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The ideal maternal age is between 20 and 34 years. Both extremes of the
maternal age distribution being at risk for birth defects:Mainly for low
birth weight, gastroschisis and other vascular disruptive defects below
20 years old. Mainly for Down syndrome and other chromosomal disorders
35 or more years old. People are entitled to know these risks and it is
our duty to inform them in a intelligible way. In South America,
women aged 40 or more mother only 2% of all births
and as much as one quarter of all cases with Down syndrome.
Therefore, an educational campaign discouraging reproduction after 40 can
be accepted under any existent demographic policy.
Hook EB (1981): Rates of chromosome abnormalities at
different maternal ages. Obstet & Gynecol, 58:282-285.
Strobino DM, Ensminger ME, Kim YJ, Nanda J (1995) Mecanisms for maternal
age differences in birth weight. Am J Epidemiol 142:504-514.
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