A 50-year-old woman, who already has grandchildren, discovered she was naturally pregnant at 18 weeks during a routine health check-up
The couple has two daughters and has been grandparents for almost two years.
A few months ago, when she went for a routine health check-up, she was surprised when the doctor informed her that she was 18 weeks pregnant. Prior to this, when she noticed her menstrual cycle was delayed, she assumed she had entered menopause and didn't pay much attention. Upon hearing the news that she was naturally pregnant at the age of 50 without realizing it, many people around her were shocked.
To carry the pregnancy, this couple, both over 50, had to face many health and mental challenges, especially in the final weeks of pregnancy... but they persevered. After the cesarean delivery on July 19, both mother and child’s health stabilized.
Dr. Nguyễn Trung Đạo mentioned that he had previously examined and successfully assisted women aged 47-48 with natural pregnancies, but pregnancies over 50 are very rare. "It is very rare for women to naturally conceive at over 50 years old. At this age, the ovaries have greatly declined, and there are almost no eggs left to conceive," Dr. Đạo shared with VietNamNet.
According to him, the age and poor quality of eggs cause the fetus to face a high risk of deformities, making pregnancy difficult and increasing the chances of miscarriage, stillbirth, premature birth, low birth weight, and slow fetal growth...
In the Obstetrics department, there have been many cases of unintended pregnancies in women over 50, leading to the decision to terminate the pregnancy due to fetal abnormalities or the mother's health condition. In addition, many women struggle with psychological pressure due to being pregnant at an age when they have already become grandmothers.
Doctors say that after menopause, women can no longer conceive. However, in the 3-5 years before this phase, they often go through perimenopause, which is marked by many physical, hormonal, and psychological disorders.
During this time, women's reproductive organs undergo changes such as shrinking and sagging breasts, atrophy and dryness of the vulva and vagina, as well as hot flashes and sweating. Especially, during this phase, women experience changes in their menstrual cycle and characteristics. The cycle becomes irregular, shorter, lengthening, and becoming sparse. They may also experience heavy or prolonged menstruation.
During this phase, it is still possible for women to conceive, so they must not be complacent during this "twilight" period and still need to use appropriate contraception methods. If experiencing missed or delayed periods, it is recommended to take a pregnancy test and consult a gynecologist.