The average age of women at childbirth
in industrialized nations has been
increasing steadily for approximately 30
years.1
Between 1996 and 2006, births to women
35 years of age or older in the United Kingdom
increased from 12% to 20% of all births.2
In
2006, a total of 5.6% of live births in the United
Kingdom were to nulliparous women 35 years of
age or older.
The risks of perinatal death, hypertensive disease,
gestational diabetes mellitus, placenta previa,
and placental abruption are higher among
women 35 years of age or older than among
younger women.1,3,4 Older mothers are also at
increased risk for preterm labor and for bearing
infants with macrosomia (>3999 g) or low birth
weight (