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Having a Baby After 40
Having a baby during midlife can present unique challenges for new or experienced parents. ProMedica OB-GYN Jackie Vannuyen, MD, talks about the physical and emotional aspects of having a baby after 40.
Featured Speaker:
Jackie Vannuyen, MD
Jackie Vannuyen, MD, is an obstetrician/gynecologist with ProMedica Physicians. She screens for and treats diseases and conditions of the female reproductive organs and cares for women during their pregnancy and postpartum period. Dr. Vannuyen believes that every person should be an active participant in their health. She enjoys working with patients to decide what treatment is best for them. Transcription:
Having a Baby After 40
Cheryl Martin (Host): Welcome to Happily Ever After 40, a podcast brought to you by ProMedica, where we discuss midlife health and wellbeing. In this episode, we talk about having a baby after 40. I'm Cheryl Martin, and with me as Dr. Jackie Vannuyen, an obstetrician gynecologist with Prometica Physicians. Welcome Doctor.
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Thanks.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Doctor, what unique challenges do you face when you try to conceive after?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Well, just a quick reproductive health. some education that we are born with a million eggs and by puberty we have about 300,000. Only three to 400 of those end up in ovulation. And that every month, whenever we have a period, we're losing a thousand immature eggs. So by the time we're 37, we have 25,000 eggs left, and that's when infertility really comes into play.
by 40 we have 18,000, which is about 3% of what we're born with, So women in their forties have about a 50%, of infertility and only 5% can conceive on their own every cycle versus 25% when we're in our twenties, which is our quote, peak fertility time. And then if our partner is also our same age or even older, that also decreases our chances for successful, pregnancy.
So it is challenging
Cheryl Martin (Host): Does it matter at all? If you are first time mom, are already a mom
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: I think if you're a first time mom, the infertility is a little bit higher because if you are a second or third time mom, your body has done it before your fertility has been tested. so it is a little bit easier
Cheryl Martin (Host): So when is it time to see a fertility specialist?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: I think if you're 40 and you're trying to get pregnant and it's your first time, it would be a good time to consult. With your primary ob gyn, but also to seek a fertility specialist might need to be the first thing that you do.
Cheryl Martin (Host): So even though it's more difficult to get pregnant after 40, Are the numbers going up of women trying to get pregnant during this age range?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Yes, per the cdc, the birth rate for women in their forties has been increasing 3% annually since 1984. And the average age of conception, has increased from years old to now 26.
Cheryl Martin (Host): And what do you account for that?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: I think people are waiting. I think women are waiting to further their education, to pursue their careers, to really wait and make sure that they're finding their true partner and having a more solid relationship and also waiting for children and families to do the things that you can't do as easily with a family, like traveling and, different things.
Cheryl Martin (Host): So you would say even though it's difficult to conceive at this time, when we see a woman in her 40. Maybe even as late as 50 conceive, chances are it's as a result of going to a fertility specialist.
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Yes.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Okay, so let's talk about if you do conceive then, what are the unique challenges when you are pregnant after age 40?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Well, the miscarriage risk is a lot higher. When you're 40, it's up to 40% again compared to about 18 to 20% in our twenties and thirties. So that's, A risk as, as well as chromosomal abnormalities. in comparison, the risk for a chromosomal abnormalities, one in 66 for women in their forties compared to about one in 400 for women in their thirties.
Cheryl Martin (Host): So are you also saying, are they at a high risk, let's say for other conditions diabetes, postpartum depression?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Absolutely they're at increased risk for hypertension, diabetes, fetal growth issues, placental issues, needing a C-section or even stillbirth. but in terms of postpartum depression, actually studies show that, uh, women in their forties have less postpartum depression.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Hmm. Why do you think that is?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Well, the studies were showing that maybe women are a little bit more sure of themselves and able to have that wisdom to ride, you know, different changes and challenges that pregnancy and childbirth and parenting can pose.
Cheryl Martin (Host): So while it's more difficult to conceive after age 40, does research show that you're definitely finding more and more women attempting to get pregnant after 40?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Yes. Actually women in their forties have the highest birth rates right now. increasing by 3% since the 1980s. And it's lowering, in women in the more traditional reproductive age range, which is in the twenties.
Cheryl Martin (Host): And why is.
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: I think that people are waiting, women are waiting. they're pursuing their careers, their education, really waiting to find that right person. so I think that's attributing to it and I think, both men and women are finding that being parents are not necessarily the first thing we think about when we wanna finish school.
That we wanna travel, we wanna do things. Definitely being a parent can affect and limit.
Cheryl Martin (Host): How popular is it for women in this age group to freeze their eggs in their twenties and thirties? Is that a factor as well?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: I don't know that exact statistic. I don't find, at least in my practice, that a lot of women have frozen their eggs. but I think that's an option. And I, think there's that, myth of that biological clock ticking. In our twenties and thirties, and people see this, term in the medical field called advanced maternal age at age 35.
but really in terms of fertility, that starts to drop off at 37,
Cheryl Martin (Host): What advice do you have, doctor, for those who are entering the baby years during midlife?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: I think, to know what the risks are and the challenges of fertility of pregnancy. to be aware of those things. And I think a lot of folks, whether they're in their forties or not, think that getting pregnant or having a baby is easier without risk. And I think that's not the case all the time.
Cheryl Martin (Host): so how can a mother balance her needs and the baby's needs?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: That is a good question, and that is always a hard thing, I think, for all women to be balancing our needs with, our childrens or our families. And I think as women are older, maybe you have a better sense of self care. but also I think older moms tend to think, Well, I, gotta get going, I gotta, do these things and maybe lose sight of that.
So I don't really have a good answer for that in terms of how to do that best. But I think awareness is probably the first.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Well, we've been talking about the challenges. From your perspective, what would you say are some of the joys and benefits of being an older mom?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: I think it's having more of that life wisdom. maybe, hopefully having some better balance of your needs and someone else's needs. You have financial freedom that hopefully is not a stressor as much it is for younger, couples or younger moms. also a more stable. solid relationship with your partner, because I think that also, comes into play when you're newly married and then you just have a baby and all those things kind of stress a relationship.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Anything else doctor you'd like to add about conceiving or having a baby after 40 that we didn't cover?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Well, in general, when it comes to all of these things after 40, I read some psychologic studies that tell us that humans are. capable of imagining themselves subject to bad outcomes. And when we talk about risks and things like that, especially for pregnancy and conception at 40, that definitely applies.
But anything worth doing has a price. So I think that is important to take into consider.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Dr. Jackie Van Wen, Thank you for sharing your knowledge regarding having a baby after 40. I'm certain that our listeners found it informative as well as helpful. To learn more, visit promedica.org. That's promedica.org, and thanks for listening to this podcast brought to you by ProMedica. If you found it helpful, please share it on your social media.
Until next time, stay happily ever after.
Having a Baby After 40
Cheryl Martin (Host): Welcome to Happily Ever After 40, a podcast brought to you by ProMedica, where we discuss midlife health and wellbeing. In this episode, we talk about having a baby after 40. I'm Cheryl Martin, and with me as Dr. Jackie Vannuyen, an obstetrician gynecologist with Prometica Physicians. Welcome Doctor.
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Thanks.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Doctor, what unique challenges do you face when you try to conceive after?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Well, just a quick reproductive health. some education that we are born with a million eggs and by puberty we have about 300,000. Only three to 400 of those end up in ovulation. And that every month, whenever we have a period, we're losing a thousand immature eggs. So by the time we're 37, we have 25,000 eggs left, and that's when infertility really comes into play.
by 40 we have 18,000, which is about 3% of what we're born with, So women in their forties have about a 50%, of infertility and only 5% can conceive on their own every cycle versus 25% when we're in our twenties, which is our quote, peak fertility time. And then if our partner is also our same age or even older, that also decreases our chances for successful, pregnancy.
So it is challenging
Cheryl Martin (Host): Does it matter at all? If you are first time mom, are already a mom
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: I think if you're a first time mom, the infertility is a little bit higher because if you are a second or third time mom, your body has done it before your fertility has been tested. so it is a little bit easier
Cheryl Martin (Host): So when is it time to see a fertility specialist?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: I think if you're 40 and you're trying to get pregnant and it's your first time, it would be a good time to consult. With your primary ob gyn, but also to seek a fertility specialist might need to be the first thing that you do.
Cheryl Martin (Host): So even though it's more difficult to get pregnant after 40, Are the numbers going up of women trying to get pregnant during this age range?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Yes, per the cdc, the birth rate for women in their forties has been increasing 3% annually since 1984. And the average age of conception, has increased from years old to now 26.
Cheryl Martin (Host): And what do you account for that?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: I think people are waiting. I think women are waiting to further their education, to pursue their careers, to really wait and make sure that they're finding their true partner and having a more solid relationship and also waiting for children and families to do the things that you can't do as easily with a family, like traveling and, different things.
Cheryl Martin (Host): So you would say even though it's difficult to conceive at this time, when we see a woman in her 40. Maybe even as late as 50 conceive, chances are it's as a result of going to a fertility specialist.
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Yes.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Okay, so let's talk about if you do conceive then, what are the unique challenges when you are pregnant after age 40?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Well, the miscarriage risk is a lot higher. When you're 40, it's up to 40% again compared to about 18 to 20% in our twenties and thirties. So that's, A risk as, as well as chromosomal abnormalities. in comparison, the risk for a chromosomal abnormalities, one in 66 for women in their forties compared to about one in 400 for women in their thirties.
Cheryl Martin (Host): So are you also saying, are they at a high risk, let's say for other conditions diabetes, postpartum depression?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Absolutely they're at increased risk for hypertension, diabetes, fetal growth issues, placental issues, needing a C-section or even stillbirth. but in terms of postpartum depression, actually studies show that, uh, women in their forties have less postpartum depression.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Hmm. Why do you think that is?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Well, the studies were showing that maybe women are a little bit more sure of themselves and able to have that wisdom to ride, you know, different changes and challenges that pregnancy and childbirth and parenting can pose.
Cheryl Martin (Host): So while it's more difficult to conceive after age 40, does research show that you're definitely finding more and more women attempting to get pregnant after 40?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Yes. Actually women in their forties have the highest birth rates right now. increasing by 3% since the 1980s. And it's lowering, in women in the more traditional reproductive age range, which is in the twenties.
Cheryl Martin (Host): And why is.
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: I think that people are waiting, women are waiting. they're pursuing their careers, their education, really waiting to find that right person. so I think that's attributing to it and I think, both men and women are finding that being parents are not necessarily the first thing we think about when we wanna finish school.
That we wanna travel, we wanna do things. Definitely being a parent can affect and limit.
Cheryl Martin (Host): How popular is it for women in this age group to freeze their eggs in their twenties and thirties? Is that a factor as well?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: I don't know that exact statistic. I don't find, at least in my practice, that a lot of women have frozen their eggs. but I think that's an option. And I, think there's that, myth of that biological clock ticking. In our twenties and thirties, and people see this, term in the medical field called advanced maternal age at age 35.
but really in terms of fertility, that starts to drop off at 37,
Cheryl Martin (Host): What advice do you have, doctor, for those who are entering the baby years during midlife?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: I think, to know what the risks are and the challenges of fertility of pregnancy. to be aware of those things. And I think a lot of folks, whether they're in their forties or not, think that getting pregnant or having a baby is easier without risk. And I think that's not the case all the time.
Cheryl Martin (Host): so how can a mother balance her needs and the baby's needs?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: That is a good question, and that is always a hard thing, I think, for all women to be balancing our needs with, our childrens or our families. And I think as women are older, maybe you have a better sense of self care. but also I think older moms tend to think, Well, I, gotta get going, I gotta, do these things and maybe lose sight of that.
So I don't really have a good answer for that in terms of how to do that best. But I think awareness is probably the first.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Well, we've been talking about the challenges. From your perspective, what would you say are some of the joys and benefits of being an older mom?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: I think it's having more of that life wisdom. maybe, hopefully having some better balance of your needs and someone else's needs. You have financial freedom that hopefully is not a stressor as much it is for younger, couples or younger moms. also a more stable. solid relationship with your partner, because I think that also, comes into play when you're newly married and then you just have a baby and all those things kind of stress a relationship.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Anything else doctor you'd like to add about conceiving or having a baby after 40 that we didn't cover?
Dr Jackie Vannuyen: Well, in general, when it comes to all of these things after 40, I read some psychologic studies that tell us that humans are. capable of imagining themselves subject to bad outcomes. And when we talk about risks and things like that, especially for pregnancy and conception at 40, that definitely applies.
But anything worth doing has a price. So I think that is important to take into consider.
Cheryl Martin (Host): Dr. Jackie Van Wen, Thank you for sharing your knowledge regarding having a baby after 40. I'm certain that our listeners found it informative as well as helpful. To learn more, visit promedica.org. That's promedica.org, and thanks for listening to this podcast brought to you by ProMedica. If you found it helpful, please share it on your social media.
Until next time, stay happily ever after.