Advanced maternal age
Advanced Maternal Age
Advanced maternal age (pronunciation: ad-vanced ma-ter-nal age), also known as elderly primigravida or elderly multigravida, refers to women who are pregnant at the age of 35 years or older.
Etymology
The term "advanced maternal age" is derived from the English language. "Advanced" (from the Old French avancier, "move forward") refers to something that is further along in progress or development. "Maternal" (from the Latin mater, "mother") pertains to a mother and "age" (from the Old French aage, "period of life") refers to the length of time that a person has lived or a thing has existed.
Definition
Advanced maternal age is a term used in obstetrics to describe a woman who is 35 years old or older at the time of delivery of her baby. This age is considered advanced because of the increased risk of certain complications during pregnancy and childbirth, including chromosomal abnormalities, miscarriage, gestational diabetes, and preeclampsia.
Related Terms
- Chromosomal abnormalities: These are changes in the number or structure of chromosomes, which can lead to physical and mental abnormalities.
- Miscarriage: This is the spontaneous loss of a pregnancy before the 20th week.
- Gestational diabetes: This is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy.
- Preeclampsia: This is a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure and signs of damage to another organ system, often the liver and kidneys.
Risks
Women of advanced maternal age are at a higher risk for several complications, including:
- Chromosomal abnormalities: The risk of having a baby with a chromosomal abnormality increases with maternal age.
- Miscarriage: The risk of miscarriage increases with maternal age.
- Gestational diabetes: Older women are more likely to develop gestational diabetes.
- Preeclampsia: The risk of preeclampsia increases with maternal age.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Advanced maternal age
- Wikipedia's article - Advanced maternal age
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