Management of elderly primiparous women

The frequency of first pregnancies after the age of 38 is increasing steadily in Tunisia and the average age of first childbirth is now 40. Aim: To identify the profile of primiparous women over 38 years of age and the maternal, foetal and obstetric complications. Materials and Methods: We conducted a retrospective study in 2021/2022 of 50 cases in the obstetrics and gynaecology department of the Monastir maternity and neonatology centre. Results. The frequency was 0.58%, complications such as arterial hypertension, gestational diabetes, premature rupture of membranes, placenta previa and caesarean section deliveries were 6%, 34%, 14%, 2% and 84% respectively. Neonatal morbidity concerned 7 newborns, 14% of whom died in utero. Conclusion: Maternal age is a factor in complications during pregnancy and childbirth. Regular monitoring therefore ensures a fairly favourable prognosis for the outcome of these pregnancies, and monitoring must be multidisciplinary in order to intervene effectively in the event of any complications.