Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh have announced that they are expecting their second child as the couple shared the news on Instagram through a joint post featuring their daughter Dua holding a positive pregnancy test kit who was born on September 8, 2024 and now Deepika who is now 40 is set to welcome her second baby bringing focus to an important question: is pregnancy after 40 safe and healthy?
Doctors call pregnancy at 35 or above Advanced Maternal Age (AMA) and many women today are choosing to have children later due to career, education or personal reasons and with better medical facilities safe pregnancies after 35 or even 40 are possible however experts say that as age increases, the body also changes with this hormones, organ function and overall health may not be the same as in younger years and this can increase the risk of complications during pregnancy, delivery and recovery.
Dr Harleen Kaur a gynaecologist at Apex Hospital says more women are getting pregnant later because they are focusing on their careers and education an as a result marriage and childbirth are happening later in life.
She stresses that medical tests are important for all women not just those planning late pregnancies and regular scans and health checkups help in early detection of any issues and make pregnancy safer.
According to Dr Kaur it is generally advised to have the first child before 30 and complete the family by 35 and this is because the body is biologically more prepared during these years.
She says natural pregnancy is still possible in the 40s and IVF is not always required however the chances of complications do increase with age.
If a woman already has health issues like diabetes, blood pressure or hormonal problems, pregnancy can become more complicated but with proper medical care, regular monitoring and a healthy lifestyle risks can be managed.
On whether celebrity pregnancies create unrealistic expectations Dr Kaur says celebrities often maintain good health, stay active and take proper care and she adds that instead of complete bed rest staying active and healthy can make a big difference for other women as well.
While pregnancy after 40 is possible and many women have healthy babies it does come with higher risks and experts say proper care, timely tests and a healthy routine are key. The biggest advice from doctors remains: plan the first child before 30 and complete the family by 35, if possible.