How to Deal With Pregnancy After Age 35
If you're over 35 and expecting a baby, you're in good company -- approximately 20 percent of women in the United States have their first baby after the age of 35, and about 11 percent of all babies born each year have moms 35 and older. While there are a few health risks associated with having a baby later in life, proper medical attention ahead of time is likely to ensure an uncomplicated pregnancy and a safe delivery.
Instructions
Have an ultrasound at six weeks to look for signs of placenta previa, a condition where the placenta partially or completely blocks the opening of your cervix. Your risk of developing this condition at age 35 is about double that of a younger woman, and by the time you hit 40, you are eight times more likely to suffer from it. Get your blood pressure measured in the first trimester to see whether you're at risk of preeclampsia, a condition which is twice as likely to occur in women over 35 than in younger moms. If you are over 40, you have a 60 percent chance of developing this condition. Talk you your obstetrician about testing for gestational diabetes, as this condition is twice as likely to develop in women over 35, and three times as likely once you hit 40. , . Consider genetic counseling. While your risk of having a baby with Down syndrome is only about 1 in 1,250 if you conceive at age 25, the risk rises to 1 in 300 if you wait until age 35. A first trimester screening is a noninvasive procedure, which combines an ultrasound with a blood screening in order to test for chromosomal abnormalities and other fetal developmental complications. If the screening suggests the possibility of chromosomal abnormality, there are two other tests you may wish to undergo: chorionic villus sampling, which can be done at 9 to 11 weeks, or amniocentesis, which can be done at 15 to 16 weeks. Your obstetrician will counsel you as to the risks versus benefits of either option. Don't gain too much weight. Older moms tend to be at higher risk of exceeding the Institute of Medicine recommendations for healthy weight gain based on pre-pregnancy body mass index. Results from the 2009 Central Pennsylvania Women̵7;s Health Study found that 64 percent of women aged 35 to 45 exceeded weight gain guidelines, which was a higher number than women in any other age group. Dr. Lynn Simpson, an ob/gyn at New York's Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, advises older moms to add about 300 calories to their daily diets. Stick to fruits, vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains and low-fat dairy and try to get about 30 minutes of exercise each day. Pay attention to your baby's development as your pregnancy advances, and prepare for possible birth complications. After age 35, you have a 20 to 40 percent higher chance of a low-birth-weight baby, and are 20 percent more likely to deliver preterm. Ask your doctor whether nutritional supplements or even bed rest may lower your chances of either condition. Be aware that, as an older mom, you're even more likely to have twins! According to the National Center for Health Statistics, about 50 out of every 1,000 births to women aged 35 to 39 involve twins, and this rate soars to 71 per 1,000 for women aged 40 and over. While twins may double your fun, almost half of all multiple pregnancies wind up in preterm labor. Remember the benefits of late-in-life pregnancy. You're more mature than younger women, and should be better equipped to face the challenges that parenting will throw at you. You're probably also more financially stable and well-established in your career now, and whether you're married or single, chances are you've established a pretty good support network. Now that you've had the opportunity to fulfill most of your personal and career goals, you won't feel you're giving anything up by devoting the next phase of your life to your kids.
