The ‘average number of children’ expected to be born by a Korean woman during her lifetime was 0.78, the lowest ever. Last year, the number of births fell to the 240,000 level for the first time. As the fertility rate continued to decline, women’s time to give birth was gradually delayed.
According to the “2022 birth and death statistics” prepared by the National Statistical Office, the average age of mothers at birth was 33.5 years old, the highest since statistics were written. This is the highest among OECD countries, and is 3.7 years higher than the OECD average (29.3 years).
The number of elderly mothers who fall into the high-risk category has also increased markedly. Among all mothers, the proportion of elderly mothers aged 35 or older was 35.7%, up 0.7%p from the previous year. The birth rate by age group in their early 40s reached 8, an increase of 0.4 from a year ago, the highest ever.
In general, pregnant women over the age of 35 are classified as high-risk mothers｜Source: Getty Image Bank
The increasing number of older pregnancies, what you need to be aware of…
In general, pregnant women over the age of 35 are classified as ‘high-risk mothers’. This is because the incidence of complications of pregnancy such as hypertension, gestational diabetes, placenta previa, and preeclampsia is higher than that of young pregnant women. In addition, there is a high risk of miscarriage or premature birth, and the frequency of chromosomal abnormalities also increases.
However, experts say, ‘there is no need to hesitate to get pregnant because of the risk of getting pregnant at an advanced age’. Even if you are pregnant at an advanced age, if you receive care from a specialist from the beginning, you can have a healthy pregnancy and give birth. In addition, experts emphasize the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle before pregnancy and checking your health condition in advance through tests.
Preparations for a healthy birth
First of all, you need to check for adult diseases such as high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease, and obesity. According to domestic and foreign studies, these adult diseases are risk factors that increase the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and dystocia. Therefore, it is necessary to identify and manage the disease in advance through blood tests and blood pressure tests. If you are already taking medications for chronic diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, or thyroid disease, it is a good idea to check your medications with a specialist before pregnancy.
You should also check for rubella antibodies. Rubella is one of the rash acute skin infections, and if a pregnant woman is infected with the rubella virus in early pregnancy, it can cause congenital malformations in the fetus. When infected in early pregnancy, 90% of fetuses are known to suffer from congenital rubella syndrome, and congenital rubella syndrome can cause abnormalities in the eyes, ears, heart, and nervous system. Therefore, if you are preparing for pregnancy, you should take a rubella antibody test in advance. If you do not have antibodies, you must be vaccinated against rubella, and you must use contraception for at least 1 month after vaccination.
In addition, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, AIDS, gonorrhea, chlamydia, herpes infection, cytomegalovirus, syphilis, and cervical cancer can affect the fetus.
It is also important to consume enough folic acid from 3 months before conception. Taking folic acid before fertilization and in the early stages of pregnancy can reduce the risk of fetal malformations such as neural tube defects, congenital heart disease, and cleft lip. When preparing for pregnancy, it is recommended to consume 400-600 μg of folic acid per day.
Smoking cessation and abstinence are essential. Exposure to alcohol and smoking during pregnancy can cause birth defects. At least three months prior to preparing for pregnancy in earnest, it is good to quit smoking and alcohol. This applies not only to expectant mothers, but also to expectant fathers. According to a study published in JAMA Pediatric in 2021, expectant fathers who drink regularly at least once a week are about 35% more likely to give birth to a child with a congenital disorder. In addition, secondhand smoke can also cause various problems, so it is recommended that both prospective parents stop smoking and drink alcohol.
In addition, acne treatments such as Accutane, anticonvulsants, and warfarin can cause problems in the fetus, so be careful.
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