Pregnancy outcome in the elderly primigravidae.

We assessed the effect of advancing maternal age ( 35 years) on the outcome of pregnancy in first births among 50 elderly primigravidae compared with a control group of 50 younger primigravidae (20-29 years) at the University College Hospital Ibadan from 1 January 1988 to 31 December 1992. Most of the elderly primigravidae were professionals and the majority of them (68%) had involuntary infertility. Frequent hospital admissions, preterm delivery, low birth weights and very high caesarean section rates were the major problems highlighted in the elderly primigravidae, while anaemia was more frequent in the younger primigravidae. Unnecessary caesarean sections on the excuse of 'precious' baby in the elderly primigravidae should be discouraged bearing in mind its medico-social implications. It is concluded that although the elderly primigravidae may have higher rates of complications of pregnancy, delivery and neonatal deaths their overall risk of referral to special care baby unit is not appreciably increased.