When Katrina Kaif announced her pregnancy at 42, the conversation immediately turned to the risks of “advanced maternal age” – a medical term for pregnancy at or beyond 40.

While science acknowledges the increased risks of having a child in your 40s, doctors stress that with today’s medical advances, lifestyle changes, and social support, being an older mother can also come with unique advantages.

For decades, the dominant narrative has been that women must race against their biological clock to have children. The reasons were valid: declining egg quality with age, higher risk of chromosomal abnormalities, and maternal health complications such as high blood pressure or diabetes.

But specialists say that the landscape is changing, thanks to egg freezing, advanced genetic screening, improved fertility treatments, and healthier lifestyles among women in their 40s.

THE HEALTH FACTOR

The biggest concerns with late pregnancies are egg quality and the mother’s overall health.

“Egg quality determines the development of the baby and its physical and mental well-being, while the mother’s health influences whether she can carry the pregnancy smoothly,” Dr. Vaishali Sharma, Senior Gynecologist and IVF specialist, explains.

Hypertension, gestational diabetes, or complications during pregnancy are still risks for older mothers. However, Dr. Sharma says that women in their 40s today are much fitter than previous generations.

The biggest concerns with late pregnancies are egg quality and the mother’s overall health. (Photo: Getty Images)

“Many working women maintain optimum weight, follow a good diet, and practice yoga or exercise regularly. In fact, many 40-year-olds today are as healthy as women in their 30s a few decades ago. If there are no comorbidities, pregnancies can be carried out successfully and even end in normal delivery,” she tells IndiaToday.in.

For those facing age-related decline in egg quality, options such as egg freezing offer a safety net. Younger women can freeze eggs or embryos and use them later, reducing the risk of chromosomal abnormalities.

“Egg freezing has become affordable and accessible for working women, allowing them to plan pregnancy on their own terms,” Dr. Sharma adds.

A NEW KIND OF PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL READINESS

Lifestyle-conscious choices such as quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, and maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI) improve both natural fertility and IVF outcomes.

“We see that healthier women in their 40s tolerate pregnancy better, reduce risks of preeclampsia or gestational diabetes, and even recover faster postpartum,” Dr. Priyanka Dass, Consultant Obstetrician and Gynecologist at Motherhood Hospitals, echoes this optimism.

Beyond physical health, emotional readiness and resilience also play a crucial role.

Lifestyle-conscious choices such as quitting smoking, limiting alcohol, and maintaining a healthy body mass index (BMI) improve both natural fertility and IVF outcomes. (Photo: Getty Images)

According to Dr. Dass, “Women in their 40s are often more emotionally mature, with lower stress levels and better coping strategies. They tend to manage pregnancy, recovery, and even lactation with greater calmness.”

THE ADVANTAGES OF WAITING

The non-medical aspects of later motherhood are equally compelling. Both doctors stress that financial stability, emotional maturity, and a stronger support system can improve not just the pregnancy journey but also the child’s upbringing.

“A secure environment with financial stability means access to better healthcare, good nutrition, quality housing, and education,” says Dr Dass.

In fact, an emotionally grounded parent is more patient, resilient, and capable of providing a nurturing environment, which directly influences the child’s emotional and social development.

Both doctors stress that financial stability, emotional maturity, and a stronger support system can improve not just the pregnancy journey but also the child’s upbringing. (Photo: Getty Images)

Dr Sharma agrees, adding that waiting until one is ready, whether emotionally, financially, or socially, may sometimes be healthier than rushing into parenthood in one’s 20s or early 30s, especially if the circumstances are unstable.

So, in all, you can still have a normal delivery even if you’re in your 40s. Having kids at whatever age, whether it is good or bad for you is relative. Technology and techniques in healthcare today (genetic testing and egg freezing, IVF) is more advanced that how it used to be. There is no one solution to life event.

Although biology still matters – egg quality declines with age, and risks cannot be eliminated completely, but with the right health profile, proactive medical care, and lifestyle choices, women in their 40s can and do have healthy pregnancies.

It is important to move past stereotypes. “Pregnancy in your 40s is no longer the taboo or impossibility it once was. With proper planning and care, it can be just as rewarding and safe,” concludes Dr. Sharma.

– Ends

Published By:

Daphne Clarance

Published On:

Sep 24, 2025