| Since at least two or three decades ago, women | | | | Existent medical conditions can lead you to preterm |
| over 35 in age are having healthy and successful | | | | labor or preeclampsia, a condition that affects both, |
| pregnancies giving birth to healthy babies with no | | | | you and your unborn baby. Some diseases may |
| birth defects, despite medical advice suggesting that | | | | develop along with your pregnancy, even if you are |
| pregnancy must take place before the 30's. | | | | actually a healthy woman. |
| The number of women who get pregnant after 40 is | | | | In general terms, you will not need special care, |
| increasing every day, and physicians have found that | | | | unless your obstetrician detects a potential health |
| a woman can have a healthy pregnancy, labor and | | | | problem during the early stage of your pregnancy. |
| delivery, although the risk of complications increase as | | | | First-time mothers can have complications during |
| a woman is getting older. | | | | labor, or it might be more a bit more difficult than |
| The National Center for Health Statistics says that | | | | labor for younger woman. |
| the percentage of women conceiving between ages | | | | Even though common childbirth complications are |
| of 30s and 40s increased in 1970 and has not | | | | prolonged during the second stage of labor and fetal |
| stopped since then, thanks to the advances and | | | | distress, any of these conditions can be stressful for |
| discoveries in the medical field. | | | | the expectant mother, more susceptible to mood |
| However, fertility decreases with age, and if you are | | | | swings than women under the 30s. |
| between 40 and 44, your risks for complications | | | | After 35, it is more likely that women will undergo |
| during pregnancy are higher than women between 35 | | | | cesarean surgery, and the older you are, the highest |
| and 39, and double the risk over younger women. | | | | risk of c-section you might face. With the benefits of |
| Staying aware of potential problems during the | | | | amniocentesis during pregnancy your chances of |
| different stages of pregnancy is the clue for a happy | | | | complications including c-section lowers. |
| pregnancy. The most common problem is closely | | | | Once you decide to get pregnant after age 40, |
| related to chromosome developing in your baby | | | | planning your pregnancy is your best aid to prevent |
| known as Downs syndrome. | | | | complications at any stage. A gynecologist or |
| Other complications can be the obvious result of your | | | | obstetrician can determine your medical condition, and |
| age, such as problems to conceive as your fertility | | | | suggest immunizations or medications to increase |
| begins to decrease when you were 30, and those | | | | your chances to give birth to a healthy baby and |
| arising as consequences of health problems such as | | | | stay healthy yourself. |
| diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. | | | | |