Hilary Swank is pregnant with not one but two children at the age of 48.
In an appearance on “Good Morning America” on Wednesday, the actor stated, “This is something I’ve desired for a long time.” “My next step is to become a mother.”
Dr. Kecia Gaither, who is double board-certified in OBGYN and maternal-fetal medicine and is the director of perinatal services and maternal-fetal medicine at NYC Health + Hospitals/Lincoln in the Bronx, noted that being older and carrying twins both raise the risk for pregnancy difficulties.
Maternal age increases the risk of problems such as gestational diabetes, hypertension, and preeclampsia. They are also more susceptible to miscarriage, stillbirth, and premature labor.
Dr. G. Thomas Ruiz, the chief obstetrician at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, stated that it is possible for a mother of Swank’s age to successfully deliver twins.
“As long as the patient is aware of the challenges and risks prior to pregnancy and is prepared to comply with everything,” Ruiz said, “you can have a healthy baby and mother at the age of 48.” It’s simply extra labor for the mother.
Pregnancies in older women require increased supervision.
Ruiz says that Swank is most likely consulting with a perinatologist who specializes in high-risk pregnancies. It is typical for older mothers and those having multiples to have additional checkups, including ultrasounds every three to four weeks.
Ruiz stated, “We are conducting all the required surveillance to remain on top of any difficulties.”
Doctors monitor closely a pregnant woman’s fluid levels, cervix length, and other indicators of a safe pregnancy. Ruiz added that it is usual for mothers to be placed on modified bed rest in the third trimester to prevent preterm labor.
An unplanned pregnancy at age 48 is unusual.
Gaither stated that a 48-year-odds old’s of becoming pregnant without intervention are approximately 5%. Ruiz stated that the likelihood of a healthy pregnancy decreases significantly as the woman ages because genetic defects in the fetus rise. For instance, at age 45, a pregnant woman has a one-in-three chance of conceiving a child with Down syndrome.
Because fetal genetic defects increase the chance of miscarriage, older mothers are more likely to experience a miscarriage. Age increases the odds of spontaneously producing twins, which is an intriguing fact.
Several of these issues can be avoided by storing eggs or using donor eggs.
People seeking childbearing after the age of 30 should be aware of the hazards involved.
Ruiz has personally delivered twins to a mother who is 51 years old. While it’s becoming more normal for older women to try to conceive, Ruiz ensures that his patients are aware of both the odds and risks. If a woman over 45 shows a wish to become pregnant, he sends her for bloodwork and other tests to determine her likelihood of conceiving.
Then, he is candid about the medical and emotional repercussions of pregnancy at an elderly age, including the monitoring and the possibility of bed rest.
“We can get you through this safely with the right management and care, as long as you accept that this pregnancy will be more difficult than the last one,” he stated. You can safely traverse the situation.
