Meghan Markle is just one in a growing trend of 30-something first time mothers

The average age women have children is increasing

The Duchess of Sussex is part of a much larger movement in which more and more women are waiting longer to have children , at least in the United States. Between 2000 and 2014, in fact, the number of first births from women 35 years of age and over in the United States grew by 23%, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention . Previous research suggests that this shift is largely due to the fact that significantly more women have entered the workforce and are now prioritizing their careers, higher education and financial security.

Advanced maternal age pregnancies do come with certain risks

“When you’re young and you release an egg, the egg quality is great—most probably that egg is going to take and it’s going to implant. When you get older, the egg quality gets much poorer,” Dr. Shahin Ghadir , a board-certified OB-GYN and assistant clinical professor in the department of obstetrics and gynecology at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Keck School of Medicine at USC, told Healthline.However, as women age and put off having kids, their egg quality deteriorates and, consequently, their fertility declines. This decrease kicks off around age 30 and speeds up around 35, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) . Women of advanced maternal age have a higher risk of experiencing high blood pressure during pregnancy—also known as preeclampsia —along with gestational diabetes, a condition in which the body doesn’t produce enough insulin to regulate sugar during pregnancy, Ghadir said. Miscarriage, multiple pregnancy, premature birth and cesarean delivery are more common complications as well. Furthermore, while the risk of having a baby with a chromosomal abnormality, such as Down syndrome , is small, the chances of having a baby with a missing, damaged or extra chromosome does increase with age.

Be as healthy as possible before getting pregnant

Women ages 35 and over shouldn’t be overly concerned, though, as many in this age bracket give birth to completely healthy babies without complication. “Trying to be the healthiest you is one of the most important things [to do] before anyone gets pregnant, especially if you’re over 35,” Ghadir said. Don’t skip out on your annual physical exam, and be sure to get your blood sugar, blood pressure, thyroid and uterine cavity checked prior to conceiving, Ghadir advised. Taking prenatal vitamins such as folic acid, eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly can help minimize complications as well.

Women have more options than ever

It’s imperative for all women over 35 to undergo prenatal screening tests to determine their risk of having a baby with a birth defect or genetic disorder. If doctors suspect you may be prone to a complication or infertility, there are plenty of treatment options available to help you get pregnant. “Advancements in the area of maternal fetal medicine, which is also known as high-risk obstetrics, have allowed women with advanced maternal age to have successful pregnancies and carefully monitor women during their pregnancies,” Ghadir said. For example, if infertility or genetics are an issue, in vitro fertilization (IVF) —a procedure in which sperm is combined with a woman’s eggs in a laboratory—can help you get pregnant at any age. Additionally, if you’re well into your 30s and have no immediate plans of having children, Ghadir recommends freezing your eggs. This process allows women to harvest their healthy eggs and store them for later use. Freezing your eggs at a younger age could significantly increase your chances of having a healthy, uncomplicated pregnancy later on in life, he said. Sure, pregnancies in women of advanced maternal age are riskier, but as long as the pregnancy is closely monitored and well cared for, most women will be able to give birth to happy, healthy babies.