If you are above 40 years old you may have already given up on getting pregnant. Your natural dream is no longer a reality, and time has taken its toll both inside and out of your body, making parenthood more difficult to achieve. While it’s still very possible to have a child at that age – just look at the Kim sisters! – the worry and doubt can get in the way and make achieving that goal seem impossible.
Being pregnant over 40 used to be a big risk for the mother and child. The pregnancy would be treated as high risk, and doctors couldn’t guarantee the safety of both patient and child in most cases. This was compounded by the fact that medical professionals weren’t as advanced or knowledgeable when it came to maternal health or proper care for older mothers. In fact, considering this option would have likely been discouraged, altogether.
A lot of people are opting to have kids later in life, and the truth is that it can take some people a bit more time to conceive (about six months more for women who are over 35 according to the Mayo Clinic). Many factors play into this including weight, exercise, and stress levels. However, staying healthy both physically and mentally makes it much easier for one to become pregnant later on in life.
Although pregnancy has a higher risk factor than when you are in your 20s, medical advances have made older pregnancies more manageable. However, with each pregnancy comes a higher possibility of miscarriage and birth defects that the potential mother should be aware of.
But it’s a good idea to take extra special care of yourself and your health. You need to see a doctor on a regular basis who will monitor your health and identify if anything is amiss in the early stages so you can make any necessary adjustments or seek more specialized help before it becomes a bigger issue. What we recommend is simply listening to the advice provided by an authority on the matter and taking whatever steps they advise of.
Pregnancy is a beautiful time. Not only can it be an exciting time for you, but we want to make sure that we keep you healthy and safe during your development. We may suggest additional tests for you such as ultrasounds or sonograms in order to confirm that everything is developing properly and your baby is growing at the right pace. We might also ask you to undergo some examinations or tests like amniocentesis to ensure that our health is all right.
If you’re over the age of forty, and pregnant, you may have a higher risk to acquire gestational diabetes or high blood sugar. To lower your risk, you can take daily care of your health during pregnancy by not eating too much and making sure to focus on healthy foods for you and your baby. A nutritionist can help steer you in the right direction as well as tailor an exercise regimen customized for the specific conditions of your pregnancy.
There is also a risk that your blood pressure gets too high if you start working again before the baby is born. That’s why it’s important to physically keep calm and stress-free and to choose low-key work instead of going right back into full time.
Getting some rest and getting away from everyday stress is a good way to make sure you don’t experience any headaches or other health problems. It’s vital to find a positive group of people with whom you can surround yourself because they will lift your spirits and therefore keep you in a better mood overall, giving other areas of your life the opportunity to improve as well.
The most common concerns about a baby’s health are possible miscarriage or premature birth. Do not worry about this! Discussing these concerns with your doctor rather than worrying will allow you to stay calm and happy, because the worst thing that could happen is that you remain stress-free while pregnant.
Your gynecologist will be the most reliable person who will give you a clear answer about the possible cause of a miscarriage. He or she will provide you with advice on how to prevent it from occurring again. Ladies, by preventing further mishaps it is advisable that you take a periodic rest during your later months of pregnancy!
