MIDWIVES have revealed that an increasing number of East Lancashire women are giving birth in their 40s.

The news came after it was confirmed that Prime Minister's wife Cherie Blair is pregnant at the age of 45 - and the pregnancy has been welcomed as a positive step by experts in East Lancashire.

Midwives at Blackburn Queen's Park Hospital have also played down the health risks to women who have children later in life.

Mrs Blair stunned the nation when it was revealed the couple are to have a fourth child. Messages of congratulation from political rivals and allies have been flooding into Downing Street since the news was officially announced.

The pregnancy has raised the debate about the risks of women having children in their 40s.

Margaret Mulcahy, the head of the ante-natal clinic at Queen's Park Hospital, said: "There are always some risks surrounding pregnancy no matter how old or young the expectant mother is.

"The risks in older women increase slightly when it comes to problems with chromosomes, which can lead to problems like Down's Syndrome. But we are there to offer the right support and counselling to all pregnant women along with the proper screening to detect any problems." She added: "Often younger women are more anxious than older women about pregnancy and we offer them support and advice as well. Although there are no statistics to hand it is fairly apparent that more and more older women in East Lancashire are deciding to have children.

"There are a lot of women who have a successful career and have reached a senior position in their line of work who make a conscious decision about parenthood.

"Older women having children can be a very positive thing and something I would support. Women in their 30s and 40s often have more life skills and have a lot to offer as parents.

"It is a very positive thing that women can chose what stage in their life they become parents."

Carol Connor, community team midwife manager at Burnley General Hospital, added: "Women aged over 40 may be at risk with their pregnancy and genetic problems, but there are many screening tests that can be done to ascertain the well-being of the baby."

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