Meghan Markle
Meghan Markle's pregnancy is at a risk because of her age. Pictured: Markle waives to members of the public on October 18, 2018 in Melbourne, Australia. Getty Images/Chris Jackson

Meghan Markle’s pregnancy is a happy news welcomed by the entire royal family, their friends, and supporters.

However, the Duchess of Sussex is actually at a huge risk since she got pregnant at quite a late age. Dr. Larisa Coroda, a resident fertility expert for ITV, said that Markle could face a lot of issues since she got pregnant at the age of 37.

“Generally speaking, women over the age of 35 are at an increased risk of pregnancy-related complications such as high blood pressure, diabetes, pre-eclampsia, and pre-term delivery,” she said (via Daily Star).

But this doesn’t mean that Markle’s pregnancy won’t be successful because a lot of older women that get pregnant are able to deliver healthy babies.

“Meghan, who is openly devoted to a healthy lifestyle that includes regular yoga and a healthy nutritious diet, has ensured that she’s in optimal condition to embark on pregnancy. Taking care of your pre-conceptional health is vital and can help to reduce all the risks of pregnancy-related complications significantly,” she added.

Kate Whitfield, a journalist for Express, claimed that Markle is considered a geriatric pregnancy like Queen Elizabeth II. The monarch gave birth to Prince Edward when she was 37 years old. Geriatric pregnancy is a term used for women who are 35 years old and above. However, the term is no longer used today.

Meanwhile, Corda said that other than the Duchess of Sussex’s possible health issues, being pregnant at 37 also increases her chances at having twins.

“Studies have shown that the risk of having non-identical twins at the age of 35 increases, even in the absence of fertility treatment. The reason for this increase is a rise in the woman’s follicle-stimulating hormone produced by the brain, that can encourage the growth of more than one follicle or fluid-filled sac in the ovary, capable of releasing an egg. The number of twin pregnancies has been increasing in recent decades, and this is partly to do with a rise in fertility treatment and also the increasing age at which women are choosing to have children,” she explained.