Advanced Maternal Age Pregnancy
Agnes
At FAME’s Outpatient Clinic (OPD), we meet a very upbeat Agnes*. This is her third time at FAME, having discovered it last year when she had recurrent infections that wouldn't go away. Since her first visit, Agnes has been impressed with the care she received at FAME and keeps coming back. Today, she is here on a very special mission:
“I’m here to talk to the doctor about trying for a baby at 47!”
Agnes already has four adult children with her ex-husband. However, she remarried recently, and her current husband is yearning for kids, as he does not have any of his own.
“My husband is very good to me. He treats me well. He loves me very much. But I am scared he will leave me if I don’t give him a child. He says he will be okay if we can’t have children, but I don’t believe him.”
Agnes confesses that she has been trying for a baby for a year without success. She has taken traditional herbs and medicines, but this has not worked, and she has now come to FAME to talk to the doctor and run some tests to understand the problem. She is hopeful that with FAME’s help, she can get pregnant.
“When I had my second baby in 1996, I was only 20 years old and gave birth in the village. The baby was very big, but the nurses forced me to deliver anyway. Immediately leaving the hospital, I received no aftercare and was back to doing hard manual work. My back and stomach have had on-and-off pain since then. I did go on to carry two more children, but I still wonder if this problem could be what’s stopping me from conceiving.”
Agnes meets with FAME’s Dr. Omary Mvano for a consultation.
Advanced maternal-age pregnancies, or pregnancies in women over 35, are associated with increased risks of pregnancy complications for the mother and chromosomal abnormalities for the baby (WHO). However, with proper medical care and monitoring, many advanced maternal-age pregnancies can be handled well, resulting in healthy outcomes for both the mother and baby.
“I know I am old, but I firmly believe I can have a baby despite my age. My neighbors at home are Maasais, and the women give birth at very advanced ages, sometimes even older than me, and they have healthy children! I’m praying I am blessed the same way.”
FAME’s Head Doctor, Gabriel Kissima, explains how FAME handles fertility issues. In 2022, FAME’s maternity center saw 847 deliveries; the average age of mothers was 29. Still, FAME also encounters infertility in young women too.
“We run tests when a woman comes to FAME with fertility issues. Some of our tests include a hysterosalpingogram (HSG), an X-ray procedure used to check whether the fallopian tubes are open and if the uterus is normal. A pelvic ultrasound is done to rule out tumors or cysts. We check thyroid functions and other infections. If this is all clear, we check the partner’s quality of sperm, which is essential in maintaining male fertility. We test for other hormones such as testosterone, estrogen and progesterone, but for this, we send the lab samples to Arusha. If a patient needs in vitro fertilization (IVF), we refer them to a specialized clinic in Arusha.”
On why she is so happy:
“I love everything about FAME. The nurses are very cheerful, and their demeanor is comforting. When I come here, I already feel better even before seeing the doctor because of the wonderful reception I receive!”
*The patient’s name has been changed to protect their privacy and permission was secured to share her story. The quotes have been translated from Swahili to English.