[Assessment of pregnancy and labour outcome and the condition of the newborn in primiparous women aged 35 and older].

OBJECTIVE

To assess the effect of maternally advanced age on pregnancy and labour outcome.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

Pregnancies of 95 primiparous women aged 35 or older were compared with pregnancies of 130 women aged 20-30 with respect to pregnancy complications and labour outcome.

RESULTS

Women aged 35 or older had cesarean section three times as often as women in the 20-30 year group old. Advanced maternal age compared with younger age was associated with a significantly higher rate of diabetes, hypertensive disorder, thrombocytopenia and intrauterine growth retardation.

CONCLUSIONS

Primiparous women aged 35 or older are at an increased risk of complications in pregnancy and are at a higher risk of cesarean section compared with younger women.