Complications Expected After the Age of 40
April 12th, 2010 | by admin |
Since at least two or three decades ago, women over 35 in age are having healthy and successful pregnancies giving birth to healthy babies with no birth defects, despite medical advice suggesting that pregnancy must take place before the 30’s.
The number of women who get pregnant after 40 is increasing every day, and physicians have found that a woman can have a healthy pregnancy, labor and delivery, although the risk of complications increase as a woman is getting older.
The National Center for Health Statistics says that the percentage of women conceiving between ages of 30s and 40s increased in 1970 and has not stopped since then, thanks to the advances and discoveries in the medical field.
However, fertility decreases with age, and if you are between 40 and 44, your risks for complications during pregnancy are higher than women between 35 and 39, and double the risk over younger women.
Staying aware of potential problems during the different stages of pregnancy is the clue for a happy pregnancy. The most common problem is closely related to chromosome developing in your baby known as Downs syndrome.
Other complications can be the obvious result of your age, such as problems to conceive as your fertility begins to decrease when you were 30, and those arising as consequences of health problems such as diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.
Existent medical conditions can lead you to preterm labor or preeclampsia, a condition that affects both, you and your unborn baby. Some diseases may develop along with your pregnancy, even if you are actually a healthy woman.
In general terms, you will not need special care, unless your obstetrician detects a potential health problem during the early stage of your pregnancy. First-time mothers can have complications during labor, or it might be more a bit more difficult than labor for younger woman.
Even though common childbirth complications are prolonged during the second stage of labor and fetal distress, any of these conditions can be stressful for the expectant mother, more susceptible to mood swings than women under the 30s.
After 35, it is more likely that women will undergo cesarean surgery, and the older you are, the highest risk of c-section you might face. With the benefits of amniocentesis during pregnancy your chances of complications including c-section lowers.
Once you decide to get pregnant after age 40, planning your pregnancy is your best aid to prevent complications at any stage. A gynecologist or obstetrician can determine your medical condition, and suggest immunizations or medications to increase your chances to give birth to a healthy baby and stay healthy yourself.
Nicky Pilkington
http://www.articlesbase.com/health-articles/complications-expected-after-the-age-of-40-71566.html
5 Responses to “Complications Expected After the Age of 40”
By mann54 on Apr 12, 2010 | Reply
What complications can be expected for the mother/baby if the delivery is after the gestation period …?
of 40 weeks? Are induced procedures safe after 40 weeks?
What precautions to be taken by the expecting mother for safe delivery of the baby?
By Velken on Apr 12, 2010 | Reply
I went past 40 weeks. At about 41 weeks, I got a bad fever. My husband rushed me to the ER. The baby had her first bowel movement inside the uterus. She was sick, I was sick. She ended up needing a ton of monitors and an oxygen hood. It wasn’t like this with my second child (he was overdue too). But if you start running a temp and are overdue, I’d go to the doctor, just for peace of mind. She only had to stay in the hospital 12 hours longer than me. But it was scary to see her like that.
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By PERSON on Apr 12, 2010 | Reply
ITS because after the gestation period the tube the coonects the mother and the baby starts supplying unnutrius(poision) food to the baby and this causes complications
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By kazza on Apr 12, 2010 | Reply
my daughter was induced 10 days after expected delivery date. labour was 4 1/2 hours and labour pains were intense. midwife informed me that being induced increases pain and shortens delivery time.
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own experience.
By sonya on Apr 12, 2010 | Reply
About 10 percent of pregnancies extend beyond their projected due dates. Any pregnancy that’s still going strong 2 or more weeks after that date is considered “postmature,” especially if the mother’s or baby’s health seems in jeopardy. After 40 weeks’ gestation, the amount of oxygen and nutrients reaching the baby begins to decline. Furthermore, if a baby grows too large, there’s less chance of a normal vaginal birth. An overterm baby is also more likely to undergo fetal distress during labor, especially if the mother is 35 or older and this is her first child.
Many doctors prefer to induce labor 2 weeks beyond the due date; others wait. Ultrasound scans and electronic fetal monitoring help determine whether the fetus is healthy and can wait for delivery. The tests may be done biweekly.
If you are really concerned I would call your doctor and discuss your concerns with him, I am sure he would be more than happy to answer all your questions. Also, alot of pregnancies go to 42 weeks, so you should not really be too concerned till then.
CONGRATS AND GOOD LUCK!!!!
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