Having Babies After 30

Benefits

• While making the decision to have children after 30 can pose a few problems, it also offers several benefits. Unemployment dips after age 34, going from 7.8 percent between 25 and 34 down to 5.7 percent between 35 and 44, at time of publication, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. This means you may be more financially stable after 30 than you were in your 20s. Your relationship status may also have stabilized, whether you've chosen to settle down with a partner or are happy to raise a baby on your own.

Fertility

• Fertility decreases after your 30th birthday, which could affect your chances of getting pregnant. Still, there's a good chance that you can become pregnant without intervention in your early to mid-30s. James Goldfarb, the director of infertility services for the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, tells BabyCenter, "There's a clear drop-off in fertility between ages 29 and 35, but the majority of 35-year-old women still won't have a problem." He then goes on to warn that by the late 30s, fertility decreases, and interventions that may have worked for a younger woman become less effective.

Birth Defects

• Having a baby after 35 means you're of "advanced maternal age." Advanced maternal age is considered a high-risk condition, as it can have some consequences when it comes to pregnancy and childbirth. According to the Children's Hospital of the King's Daughters, chromosomal issues increase with the age of the mother. The risk for down syndrome, for example, increases from 1 in 1,250 for a pregnant woman at age 25 to about 1 in 100 for a woman who becomes pregnant at 40. While genetic testing can be done to predict birth defects, the defects are more common and not as preventable for women of advanced maternal age. Speak to your doctor about any concerns you may have.

Prenatal Care

• For the most part, your care plan, appointments and monitoring are similar to a younger woman's, with the exception of the possibility of genetic testing to check for birth defects. If you are pregnant, see your doctor as soon as you know you're expecting. Your ob-gyn can create a care plan specifically for you and determine any risks you may have. The better care you receive, the better your chances for a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby.