In this new age and time, women have found freedom of choice and are always looking to be financially independent, which has led to late family planning or pregnancy. To build a career, finish education, or live life to the fullest, a large number of women are choosing or have chosen to keep conception and family planning for the future because building a career or something for oneself and being in that right place in life could take a very long time to achieve which however with age and days passing, can cause complications for females due to the biological clock constantly ticking. Or some may have been unfortunate in finding the right partner on time.
But just as the times have changed for women to make a living for themselves and make their own choices freely, so have science and its methods, on how to help women have a smooth pregnancy starting from their late 30s to their 40s. Are you worried about your next move? Does your friend want to start a little family of her own, and needs some assistance in this phase of her life? Or are you confused about what you should do now that you are in your 40s and blessed by a child growing inside you? We will try to answer your questions and provide you with some information that hopefully will ease your head and heart.
BE-FRIEND YOUR DOCTOR
A key part of having a healthy pregnancy at any age is talking to your doctor about your plans to get pregnant, as they can help you optimize your health accordingly before you get pregnant. The probability of having a healthy pregnancy by controlling chronic illnesses, helping to define a healthy diet, and reducing or eliminating bad habits like smoking or excessive drinking, can be high. Those women who are already going through an unplanned pregnancy in their 40s and are seeking prenatal care should make it essential to stay healthy while pregnant. Your diet and how you take care of your body should help you keep your blood pressure, diabetes, or other health issues on the low, or if you do not already have one of these issues – your diet should help you to stay free to continue to stay away from such health risk. Keeping your health in mind will not just lead to a safe pregnancy for your body but will also ensure the health of your baby.
FERTILITY
It is recommended that women having their first child after 40 consider seeing an MFM doctor or an OB/GYN with experience caring for older women. Statistically speaking, you are more likely to need the aid of fertility treatments the older you are when you are trying to conceive, even though pregnancy after the age of 35 has increased over time since the year 1985.
Fertility treatments do not mean the same thing for everyone. It can mean anything from conceiving while taking oral medications and having regular intercourse to using donor eggs and trying to conceive with in vitro fertilization (IVF). Unfortunately, it is expected to have health risks if one tries to conceive later in life. The problems could include:
Risk of miscarriage
Preeclampsia
Multiples
Chromosomal abnormality
Congenital anomalies
Stillbirth
Gestational diabetes
Labor dystocia (protracted labor)
Cesarean delivery
Preterm birth
Neonatal intensive care unit admission (NICU) admission
Low birth weight
Baby with Down syndrome
LABOR PAIN
Labor pain at any age could be pretty much unbearable, but if something can be unbearable in your early 20s, then one can understand how much harder it would be for your body and your health to take the pressure of two people in your 40s. It increases the risk of being more complicated and results in more interventions for the person giving birth. A person who has a chronic condition is more likely to experience complications than someone who does not.
THE OUTLOOK
Physical changes are also a bit like labor pain compared to your 20s and 40s- the same thing goes that one can already understand the physical changes in the earlier years of undergoing pregnancy, so undergoing pregnancy in your 40s can also overwhelm you related to your physical appearance.
But, the solution to all these problems is maintaining the best health, eating safe foods, sleeping, and waking up early. Most women choose to do Pilates or workouts for pregnant women and even heavy gym workouts with a trainer on the lookout for their safety and spotting. It has become widely known that working out during your pregnancy helps you with your labor and can also help you get right back up, or sooner than expected, after your delivery. Moving is one way to alleviate the stress and strain of pregnancy on your body so consider doing yoga, swimming, working out, and walking now and then.
MOOD MAP
Pregnancy plays with your emotions through hormones now and then, which no one sees coming. The mood swings that can accompany pregnancy are well known by us all and should not be that different when it comes to age. However, as a more mature version of yourself, you probably have something your younger counterparts do not: The ability to cope with these changes more effectively. Young people feel more stressed during their pregnancy because of other factors they have not yet been able to achieve, such as financial satisfaction and a well-built career. By the time you are in your 40s, your life will be pretty much sorted with a beautiful house and a stable career, so you will not have the stress of anything related to finances.
FRIENDS
You should be able to relieve some stress as you surround yourself with friends your age who are pregnant or who have already undergone late pregnancy. They would be able to help you and you will not feel lonely or unaware, helpless anymore. If extensive help is still required, you should always feel free to talk to your doctors including a therapist. With good care and modern technology, the vast majority of babies are born healthy so you should not worry much about that and stress yourself out during a sensitive situation.
