Will it happen? What are the risks of pregnancy after 35? And what do doctors think about (prepare for a stomach-turning phrase) “geriatric” pregnancies, aka pregnancies after 35?
We’ve put your most-asked questions to Dr. Charlsie Celestine, an obstetrician and gynecologist (OB-GYN) in New Jersey, US, who had a child after the age of 35.
Remember: If this is what you decide to do, you won’t be alone. According to a 2022 analysis of Census Bureau and National Center for Health Statistics data, fertility rates (how many children a woman has) of US women ages 20 to 24 declined by 43% over a roughly 30-year period. Fertility rates of women ages 35 to 39 increased by 67%. So generally, people are waiting longer before having children.
Dr. Celestine says, “A lot of my patients are in their early to late 30s, having their first or second baby, and I do have some patients in their early 40s too.”
As a quick note, if you’ve already had one or more children, the guidance here might not be the same for you. Double check with your OB-GYN — for some people, fertility can increase or decrease after a first pregnancy.