Pregnancy Over 40
Even though your chance of pregnancy over 40 naturally decreases as you get older, there are more women than you may realize who fall pregnant in their 40s and give birth to healthy babies by maintaining stellar pregnancy health.
At 40 years old your chance of falling pregnant is about 40 percent, dropping to about 5 percent at 45.
One of the wonderful things about becoming a mom in your 40s is that you are likely to be at a good point in your life financially and emotionally and as an older parent you are likely to make wise parenting decisions.
There are, however, more health risks involved with pregnancy over 40 including a higher risk for conditions like gestational diabetes and pre-eclampsia, but don’t let this make you panic!
Maintaining optimal pregnancy health with regular checkups and taking the following advice, you are more than likely to have a wonderful, healthy and happy pregnancy!
“If you are healthy, over 40, and not obese, your risks of pregnancy complications are certainly less than an obese 40-year-old,” says researcher John R. Barton, MD, director of maternal-fetal medicine at Central Baptist Hospital in Lexington, Ky. While gaining weight during pregnancy is unavoidable as well as perfectly normal, you can control just how much weight you gain. Don’t use pregnancy as an excuse to overeat and indulge in naughty treats, but rather stick to healthy, nutritious choices and indulge only occasionally. If you are overweight during pregnancy you are more likely to deliver before 37 weeks as well as have an increase in blood pressure that can lead to more serious problems and reduce your chances of pregnancy over 40.
A mild, daily exercise routine is essential to prepare you for labor and protect against blood clots and swelling, as well as be fantastic for your overall sense of well-being. If you do not exercise, your obstetrician should be able to outline the best program for you and there are also many books available on the topic of pregnancy health and exercise.
If you are 40 or older and are planning to try for a baby then make sure to take your prenatal vitamins as well as folic acid before falling pregnant to ensure the baby’s health and decrease the risk of miscarriage.
Your obstetrician should request that you undergo an amniocentesis as one of you pregnancy health tests for Down’s syndrome and other disorders that could affect the health of baby as chromosomal disorders increase when pregnant over 40.
If you have a history of miscarriage, make sure to discuss this with your obstetrician because it will play a huge role in your chances of pregnancy over 40. If you have suffered from constant miscarriages you might be considered high-risk and while this may sound terrifying all it means is that you might need more frequent checkups and your obstetrician will advise you on lifestyle and whether or not you need more bed rest in your pregnancy health plan.
If you have older kids in their teens or early twenties, the thought of their mom bringing a new baby into the world might be hard for them to grasp, so make sure to sit down with the family and see how they are feeling so you can enjoy your pregnancy with no added stress. Once they come around to the idea, they will all be excited and will pamper you like the queen you are.
The Institute of Medicine recommends that women drink up to ten cups of fluid daily. Your body needs more water when you are pregnant to keep you hydrated and support the life inside you and water also prevents constipation and bladder infections. Too little water can lead to premature or early labor.
As you can see, pregnancy over 40 can be very exciting and a whole new start and even though there are a few more risk factors involved if you follow these tips on pregnancy health and focus on yourself during this special time, everything should be just fine.
*** Picture thanks to Exercise Works ***