groups
    • Prenatal Yoga Classes
    • Baby and Me Yoga
  • News
  • Click to open the search input field Click to open the search input field Search
  • Menu Menu
News

Geriatric Pregnancy? The Truth About Having a Baby After 35

Blog, Family Planning, Pregnancy
Daughter kisses mom's belly who is having a geriatric pregnancy

While it’s most common for women to get pregnant in their twenties, nearly 1 in 5 pregnant women is 35 or older. Once called a “geriatric pregnancy,” pregnancy at an advanced maternal age is typically healthy and uneventful.

What Does Geriatric Pregnancy Mean?

First, let’s talk about that phrase ”geriatric pregnancy.” Or just as cringe-worthy, “elderly primigravida” and “multigravida.” These are outdated terms that were used to describe women who were pregnant in their mid-late thirties and beyond. Instead, we now use the term “advanced maternal age” or “AMA,” instead of “geriatric pregnancy” since women who are 35 (or even 45) are definitely not geriatric or elderly.

The age of 35 isn’t some kind of magical cut-off date for an uncomplicated pregnancy. Instead, it is on a gradual continuum where we see increased risks based on lifestyle, increased risk of genetic abnormalities, and declining fertility.

Even so, the main difference pregnant women over age 35 experience is that they receive more monitoring. Overall, their experiences and outcomes are often similar to that of younger women.

What Increases the Risks for Pregnancy Over 35?

Regardless of your age, every pregnancy carries some risks:

  • hypertensive disorders
  • gestational diabetes
  • premature birth
  • low birth weight
  • chromosomal abnormalities
  • miscarriage or stillbirth
  • C-section

Some of these risks increase for women over 35 if they have developed other health problems such as heart disease or obesity. Similarly, the risk of a C-section increases when women experience these health problems (also called comorbidities).

The good news is a healthy and active lifestyle can reduce the risk of obesity, which reduces the risks of diabetes, heart disorders, and even C-sections for single births. (Read more about achieving a healthy pregnancy weight.)

Another risk factor for women over 35 is giving birth to multiples. Women over 35 are statistically more likely to have multiples. Carrying multiples (twins, triplets or more) can also increase a woman’s chances of experiencing hypertension, C-section, and gestational diabetes. (Learn more about what to expect with twins and multiples.)

Finally, as a woman ages, her eggs age with her. Older eggs carry a slightly higher risk of developing chromosomal abnormalities such as Down syndrome. Genetic testing and diagnoses are always available to our OBGYN patients regardless of their age.

How Does Pregnancy Change after 35?

Energy Levels

If you’re over 30, you may already wonder what happened to your endless supply of energy from your late teens and twenties. Often, that answer could be found in your schedule, stress levels, and lifestyle. By the time you’re 35, you may already have children, a busy career, and many other responsibilities that require your time and energy. Add the side effects of the hormonal changes you experience in each trimester, and you may feel more tired than ever!

Confidence

Pregnancy after 35 also has many benefits, such as greater financial and emotional stability, previous experience with childbirth and parenting, or access to more peers who have had children and could provide support.

Women who are pregnant for the first time after 35 also tend to have a higher education level and smaller families overall. (Smaller families mean children do not have to compete for resources, including finances, time and attention.) Some studies have even shown that women who have children after the age of 35 tend to be happier overall.

Increased Monitoring and Tests

Women over 35 may need to be monitored more closely during pregnancy depending on any pre-existing health conditions they have. This would mean more ultrasounds (2-3), more tests to check for heart diseases or gestational diabetes, and non-stress tests in the final weeks of the pregnancy.

Recovering from Pregnancy after 35

Some women wonder if it will be harder to bounce back after pregnancy when they are older. Regardless of age, recovery after pregnancy varies for each individual based on how they give birth and whether they are managing other chronic conditions. For example, it takes longer to recover from a C-section than a vaginal birth.

Some women may have a harder time losing pregnancy weight when they are older or if they have already had children. Lifestyle changes that include regular activity, reducing stress, and eating a healthy diet can help you reach a healthy postpartum goal weight.

Adequate sleep will also help recovery and weight loss, but we know that sleep often feels out of reach in those first few months with a baby at home!

Pregnancy After 40

Women over 40 can also have safe, uneventful, healthy pregnancies. Quality prenatal care is especially important. They will be monitored more closely and have 1-2 more ultrasounds.

One notable difference for pregnant women over 40 is that we’re more likely to recommend induction in the 39th week of pregnancy due to the increased risk of stillbirth.

What About “Advanced Paternal Age”?

The most commonly accepted age for “advanced paternal age” is 40 years old. There is some association with increased risks for miscarriage, neural-cognitive disorders, and preterm birth when the father is older. However, no screening tools have been developed to test conclusively for these risks.

How to Ensure a Safe Pregnancy after 35 and Beyond

Most women, regardless of age, will have a normal and healthy pregnancy. To reduce the chances of developing conditions such as gestational diabetes, high blood pressure, and preeclampsia—which can all influence your baby’s health—it’s important to optimize your own health now.

If you’re near or over 35 and trying to become pregnant, set up a pre-conception consultation with your OBGYN. Ask if you have any pre-existing risk factors you can address now to have a healthier pregnancy.

  • limit alcohol when trying to conceive, especially after ovulation
  • achieve a healthy body composition and maintain appropriate weight gain during pregnancy
  • take a prenatal vitamin that is high in folic acid
  • get active — aim for a level of activity you could maintain during pregnancy
  • stop using tobacco in any form
  • stop any illegal drug use

When to See Your OBGYN

If you’re over 35 and think you’re pregnant, call your OBGYN. At Madison Women’s Health, our first step is to complete a health history with you over the phone. This will help us determine the right timing for your first prenatal visit. If you haven’t experienced complications during a previous pregnancy, and if you don’t have any complicated conditions, you can expect your first prenatal appointment to be about 3-4 weeks after your missed period.

35 is Not an Expiration Date!

We are happy to support you through your pregnancy no matter your age. We believe that every woman deserves the highest level of prenatal care. While there are risks to every pregnancy, remember that most women do have a healthy pregnancy at 25, 35 and beyond!

Sarah Juza, MD Dr. Sarah Juza joined Madison Women’s Health in 2022. She practiced full scope obstetrics and gynecology for several years prior to transitioning into the role of an OB hospitalist.  She specializes in high and low risk obstetrics, breast feeding, contraception, and postpartum care. Dr. Juza earned her Doctorate of Medicine from the Medical College of Wisconsin and completed her residency at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center.

February 6, 2023/by Sarah Juza
Tags: advanced maternal age, geriatric pregnancy, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension, multiples, twins
Share this entry
  • Share on Facebook
  • Share on X
  • Share on Pinterest
  • Share on LinkedIn
  • Share on Reddit
  • Share by Mail
https://madisonwomenshealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/geriatric-pregnancy-advanced-maternal-age-baby.jpg 800 1200 Sarah Juza https://madisonwomenshealth.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/mwh_logo-300x177.png Sarah Juza2023-02-06 09:42:282023-06-28 10:43:38Geriatric Pregnancy? The Truth About Having a Baby After 35
You might also like
Boy feeds an orange to pregnant woman with gestational diabetes Gestational Diabetes & Glucose Testing During Pregnancy
Pregnant woman preventing gestational hypertension with healthy food Hypertension & Preeclampsia: How to Prevent and Treat These Conditions

Find Answers to Your Questions

Search Search

Recent Posts

  • Constipation During Pregnancy: Tips for Finding Relief and Peace of Mind
  • The Truth About Infections During Pregnancy: What Every Mom-to-Be Needs to Know
  • Frequently Asked Questions About Changing Health Insurance in 2024
  • Understanding and Overcoming Yeast Infections During Pregnancy
  • Why STI Testing Should Be Part of Your Self-Care Routine

Browse by Category

Tags

baby weight birth control birth control pills birth control shots breast cancer breastfeeding C-section clogged duct Clomid colostrum conceiving condoms Depo Provera diaphragms doula epidural exercising during pregnancy fertility tips genetic counselling genetic screening gestational diabetes gestational hypertension giving birth Glow App gynecologist HPV screening labor tips Letrozole mammograms mastitis menopause mini-pill miscarriage NuvaRing OBGYN perimenopause Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS) pregnancy pregnancy tips pregnancy weight gain pregnancy weight loss prenatal genetic testing STI ultrasound yeast infections

5801 Research Park Blvd, Suite 400, Madison WI 53719

608-729-6300

Reviews
SCOPE Certified logo
© 2025 All rights reserved. | WordPress Web Design by Bizzy Bizzy
Link to: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): Symptoms and Treatments Link to: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): Symptoms and Treatments Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome (PCOS): Symptoms and TreatmentsWoman with Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome with two children on blanket Link to: Lower Back Pain During Pregnancy: Tips for Prevention and Relief Link to: Lower Back Pain During Pregnancy: Tips for Prevention and Relief Woman experiencing lower back pain during pregnancyLower Back Pain During Pregnancy: Tips for Prevention and Relief
Scroll to top Scroll to top Scroll to top

This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site, you are agreeing to our use of cookies.

OKLearn more×

Cookie and Privacy Settings



How we use cookies

We may request cookies to be set on your device. We use cookies to let us know when you visit our websites, how you interact with us, to enrich your user experience, and to customize your relationship with our website.

Click on the different category headings to find out more. You can also change some of your preferences. Note that blocking some types of cookies may impact your experience on our websites and the services we are able to offer.

Essential Website Cookies

These cookies are strictly necessary to provide you with services available through our website and to use some of its features.

Because these cookies are strictly necessary to deliver the website, refusing them will have impact how our site functions. You always can block or delete cookies by changing your browser settings and force blocking all cookies on this website. But this will always prompt you to accept/refuse cookies when revisiting our site.

We fully respect if you want to refuse cookies but to avoid asking you again and again kindly allow us to store a cookie for that. You are free to opt out any time or opt in for other cookies to get a better experience. If you refuse cookies we will remove all set cookies in our domain.

We provide you with a list of stored cookies on your computer in our domain so you can check what we stored. Due to security reasons we are not able to show or modify cookies from other domains. You can check these in your browser security settings.

Google Analytics Cookies

These cookies collect information that is used either in aggregate form to help us understand how our website is being used or how effective our marketing campaigns are, or to help us customize our website and application for you in order to enhance your experience.

If you do not want that we track your visit to our site you can disable tracking in your browser here:

Other external services

We also use different external services like Google Webfonts, Google Maps, and external Video providers. Since these providers may collect personal data like your IP address we allow you to block them here. Please be aware that this might heavily reduce the functionality and appearance of our site. Changes will take effect once you reload the page.

Google Webfont Settings:

Google Map Settings:

Google reCaptcha Settings:

Vimeo and Youtube video embeds:

Other cookies

The following cookies are also needed - You can choose if you want to allow them:

Accept settingsHide notification only