More women are having babies later in life. How to improve your chance of a healthy pregnancy – CTV
March 30, 2026
Dr. Jacquelyn Means knew that being pregnant in her late 30s would be challenging.
“It is definitely harder on your body. You just feel a lot more fatigued. There are certain complications to watch out for,” said Means, a Texas OB-GYN who had her first child at 37 and her second at 39. “It’s usually going to be fine, but there are things to be aware of.”
Like Means, more and more women are having babies later in life. A federal report showed that 21 per cent of all births in the U.S. were to women 35 and older in 2023, up from 9 per cent in 1990. And this “advanced maternal age” raises risks for both moms and babies.
Older pregnant women are more likely to have conditions like high blood pressure and obesity, for example, and are more prone to developing pregnancy complications. They’re more likely to undergo cesarean sections and give birth to twins or babies with some genetic abnormalities.
