What is Geriatric Pregnancy?

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Meaning of Geriatric Pregnancy

Geriatric pregnancy is pregnancy in the woman over the age of 35. Geriatric pregnancies are increasing in the United States. A quarter of first-time mothers are now older than 35, and about 10% of American pregnancies occur in women over 40. However, this occurrences can be found in other countries too.

The term geriatric pregnancy has been replaced with the phrase "advanced maternal age" to refer to mothers over the age of 35. Because the terms are different, they can mean very different things. Geriatric pregnancy is largely viewed as a negative thing—which is why we don't use it anymore—whereas advanced maternal age is considered neutral.

The risks associated with geriatric pregnancy include:

• Tests for Genetic Abnormalities

Tests for genetic abnormalities are usually done on women over 35, so some pregnant women might be more anxious as they wait for test results.

• Risk of Miscarriage

The risk of miscarriage is higher in older women.

• Down Syndrome

Pregnant women over 40 have a 1 in 20 chance they will have a baby with Down syndrome, while pregnant women under 30 have only a 1 in 1,400 chance of having a Down syndrome baby.

• Irregularities

Women who get pregnant during perimenopause may have irregular periods and experience other changes to their bodies, making it difficult for them to know when they got pregnant.