The 'elderly primigravida' in 1990
Article Abstract:
The term 'elderly primagravida' refers to a woman over 35 years of age who is pregnant for the first time. Since 1975, the rate of first births among women 30 to 34 years old has doubled. An article in the March 8, 1990 issue of The New England Journal of Medicine reported that older first-time mothers have a slight tendency to have low-birth-weight babies but no increase in the frequency of births of infants small for their gestational ages, infants with low Apgar scores (a measure of physical health taken moments after birth), or deaths in the period around the time of birth. On the other hand, these women had a higher rate of maternal complications, such as gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension, and bleeding in the last third of pregnancy. The rates for caesarean section were also higher for these older women. But these rates were still not high, and represent a picture that is positive overall. Previous studies have not described such optimistic outcomes, but many were poorly controlled or relied on data from women who received substandard care. Another factor that should be taken into account by older women contemplating pregnancy is the higher incidence of Down's syndrome and other chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus. The option of prenatal diagnosis based on sampling of genetic material gives women the chance to make informed decisions about reproduction. Older women should also be aware that fertility declines with age. Socioeconomic factors have been shown to influence the age of childbearing, with college-educated people waiting longer. The women from this group were white, married, and nonsmokers. Conclusions regarding infant and maternal health based on this group may not be generalizable to all segments of the population. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 1990
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Case 32-2005: A 34-year-old HIV-positive woman who desired to become pregnant
Article Abstract:
A 34-year-old woman infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is evaluated in the infectious-disease and obstetrics outpatient divisions due to a desire to become pregnant. Two experts, an obstetrician and a specialist in infectious diseases discuss the way in which these issues are addressed in the management of this case, the maternal risk factors, and the possible treatments.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 2005
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Advanced maternal age-how old is too old?
Article Abstract:
The effect of maternal age on the outcome of pregnancy can be assessed by examining five specific factors that affect the desired outcome of a pregnancy. The number of first births per 1000 women 35 to 39 years of age in US increased by 36 percent between 1991 and 2001, and the rate among women 40 to 44 years of age leaped by a remarkable 70 percent.
Publication Name: The New England Journal of Medicine
Subject: Health
ISSN: 0028-4793
Year: 2004
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