Pregnancy in women at and above forty

ABSTRACT

The changing life patterns for women in our current society have forced them to postpone childbearing. Furthermore, failure of proper contraceptive practice among elder women may result in an unplanned pregnancy at an older age. This study was carried out in Ain Shams Maternity Hospital on pregnant women aging 40 years or more. The incidence of maternal complications as hypertension, antepartum haemorrhage, malpresentation and abortion increases with aging. Caesarean section rate is increased to 18.6 percent. In our study, a high still birth rate [5.5 percent] is observed with increased incidence of premature delivery [11.2 percent]. There is also significant neonatal overweight