| Many women today get caught up in the corporate | | | | get pregnant. |
| world and wake up one morning, realizing they have | | | | Obstetricians treating mothers-to-be over the age of |
| been delaying motherhood. It is not unusual to see | | | | 40 highly recommend you should not drink caffeine |
| women over 40 having children. What are the risks | | | | or smoke at all. Maintaining a diet that is high in |
| to the mother when having a child late in life? What | | | | nutritional foods, vitamins and minerals is also essential |
| extra step does a mother over 40 needs to take to | | | | months before you conceive. |
| maintain a healthy pregnancy? | | | | Specialty Pregnancy and Monitoring Tests |
| Physical Risks to an Older Mother | | | | It is usually much more expensive for a mother in her |
| A woman in her 20's and 30's is usually at the peak | | | | 40's to have a baby than it is for younger |
| of her health. Aging issues such as vitamin | | | | moms-to-be. Ultrasounds will be done very frequently |
| deficiencies, heart disease, and high blood pressure | | | | to ensure the baby is healthy and still moving around |
| are all less likely to affect an expectant mother in this | | | | enough. |
| age range. When women start to reach their 40's the | | | | A quad marker screen is usually done to identify |
| risk factors for these diseases and many others | | | | problems with the baby's brain, neural tissues, central |
| become much higher. | | | | nervous system, and spinal cord. This test also |
| An older pregnant woman who chooses to have a | | | | identifies Down syndrome which is more prevalent in |
| child is usually classified as a high-risk pregnancy | | | | women over the age of 35. |
| because of the variety of physical ailments, which | | | | An amniocentesis involves inserting a thin needle into |
| become more prominent in her age group. I | | | | the amniotic fluid. This will test for birth defects such |
| remember clearly my doctor warning me about trying | | | | as cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, sickle cell |
| to get pregnant after 39 and how the risks were off | | | | disease, and neural tube defects or Spinal bifida. This |
| the charts for me and my baby. | | | | test is often performed on older expectant mothers. |
| Other issues that may arise during pregnancy for a | | | | Having a child can be one of the greatest joys a |
| mother in her 40's include: anemia, varicose veins, | | | | couple will experience in their life, but it is important |
| cancer, muscle pains, uterine fibroids, diabetes, | | | | for older women to be aware of the increased risk |
| miscarriages, stillbirth, and cesarean delivery. | | | | to their life and that of their child if they choose to |
| Having a Healthy Baby | | | | get pregnant later in life. Often times, the risks to the |
| Pregnant moms in their 40's who are pregnant will | | | | mother are great and other options such as adoption |
| have an uphill battle with chronic health conditions and | | | | or surrogacy may be a better choice to maintain the |
| maintaining necessary lifestyle limitations while | | | | health of the mother. |
| pregnant. Most physicians advise women planning a | | | | The more you know, the better decisions you will |
| pregnancy late in life to start adding folic acid and a | | | | make in creating a family! |
| prenatal vitamin to their daily routine, before trying to | | | | |