Pregnancy After 35

More and more people are having babies after the age of 35. Most have healthy pregnancies. No matter your age, it is important to take care of your physical and mental health during pregnancy. Check out the Pregnancy page to learn more about staying healthy during your pregnancy.

As you age, your chances of having certain health conditions increases. For example, obesity, high blood pressure and diabetes. At your first prenatal visit your health-care provider may ask about your health history. This will help them find out if you have health conditions that may increase risk during your pregnancy.

Pregnancy in people over the age of 35 is common. However, your chances of certain conditions and complications during pregnancy increases as you get older. Some examples include:

• A multiple pregnancy (e.g., twins).
• High blood pressure in pregnancy.
• Diabetes in pregnancy.
• Chromosomal differences in baby, such as Down Syndrome.
• Pregnancy loss (ectopic pregnancy, miscarriage, or stillbirth).
• Difficulty with labour and delivery (e.g., pre-term birth, bleeding, c-section).

Your health-care provider may talk about prenatal screenings tests and other follow-up offered to pregnant people aged 35 years and over. This will help them find potential concerns as early as possible. If you have questions, ask your health-care provider. They are there to help you understand and support your prenatal care.

There are other things you can do to help your pregnancy be as healthy as pregnancy possible and to prepare for your new baby. Check out Pregnancy, Birth and Early Parenting for more information on pregnancy, labour and birth, your newborn and early parenting.