Health risks for early (< or =19) and late (> or =35) childbearing

Both adolescents and women of advanced reproductive age comprise distinct groups of obstetrics patients. Each has special needs and is susceptible to different obstetric risks. Pregnant teenagers appear to be at increased risk for poor maternal weight gain, abortions, hypertensive disorders and delivery of low birthweight infants. Pregnant women over the age of 34 have an increased risk for a poor obstetric outcome as a result of an increased risk for chromosomal aneuploidies and their higher likelihood of having a chronic disease, such as chronic hypertension or diabetes mellitus, to complicate their pregnancies. This study emphasises the increased maternal and fetal risks for pregnancies at these extreme age groups in a retrospective way. Prepregnancy counselling is essential for these age groups in order for a woman to be able to make an informed decision regarding the timing of childbearing.