[Photo/China Daily]

The bleeding ceased after a month of continuous treatment, and Xiao returned to work. Seven months into the pregnancy, she displayed symptoms of dizziness, lower limb edema and high blood pressure. She was diagnosed with pregnancy-induced hypertension syndrome.

After two months of hospital treatment, Xiao had a daughter by cesarean section. The couple finally breathed a sigh of relief.

A review of Xiao's pregnancy indicates that it was full of frustrations, disappointments and alarming health issues because she had delayed childbirth.

For the last four decades, Chinese women have been having their first babies later than ever before. However, Xiao's story suggests that pregnancy in older women endangers both mother and child. Women aged in their '20s and early '30s are most likely to conceive, but after 35, the ability to conceive declines for most women, and it's generally agreed that the ability to conceive declines with age.

Older women are prone to a decline in ovarian function, so they should understand that if they delay childbirth, there's a very real possibility that they may need to turn to artificial reproductive technology for help — they may even have no option but IVF, which isn't an easy thing to go through, has a low success rate and high procedural costs.