What are risks of having a baby if I'm over 40?

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  1. Brigham and Women's Hospital
     
    Brigham and Women's Hospital answered:
    Social changes have resulted in many women waiting until their 40s to attempt conception. A woman's age is a significant factor influencing three important reproductive processes: 1) conception, 2) miscarriage, and 3) the rate of genetic abnormalities in the fetus. As women age, especially as they become older than 40 years of age, their conception rate declines, and if they become pregnant, the miscarriage rate increases. In addition the rate of genetic abnormalities in the fetus increases as women age. These effects are particularly notable for women more than 45 years of age.
    More Related Answers from Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Social changes have resulted in many women waiting until their 40s to attempt conception. A woman's age is a significant factor influencing three important reproductive processes: 1) conception, 2) miscarriage, and 3) the rate of genetic... More