Pregnancy after 35

Fact checked

By SheCares Editorial Team | Updated: Sep 15, 2022

Between finishing college, securing a career, building a relationship, and enjoying life, many women nowadays find themselves starting to give motherhood a thought in their mid-30s.

In fact, the average age at which women are now having children has been steadily shifting in the last few decades with a clear tendency towards having children after 35 or around that age.1 Although pregnancy in mid-30s is a viable option for the majority of women, it is important to be conscious of natural fertility limitations and challenges associated with an advanced maternal age pregnancy.

Read on to learn more about  having a baby at 35, including your chances of conceiving in your mid-30s and the best ways to improve them with ease as well as risks associated with being pregnant at 35 and easy steps to stay healthy.

Pregnancy after 35

Getting Pregnant after 35

Getting pregnant at 35

For some women, getting pregnant in their mid-30s does not present any obstacles; for others, however, it might require significantly more time and effort.

Chances of Getting Pregnant at 35

A woman's fertility is constrained by her egg supply in the ovaries, referred to as the ovarian reserve.

This reserve decreases throughout a woman's life at various speeds, taking on a more drastic decline around age 35 onwards. At the same time, the chromosomal abnormalities that happen within the eggs due to aging can make them unviable for fertilization or implantation.

As a result, fertility after 35 is often compromised, resulting in the following estimated chances of conceiving:2,3,4,5 

  • Women between the ages of 35 and 39 have a 15% chance of getting pregnant per menstrual cycle, in comparison to a 25% chance per month in those in their 20s.

  • About 78% of women in mid- to late-30s successfully conceive within a year, in comparison to about 96% of those in early 20s.

How to Get Pregnant at 35

Despite a rapid fertility decline, most women can still get pregnant at 35. A good approach to pregnancy preparations at 35 and boosting fertility might consist of the following steps:

For women in their 30s who want to delay motherhood for several more years, but want to use their own eggs, fertility preservation is a viable option. However, most fertility clinics consider 35 or 36 as a cut-off age for freezing eggs.

Being Pregnant at 35

Being pregnant at 35

The challenges associated with pregnancy after 35 mainly concern the fact that women in their mid- to late-30s are more likely to have pre-pregnancy health conditions, such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

Additionally, women past their mid-30s are at an increased likelihood of having twins or triplets, which comes with its own set of challenges.6

Pregnancy after 35 Risks Factors

Pregnancies to women 35 and older are classified as high-risk pregnancies as advanced maternal age has been found to carry significant risks of pregnancy complications, including the following:1,6,7

How to Have a Healthy Pregnancy at 35

Despite increased risks of complications, a healthy pregnancy after 35 is very much possible, especially when keeping in mind the following approaches:

  • Ensuring proper prenatal care by keeping regular doctor's appointments and undergoing prenatal testing

  • Eating a nutritious pregnancy diet to support the fetus and help the body withstand the rapid changes

  • Taking prenatal vitamins with 400 mcg of folic acid daily

  • Focusing on low to moderate exercise while pregnant (prior doctor's approval needed)

  • Practicing yoga, meditation, or breathing exercises to reduce stress during pregnancy

  • Gaining pregnancy weight slowly and within the recommended range

  • Being mindful of avoiding harsh chemicals, cat's litter, and other pregnancy precautions

Key Takeaways

Women contemplating having children after 35 often approach their conception efforts with more stress and pressure due to the fact they are automatically labeled as high-risk. Right away they are bombarded with findings that the passage of time is the leading cause of reduced fertility and higher risks of pregnancy complications, including premature birth, preeclampsia, or gestational diabetes. Nevertheless, with the right approaches before and after conceiving, a natural and healthy pregnancy at 35 is viable. It may consist of proper preconception check-up to use the time productively; boosting one's chances with fertility supplements like Macafem; starting prenatal vitamins one month before conceiving; and staying strong during pregnancy with wholesome diet and exercise. Preparing for getting pregnant at 35 ahead of time is the best way to reduce anxiety and approach one's pregnancy feeling in control.