Down syndrome, Edwards syndrome and other, more rare defects can occur due to chromosomal abnormalities. These are a direct result of a lack or excess of chromosomes that exist within a cell even before fertilization occurs.
The likelihood of these genetic errors swiftly increases after the optimal age of pregnancy; for example, 40-year-old women are four times more likely to give birth to a child with Down syndrome than 35-year-olds.
Precautions
"We recommend the standard healthy-lifestyle choices that we do for all pregnancies – expectant mothers should quit drinking and smoking, eat well and exercise," Dr. Wong says. "As well, we take a comprehensive medical history, and ensure that the mother is well aware of the potential complications and increase in likelihood of genetic malformations."
Because the abnormalities exist pre-conception, there is nothing that can be done during the pregnancy to prevent them from occurring; however they can be detected using several diagnostic testing methods, including Integrated Prenatal Screening, Chorionic Villus Sampling and Amniocentesis.
False positive results can occur, and it's possible to give birth to a perfectly healthy baby in some cases, but the tests are done early enough in the pregnancy that there is plenty of time to prepare. In the case of positive results, the mother can explore her options, consult genetic counsellors and seek support groups. Negative results will offer an expectant mother peace of mind.
Is it really too late?
To determine whether it’s too late to get pregnant, however, it's important to also look beyond medical statistics. When a sexagenarian gave birth to twins in Calgary earlier this year, it was difficult not to wonder about the logistics – how will she keep up with toddlers when most people her age only worry about keeping up with crossword puzzles? Will her pension put them through school? Will she even live to see them graduate?
The high-risk pregnancy is just a fraction of what needs to be considered when deciding to raise kids later in life – enduring the decades that follow is often just as difficult and even more important.
Page 2 of 2
