Increased maternal age raises health risks for newborns

Giving birth after the age of 40 is becoming increasingly common, but it can carry increased risks for the child. A new study based on data from more than 300,000 births in Sweden shows that children of older mothers are more likely to be born prematurely or with complications, especially if the mothers are 45 years of age or older.

In most countries around the world, women are giving birth later and later. In Sweden, 4.8% of mothers were aged 40 or older in 2022. Previous studies have shown that older mothers differ from younger mothers in several ways, such as higher body mass index, a higher proportion of women who have used assisted reproductive technologies, an increased risk of certain diseases during pregnancy, and a higher proportion of cesarean deliveries. With this in mind, the researchers in the current study wanted to investigate how the mother’s age affects the health of her newborn baby.

Increased risk of stillbirth

In a study published in the journal Acta Paediatrica, researchers analyzed data from the Swedish National Birth Registry, which is maintained by the Swedish National Board of Health and Welfare and includes all pregnancies from 22 weeks that resulted in the birth of a child. The study included 312,221 children born to women over the age of 34 between 2010 and 2022, excluding twins. The infants were divided into three groups based on the mother’s age: 35–39 years, 40–44 years, and 45 years and older. The researchers were particularly interested in how the mother’s age over 39 affects the health of the child at birth. Children born to mothers aged 35–39 thus served as the control group.

“First of all, we saw that serious complications are rare for children born in Sweden, regardless of the mother’s age. But we also found that children of older mothers have a higher risk of stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight relative to gestational age, and low blood sugar compared to children born to mothers aged 35–39. The study showed that the highest risk was among children born to mothers aged 45 and older.”

Sofia Voss, lead author of the study

Stillbirths are rare in Sweden, but occurred in 0.83% of pregnancies in women aged 45 and older. For comparison, the rate is 0.42% in women aged 35–39.

As for premature births, 4.8% of such cases occurred in the group of mothers aged 35–39. Among women aged 40–44, this figure rose to 6.1%, and among women aged 45 and older, 8.4% of children were born prematurely.

Helping the healthcare system plan the right measures for older mothers

Previous studies have mainly compared children born to young mothers with children born to older mothers. In this study, the researchers were interested in obtaining a more detailed picture of the distribution of risk among older mothers.

By comparing different ranges of older age at childbirth, the study may also contribute to better and more targeted information for women planning a future pregnancy. As the proportion of older mothers increases, our research can help direct screening and medical interventions where they will be most beneficial. But it is also important to inform the public so that people can make informed choices.

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Published: 23.06.2025

Updated: 23.06.2025

Medical author, Medical editor:

Stepan Yuk

Medical expert:

PhD. Olexandr Voznyak