Advanced maternal age

Walker, Kate F.; Thornton, Jim G.

Abstract

The average age of women at childbirth in industrialised nations has been increasing steadily for approximately 30 years. Women aged 35 years or over have an increased risk of gestational hypertensive disease, gestational diabetes, placenta praevia, placental abruption, perinatal death, preterm labour, fetal macrosomia and fetal growth restriction. Unsurprisingly, rates of obstetric intervention are higher among older women. Of particular concern is the increased risk of antepartum stillbirth at term in women of advanced maternal age. In all maternal age groups, the risk of stillbirth is higher among nulliparous women than among multiparous women. Women of advanced maternal age (more than 40 years) should be given low dose aspirin (in the presence of an additional risk factor for pre-eclampsia) and offered serial ultrasounds for fetal growth and wellbeing; given the increased risk of antepartum stillbirth, induction of labour from 39 weeks’ gestation should be discussed with the woman.

Citation

Walker, K. F., & Thornton, J. G. (2019). Advanced maternal age. Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, 29(9), 259-263. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogrm.2019.06.001

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 11, 2019
• Online Publication Date: Jun 29, 2019
• Publication Date: Sep 1, 2019
• Deposit Date: Jul 2, 2019
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 30, 2020
• Journal: Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine
• Print ISSN: 1751-7214
• Electronic ISSN: 1879-3622
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 29
• Issue: 9
• Pages: 259-263
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogrm.2019.06.001
• Keywords: Advanced maternal age; antepartum stillbirth; pregnancy complications
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/2258020
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1751721419301125?via%3Dihub
• Contract Date: Jul 2, 2019