Babies born to older mothers have higher blood pressure


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Following investigations by Dr Matthew Gillman of Harvard University Medical School, it appears that newborns will older mothers have higher blood pressure at birth. His findings reveal that each five year increment in maternal age results in a corresponding rise of 1.5 points in their babies’ systolic blood pressure. Consequently, a child born to a woman of forty, will have a reading significantly higher than one born to a mother while she is in her twenties.

Dr Gillman’s team have not yet finalised research as to whether the condition persists through childhood into later life. However, there are indications that the blood pressure rise as the children grow older, which could lead to heart problems in later life.

One theory is that placentas in older woman do not work so well. As Dr Gillman explains, ‘One hypothesis is that older mothers have placentas that don’t work so well. They have altered hormonal output that may raise the blood pressure of the child.

However, there is also evidence there are advantages in being an older mother - such as Madonna and Cherie Blair who are in their early 40s - apparently their babies are more intelligent.

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