If you’re pregnant at 35 or older, you’re certainly not alone. South Africa might buck the trend by having babies quite young, but there’s a worldwide tendency for women to start having children in their 30s and even later.
It’s true that as we age, our ova (eggs) age too, and this can lead to the possibility of chromosomal abnormalities in the baby. And other health-related factors do play a role – for example, we tend to put on weight as we age, and this can increase the risk of diabetes. Nonetheless, stresses Dr Josh Matambo, specialist obstetrician and gynaecologist at the Essence Women’s Centre in Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal, “Most women over 35
