A baby at 48 years

I want to know if it is advisable for a 48- year-old woman to have a child.

Nneka (by E Mail)

Having a baby after age 40 is more common than ever, but the buck doesn’t stop there. Plenty of women are successfully having babies in their 40s thanks to reproductive technology. However, having said this, it is important to note that pregnancy at age 48 years is risky and the mother and baby should be considered as a high risk.

There is a greater incidence of spontaneous abortion, gestational trophoblastic disease and chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus at this age. However, if a woman at this age still wants to go ahead with the pregnancy, she should be completely informed of the risks. As your body ages, carrying another human being inside you can be a bit more challenging.

You might be even more susceptible to pregnancy discomforts such as: fatigue, muscle aches, joint pain, swollen legs and feet as well as irritability and depression. One significant difference is that your pregnancy will be much more closely monitored when you’re older. You may hear or see the terms “geriatric pregnancy” — a bit outdated, thank goodness! — and “advanced maternal age” used in reference to your high-risk pregnancy. Don’t take offense — these labels are used for pregnant women starting in their late 30s!