How to Deal With Pregnancy After Age 35

There are some advantages to becoming a parent after age 35. A woman may be more mature, patient, and confident in her abilities to be a mother. She may also be more secure in her relationships, career and financial situation. Still, there are medical risks that a woman faces when she conceives after the age of 35. Read on to learn what those are.

Instructions

1. Understand how age affects fertility. As a woman reaches her thirties, her fertility may begin to decline. This may be caused by poor quality of the eggs released at ovulation. Each woman's ability to become pregnant over age 35 will vary. Keep in mind it may take a bit longer to conceive after the age of 35.

2. Manage chronic health problems. Woman over the age of 35 tend to have more chronic problems than younger woman. Conditions such as high blood pressure and heart problems need to be well controlled to reduce the risk of complications during pregnancy.

3. Consider prenatal testing. A woman's chances of having a baby born with certain chromosome abnormalities go up as she ages. Discuss tests such as an amniocentesis with your doctor. Tests may be indicated to check for conditions such as downs syndrome.

4. Be aware of complications. Most women over 35 do not have problems in their pregnancy. However pregnancy complications are higher in older women. Conditions such as placenta previa and premature labor occur more frequently in woman over 35. Getting regular prenatal care is essential and will help your doctor recognize problems early.

5. Realize you may need a cesarean section. Woman over 35 have a higher cesarean section rate that younger woman. Keep in mind you can't control every aspect of your labor.

Tips & Warnings

• Take care of yourself. Women over 35 should follow all pregnancy recommendations such as eating healthy, taking prenatal vitamins. Do not smoke or drink alcohol.

• Keep perspective. Although pregnancy complication may be higher in women over 35, most women will not have any problems. Do not become obsessed with statistics. Focus on the fact most women have a healthy pregnancy and baby.

• Don't take it personally if the medical community thinks of you as an "older woman." Also disregard any negative comments from people about being pregnant after 35.