Pregnancy and childbirth over the age of 40Menhart, Lara (Avtor) Verdenik, Ivan (Avtor) Mivšek, Ana Polona (Avtor) advanced agecomplicationsbirthnational data analysispreconception health promotionThe age of women in childbirth is increasing globally. Older pregnant and childbearing women and their children are considered to be at a higher risk of complications. This study aimed to determine whether older women giving birth for the first time had more complications during pregnancy, delivery, and postpartum period. A secondary analysis of national perinatal data from 2013 to 2019 was made. We compared complications in different age groups (20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, and >40 years). Statistically significant differences were estimated using χ2 -test and Fisher test. Older first-time mothers (≥40 years) had a higher incidence of gestational diabetes (20.7%), preeclampsia (4.1%), and placental abnormalities than others. Cesarean section was also more common (21.1%). There were more preterm births (13.8%) and small-for-gestational-age babies (12.6%) in the group of first-time mothers aged over 40. Statistically significant differences were also found in Apgar scores at the first (p=0.00; χ2 =89.560) and fifth minute (p20262026-06-16 07:28:37Članek v reviji183590UDK: 618.4-053.9ISSN pri članku: 1333-9451DOI: 10.20471/acc.2026.65.02.02COBISS_ID: 281709315sl