by josie
Glade B. Curtis, M.D., M.P.H., and Judith Schuler, M.S., have updated their informative guide for moms-to-be over the age of 35.
Although the number of U.S. births fell 1 percent overall in 2011, birth rates rose among women ages 35–44. If you’re among the growing ranks of moms-to-be in this category, keep these facts in mind, says OB-GYN Glade B. Curtis, M.D., M.P.H., in his newly updated book Your Pregnancy After 35 (Da Capo Press, 2013), written with Judith Schuler, M.S.
1. Your health may matter more than your age. Pre-existing medical conditions are the most important indicator of a woman’s well-being during pregnancy and the health of her developing baby. If you’re in good physical condition and exercise regularly, you could sail through pregnancy as easily as someone 15–20 years younger.
2. If you’re 45, you have a 97 percent chance of not having a baby with Down syndrome. Yes, the risk of having a child with a chromosomal abnormality such as Down syndrome increases with age, but the risk may not be as big as you believe. For example, at age 25, the risk of delivering a child with Down syndrome is 1 in 1,300. At age 35, it’s 1 in 365, and at age 45, it’s 1 in 32. There are several tests to help detect Down syndrome, including a noninvasive first-trimester maternal blood test combined with a special ultrasound.
3. Your medications may need to be adjusted. Be sure to talk to your OB-GYN about anything you take, from prescription meds to over-the-counter remedies to herbs or supplements. While medications may affect your developing baby, suddenly stopping treatment has its own dangers. The Food and Drug Administration is updating prescription labels to include a fetal-risk summary, which will make it easier for you and your physician to compare the risks and benefits of different medications. Currently, drugs fall into categories A–D and X based on how much — if any — testing has been conducted on the drug’s effects on fetal development. Drugs in categories A, B or C are believed to be safe to use during pregnancy.
4. Heartburn is one of the most frequent discomforts among older pregnant women. During pregnancy, your body produces hormones that relax involuntary muscles. One such muscle normally prevents stomach acids from backing up into your esophagus. Heartburn often worsens as the pregnancy progresses. To help combat it, eat smaller meals; eat less fat, avoid carbonated beverages; sleep with your head and shoulders elevated; and chew gum, which produces saliva that counteracts stomach acids. Antacids such as Maalox or Tums may provide relief, but avoid Pepcid AC and Tagamet HB unless your doctor directs you to take them.
5. There are several lasting health perks to pregnancy. Yes, you’ll be fatigued. But you also may notice fewer allergy and asthma symptoms and migraines. Pregnancy also may protect you from breast cancer and ovarian cancer later in life. And another bonus: Menstrual cramps are a thing of the past — and may not return once your baby is born.
