Background: Low birth weight (LBW) is a public health issue in the United States and around the globe. Although Low birth weight is an important predictor of subsequent health outcomes, the role of maternal age as a LBW risk factor is poorly understood. Determining whether or not maternal age is a risk factor for low birth weight can help reduce the incidence of LBW and maximize the health of offspring. Objective: This study examined the association between young mothers and LBW risk in a representative sample of Non-Hispanic Whites, Non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanic American women. Factors such as mother’s age, smoking status, level of education, income, and marital status were evaluated to assess their associations with LBW outcome. Methodology: The selected study factors were analyzed using SPSS version 20. Data were obtained from the 2007-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Young mothers were defined as females between the ages of 14 and19 years old that have a baby. A live born infant weighing less than 2,500 grams was considered to have LBW. Frequencies for the selected factors were created. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were also run to examine the association between young motherhood and LBW adjusting for maternal age, smoking, education, income and marital status. Results: There was no statistically significant association between young mothers and LBW in Non-Hispanic Whites (OR=.51; 95% CI=.12-2.13), Non-Hispanic Blacks (OR=.21; 95% CI=.03-1.59), and Hispanic Americans (OR=1.48; 95% CI=.74-2.97) women, after adjusting for maternal age, smoking, education, income and marital status. Conclusion: Although, the results of this study indicating the lack of association between young mothers and LBW is consistent with findings by some investigators (Reichman et al., 1997), there are several studies that have reported contrary results (Okosun et al., 2000). In light of these mixed findings, further research is necessary to examine the impact of young mothers on adverse birth outcomes, including, LBW.

Introduction: The past decade has seen a significant shift in the demographics of childbearing in the United States. The average age of women at first birth has steadily increased over the last four decades, with the birth rate for women aged 40-44 more than doubling from 1990 to 2012. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes with increasing maternal age and paternal age using national health statistics data. Methods: The study population included 3 495 710 live births among women 15-54+ years of age from the 2012 Natality dataset. Outcomes were modeled for both maternal and paternal 5-year age groups using logistic regression analysis to calculate adjusted and unadjusted odds ratios (AORs, ORs) with 95% confidence intervals. Analysis was performed to examine the association between maternal and paternal age across seven different adverse outcomes, including low birthweight, low Apgar score, early term pregnancies, abnormal newborn conditions and presence of congenital anomalies. Results: The risks for most outcomes paralleled with advanced maternal age and paternal age. Logistic regression models demonstrated that maternal age groups 40-44, 45-49 and 50-54+ were at highest risk for an adverse pregnancy outcome compared to the 30-34 year old reference group. Abnormal newborn conditions including assisted ventilation, NICU admission and use of antibiotics were significant for all age groups 40 and older. Low Apgar score, low birthweight and early term pregnancies were significantly higher among mothers as well as fathers with advanced age. Conclusions: These findings suggest that advanced maternal age is a risk factor for a variety of adverse pregnancy outcomes. Women aged 35-39 have a similar risk of an adverse outcome as their younger counterparts. This suggests that perhaps we should begin assessing high-risk pregnancies as starting at an older age versus the de facto standard of 35.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Texas State University-San Marcos, 2007. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 111-129).

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2007. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Many women aged 20-30 are postponing their first pregnancies until their mid 30s and beyond, which has resulted in compressed childbearing years and/or infertility. Little is known about the knowledge and understanding that Canadian women of advanced age (age 35-45) possess of their reproductive capacity. This phenomenological study sought to explore these women's knowledge and perception of their reproductive capacity in relation to the timing of first pregnancy. Research questions using the constructs of Ajzen's theory of planned behavior were developed to explore how the behavioral, normative, and control beliefs of women's childbearing behaviors were based on their perceptions of their reproductive capacity. A purposeful sample of 10 participants provided data in semistructured interviews about their lived experiences of being pregnant for the first time at an advanced age. Thematic analysis was used to analyze interview transcripts. Emergent themes derived from the data included being naïve about natural conception, use of fertility specialist, discussions of childbearing plans by family doctors, lacking energy to care for young children, and feeling judged by others. Results indicated inaccuracies in the women's factual knowledge in terms of the narrow window for fertility, chances of natural conception, the impact of long-term use of contraception, and the use of artificial reproductive technologies to compensate for age-related fertility decline. This study may promote positive social change by offering healthcare providers information that assists them in tailoring reproductive messages for patients that dispel misconceptions regarding women's reproductive potential, which may reduce the number of women experiencing involuntary childlessness and infertility

The observation that more boys were born than girls was noted in the late 1660’s. Recent studies suggest the secondary sex ratio (SSR) is declining in industrialized countries. SSR is proposed as a sentinel for reproductive health. Declining SSR may reflect environmental factors or other influences of reproductive outcomes. We evaluated maternal age, birth order and SSR in the Old Order Amish (OOA), a homogenous sub-group with large family sizes. We used data from the Anabaptist Genealogy Database consisting of records for live births from 1696-2003. We used t-tests to compare mean maternal age and birth order by offspring sex, ANOVA to evaluate whether SSR has changed over time, and logistic regression for multivariable models. We evaluated clustering of SSR within families using random effects models and likelihood ratio tests of random effects. Maternal age was not associated with SSR (OR=1.003 [95% CI, 0.995-1.010), even after adjusting for birth order (AOR=1.000 [95% CI, 0.989-1.012). Similarly, we did not find an association between birth order and SSR in both unadjusted models (OR=1.007 [95% CI, 0.991-1.022), and those adjusted for maternal age (AOR= 1.006 [95% CI, 0.982-1.032]). The proportion of male births varied, however, there was no significant trend overtime. Lastly, we found a significant random effect (P<0.05), which may provide indication that having male births is heritable in families. Conclusions: Neither maternal age nor birth order is associated with the sex of an offspring. These findings suggest that decreases in SSR are unrelated to demographic factors, and rather may be related to other factors such as environmental exposures or other xenobiotic chemicals. These results may be relevant in providing information to the leading indicators to the decline in SSR.

Yes / Introduction Despite the well-known link between stress and smoking, evidence for associations between economic recession, financial stress and smoking is contradictory. In this study we assess whether women were more likely to continue smoking during pregnancy if they were exposed to the UK 2008-2010 economic recession during pregnancy than those who were unexposed, and whether this relationship is mediated by financial stress. Methods We used cross-sectional data on 2775 pregnant women who were regular smokers before pregnancy and who were enrolled in the UK Born in Bradford cohort study between March 2007 and December 2010. The cut-off date for exposure to recession was set at August 1, 2008, based on local and national economic data. Multivariable logistic regression analysis included potential confounders: maternal age, parity, cohabitation, ethnicity and maternal age. The mediating role of financial stress was analysed using ‘worse off financially’ and a ‘difficult financial situation’ as indicators of financial stress in Sobel-Goodman mediation tests with bootstrap resampling. Results After taking into account potential confounders, exposure to recession was associated with continued smoking during pregnancy (OR 1.19, 95% CI 1.01; 1.41, p=0.03). A worse financial situation and difficult financial situation were identified as mediators, explaining 8.4% and 17.6%, respectively, of the relationship between exposure to recession and smoking during pregnancy. Conclusions Smoking during pregnancy is associated with exposure to the UK 2008-2010 economic recession during pregnancy, and this relationship is partly mediated by financial stress. / supported by the Born in Bradford study funding. The BiB study presents independent research commissioned by the National Institute for Health Research Collaboration for Applied Health Research and Care (NIHR CLAHRC) and the NIHR Programme Grants for Applied Research funding scheme [grant number RP-PG-0407-10044]. Core support for BiB is also provided by the Wellcome Trust [grant number WT101597MA]. All authors receive funding from the Big Lottery Fund as part of the “A Better Start” programme.

Muitas mulheres estão adiando a maternidade até a 4ª ou 5ª década de vida, um fenômeno mundial. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar resultado da gestação em 281 mulheres com 40 anos ou mais, atendidas no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo entre Julho de 1998 e Julho de 2005. A incidência de diabetes gestacional e doença hipertensiva específica da gestação (DHEG) foi de 14,6% e 19,6%, respectivamente. Dezessete (6,0%) mulheres tiveram abortamento e 4 (1,4%) óbito fetal. Três recém-nascidos apresentavam síndrome de Down e 6 outras malformações (índice de detecção de 88,9%). Mulheres com DHEG tiveram maior risco para fetos com baixo peso. História prévia de hipertensão não foi fator de risco para DHEG. Gestantes com DHEG ou diabetes gestacional não apresentaram risco maior para parto pré-termo. Obesidade foi fator de risco para diabetes gestacional. Mulheres sem companheiro e nulíparas tiveram maior incidência de malformações e baixos índices de Apgar. Mulheres com idade materna muito avançada (maior ou igual a 45 anos) apresentaram incidência maior de óbito fetal e de índice de Apgar baixo. A assistência pré-natal específica possibilita a detecção das complicações maternas e a instituição precoce do tratamento / Many women are delaying childbearing until the fourth or fifth decade in life, and it has become a common and worldwide phenomenon. The aim of this study is to evaluate pregnancy outcome in women of 40 or older who were care at our institution. During the period from July 1998 to July 2005 a total of 281 women with advanced maternal age presenting at Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo were studied. The incidence of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia was 14.6% e 19.2%, respectively. Seventeen women had miscarriage (6.0%) and four presented fetal death (1.4%). There were three infants with Down syndrome and six with other anomalies (detection rate of 88.9%). Women presenting preeclampsia were at higher risk for presenting low birthweight. Previous history of hypertension was not a risk factor for preeclampsia. Pregnant women with gestational diabetes or preeclampsia did not carry a higher risk for preterm delivery. Obesity was a significant prognostic factor for gestational diabetes. Nulliparous and single women had higher incidence of fetal anomalies and low Apgar score. Women with very advanced maternal age (>= 45 years old) had higher rate of fetal death and low Apgar score. Prenatal care devoted for women with advanced maternal age allows an early detection and treatment of adverse maternal-fetal outcomes.

Muitas mulheres estão adiando a maternidade até a 4ª ou 5ª década de vida, um fenômeno mundial. O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar resultado da gestação em 281 mulheres com 40 anos ou mais, atendidas no Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo entre Julho de 1998 e Julho de 2005. A incidência de diabetes gestacional e doença hipertensiva específica da gestação (DHEG) foi de 14,6% e 19,6%, respectivamente. Dezessete (6,0%) mulheres tiveram abortamento e 4 (1,4%) óbito fetal. Três recém-nascidos apresentavam síndrome de Down e 6 outras malformações (índice de detecção de 88,9%). Mulheres com DHEG tiveram maior risco para fetos com baixo peso. História prévia de hipertensão não foi fator de risco para DHEG. Gestantes com DHEG ou diabetes gestacional não apresentaram risco maior para parto pré-termo. Obesidade foi fator de risco para diabetes gestacional. Mulheres sem companheiro e nulíparas tiveram maior incidência de malformações e baixos índices de Apgar. Mulheres com idade materna muito avançada (maior ou igual a 45 anos) apresentaram incidência maior de óbito fetal e de índice de Apgar baixo. A assistência pré-natal específica possibilita a detecção das complicações maternas e a instituição precoce do tratamento / Many women are delaying childbearing until the fourth or fifth decade in life, and it has become a common and worldwide phenomenon. The aim of this study is to evaluate pregnancy outcome in women of 40 or older who were care at our institution. During the period from July 1998 to July 2005 a total of 281 women with advanced maternal age presenting at Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo were studied. The incidence of gestational diabetes and preeclampsia was 14.6% e 19.2%, respectively. Seventeen women had miscarriage (6.0%) and four presented fetal death (1.4%). There were three infants with Down syndrome and six with other anomalies (detection rate of 88.9%). Women presenting preeclampsia were at higher risk for presenting low birthweight. Previous history of hypertension was not a risk factor for preeclampsia. Pregnant women with gestational diabetes or preeclampsia did not carry a higher risk for preterm delivery. Obesity was a significant prognostic factor for gestational diabetes. Nulliparous and single women had higher incidence of fetal anomalies and low Apgar score. Women with very advanced maternal age (>= 45 years old) had higher rate of fetal death and low Apgar score. Prenatal care devoted for women with advanced maternal age allows an early detection and treatment of adverse maternal-fetal outcomes.

Bakgrund: Förstföderskors ålder ökar i höginkomstländer och med stigande ålder ökar risken för graviditetsrelaterade komplikationer. Även andelen interventioner som avser att sätta igång, förstärka progressen och övervaka den fysiologiska förlossningsprocessen ökar. Syfte: Syftet med examensarbetet var att undersöka om antalet interventioner och förlossningsutfall vid ett medelstort sjukhus i västra Sverige skiljer sig mellan äldre förstföderskor (≥35 år) och yngre förstföderskor (20–24 år) med spontan värkstart. Metod: Examensarbetet var en kvantitativ retrospektiv tvärsnittsstudie där data samlats in under ett år. Materialet som bestod av 232 förstföderskor bearbetades med deskriptiv och jämförande statistiska analyser. Resultat: Det var vanligare att äldre förstföderskor fick utökad fosterövervakning och att de födde barn som vägde 4500 gram eller mer jämfört med yngre förstföderskor. Oavsett ålder födde förstföderskorna vanligtvis vaginalt och interventioner som värkstimulerande dropp och skalpelektrod användes vid runt hälften av förlossningarna. Slutsats och klinisk tillämpbarhet: Få signifikanta skillnader fanns mellan de jämförda åldersgrupperna. Examensarbete visade att det behövs en individuell bedömning av varje kvinna eftersom åldersförändringar sker gradvis. Som barnmorska måste man beakta att ålder bara är en faktor i bedömningen av den födande kvinnan och vara medveten om att man påverkas av den kulturella kontexten och organisationen. / Background: The age of first-time mothers increases in high-income countries and with increasing age, the risk of pregnancy related complications gets more common. The proportion of interventions that are needed to initiate, strengthen and monitor the psychological birth process is also increasing. Aim: The aim of this study was to investigate if interventions and delivery outcomes differ between older nulliparous women (≥35 years) and younger nulliparous women (20–24 years) with spontaneous onset of labor. Method: We conducted a quantitative retrospective cross-sectional study where data were collected from a hospital in Sweden. The material, which consisted of 232 nulliparous women, was processed with descriptive and comparative statistical analyzes. Results: In our study, we found that older nulliparous women more often received extended fetal monitoring and gave birth to babies weighing 4,500 grams or more compared to younger nulliparous women. Regardless of age, nulliparous gave birth vaginally and interventions such as administration of oxytocin and fetal scalp electrodes were used in around half of the births. Conclusion and clinical implications: There were few significant differences between the compared age groups. Our study didn’t show large differences between the age groups, however, research shows that age is a risk factor. As a midwife, you must consider that age is only one factor in assessing the woman giving birth.