Older women were less likely to book late, but were more likely to have a history of diabetes mellitus and hypertension at booking. A higher proportion of the women aged ≥35 years had gestational diabetes, placenta previa and a fetus with a breech presentation. There was no increased likelihood of anemia in the older women and the increased risk for pre-eclampsia was only just significant in the 35–40 year old women. More women aged >40 years old had a pulmonary embolism either during pregnancy and/or in the perperium. Older women were more likely to have a prolonged postnatal admission. There was no difference in infectious morbidity between the age groups.
Induction of labour was more common in older women who were also more likely to be delivered by Cesarean section or have an operative vaginal delivery. Despite the higher proportion of older women having a fetus with a breech presentation, fewer had a vaginal breech delivery. A greater proportion of older women had a postpartum hemorrhage of >1000 ml. The risk for preterm delivery and stillbirth was significantly greater in the older women. The incidences of small for gestational age and large for gestational age babies were higher in the older women. More of the women aged ≥35 years breast-fed their babies.