Management of pregnancy complications in women of advanced maternal age

Garcia, Maria; Walker, Kate F.; Thornton, Jim G.

Abstract

The average age of women at childbirth in high resource obstetric settings 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 (>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 woman.

Citation

Garcia, M., Walker, K. F., & Thornton, J. G. (2022). Management of pregnancy complications in women of advanced maternal age. Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine, 32(6), 101-104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogrm.2022.04.001

• Journal Article Type: Review
• Acceptance Date: Feb 8, 2022
• Online Publication Date: May 9, 2022
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Deposit Date: May 24, 2023
• Journal: Obstetrics, Gynaecology and Reproductive Medicine
• Print ISSN: 1751-7214
• Electronic ISSN: 1879-3622
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 6
• Pages: 101-104
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogrm.2022.04.001
• Keywords: Obstetrics and Gynecology; Reproductive Medicine
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/21104069
• Publisher URL: https://www.obstetrics-gynaecology-journal.com/article/S1751-7214(22)00056-2/fulltext
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: Management of pregnancy complications in women of advanced maternal age; Journal Title: Obstetrics, Gynaecology & Reproductive Medicine; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ogrm.2022.04.001; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2022 Published by Elsevier Ltd.