Advanced Maternal Age? Now It’s Called Geriatric Pregnancy – Because Why Not?

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So, here we are again! “Advanced Maternal Age” is out, and “Geriatric Pregnancy” is back in style. As a mom who welcomed her first child at 38 and the second at 40, I can tell you that hearing “advanced maternal age” during my pregnancies added a delightful sprinkle of anxiety to the mix. Sure, my pregnancies were smooth sailing, and my kids are thriving, but the constant reminders of potential doom didn’t do wonders for my peace of mind.

Now, it seems the medical community decided “advanced maternal age” just wasn’t making us feel bad enough. Enter “Geriatric Pregnancy” — a term that really drives home just how ancient your uterus feels. Seriously, ladies, it’s practically a museum exhibit in there! Apparently, this term was used for years before being replaced, likely because women were, oh I don’t know, feeling downright awful about it?

But guess what? Geriatric is making a comeback! Now, if you ever see “Elderly Multigravida” on your medical records, you might think, “Wow, I’m old and in serious trouble.” Nope! It just means you’re having your second (or more) baby at 35 or older. Hilarious, right? I mean, who thought that was a good idea?

In most contexts, “geriatric” refers to people over 65. So, really, who thought slapping that label on women in their 30s was a smart move? It’s not like we don’t have enough to worry about! Terminology matters, especially when you’re a hormonal, anxious pregnant woman. No way a woman who’s been through this would come up with such a ridiculous term!

The truth is, the number of women having babies later in life is on the rise, and many are enjoying perfectly healthy pregnancies. Over half a million babies were born to women aged 35-39 last year, and more than 111,000 to those aged 40-44. Yes, risks can increase with age, but come on! Why add to the stress of an already anxious mom-to-be with an outdated label?

Dr. Lisa Thompson, an ob/gyn from a local clinic, shared, “I avoid using the term ‘high risk’ because it can create unnecessary worry. We can be informative without using terms that feel derogatory.” Exactly! So let’s ditch “geriatric” and stop freaking out women in their 30s who are having healthy pregnancies.

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In summary, the term “Geriatric Pregnancy” is both outdated and anxiety-inducing, and it’s time for the medical community to rethink how they label women having babies in their 30s and beyond. Let’s focus on the joy of pregnancy without the unnecessary labels!