Hi Reddit, My name is Sarka Lisonkova and I am an Assistant Professor at the University of British Columbia, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. My research focuses on risk factors and determinants of severe maternal morbidity. I recently published a study titled ‘Maternal age and severe maternal morbidity: a population-based retrospective cohort study’ in PLOS Medicine. This study shows that older mothers – aged 40 years or more – have increasingly higher rates of potentially life-threatening conditions including acute cardiac events, shock, acute renal failure, amniotic fluid embolism, and serious complications of obstetric interventions. Even though these serious complications are rare, our results provide important information for counseling to women who contemplate delaying childbirth until their forties. I will be answering your questions at 1pm ET. Ask me Anything! Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @sarkalis.