Doctors warn of potential health risks for mother and baby with childbearing after the age of 50
New Delhi, March 21 (IANS) Doctors have warned against the health risks associated with bearing a child after the age of 50, following the controversy surrounding late Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moose Wala’s parents welcoming a baby boy via IVF at the age of 58.
Nearly two years after Sidhu Moose Wala’s death, his mother underwent IVF treatment at the age of 58, surpassing the age limit for assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures, which is 50 for women according to the Indian Government’s 2021 ART Act.
Dr. Nymphaea Walecha, Senior Consultant at Fortis Hospital, highlighted the risks of IVF treatment beyond the recommended age, citing the increased likelihood of gestational diabetes, hypertension, preterm birth, and chromosomal abnormalities in older eggs, which can lead to pregnancy complications, miscarriage, and genetic disorders in the baby.
According to Dr. Aruna Kalra from CK Birla Hospital, babies born to mothers over 50 are almost three times more likely to have low birth weight and premature birth, while also having double the risk of small size for gestational age and foetal mortality.
Experts also pointed out the challenges older parents may face in meeting the physical and emotional demands of raising a child, as well as the possibility of age-related health conditions affecting their longevity and subsequently impacting the child’s wellbeing.
