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Pregnancy is a beautiful journey that some women embark on at some point in their lives. However, for women in their mid or late thirties, this journey can be marred by the label "geriatric" used in medical terms. This term is used to describe pregnant women who are 35 years or older, but it is an insult to women and should be changed.
The term "geriatric" has a negative connotation as it suggests that the woman is old and frail. It reinforces ageism in our society, suggesting that a woman in her late thirties is somehow less capable or less healthy than a younger woman. This is simply not true, as many women in their thirties are in excellent health and lead active lifestyles.
The label "geriatric" can also have negative consequences for pregnant women. Doctors may assume that an older mother is more likely to experience complications during pregnancy or labor. They may also recommend unnecessary medical interventions or procedures. In some cases, older mothers may be denied access to fertility treatments or other reproductive services based on their age alone.
Instead of using the term "geriatric," medical professionals should adopt more accurate and respectful language to describe pregnant women in their mid-thirties.
The recent news of Robert De Niro welcoming a baby at the age of 79 raises another question: what do we call men who become fathers later in life? There is no equivalent label for older fathers, which suggests that our society places more value on the reproductive abilities of men than women.
He is not alone, 79 year-old Mick Jagger also became a father for the eighth time in his seventies, which again speaks volumes about the double standard that exists in our society, which celebrates older fathers while stigmatizing older mothers.
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