Several women above the age of 35 experience difficult symptoms and potential health risks in late pregnancies. Nevertheless, late pregnancies are successfully monitored to result in healthy mothers and healthy babies.

Understanding the risks:

With age, the body matures in its functioning and adaptation, therefore responding differently to pregnancies. As expecting mothers, women should keep themselves informed of the various health risks, symptoms and precautions that need to be taken throughout the pregnancy. Thankfully, with an increase in the statistics for late pregnancies, healthcare providers have become more equipped and educated on how to deal with the various health risks that come along with a late pregnancy.

While health risks differ from woman to woman, depending on her age and her body, here are some common health risks of opting for late pregnancy:

• It is harder to conceive a child when you have crossed the age of 35. The eggs reduce in quantity as well as quality with age. Hence, it could even take up to a year to get pregnant. In some cases, medical help is also required.
• Late pregnancies increase the chances of twins and triplets. Having multiple pregnancies in itself is a complication and having a late pregnancy is a huge threat to the health of the mother and the children.
• There is an increased possibility of the child developing congenital abnormalities such as heart disease and Down’s syndrome. This is due to chromosome abnormalities.
• Pregnant women above the age of 35 run the risk of miscarriages and stillbirths.
• The pregnancy can be complicated, hard and painful. In most cases, normal delivery is often not pursued. Caesarean section is recommended. There could be unprecedented health complications during delivery as well.
• Mothers can suffer from gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. If untreated, it could have an effect on the baby’s growth and development.
• Premature births are a possibility. Preterm care is provided in the neonatal intensive care unit. In addition, babies with low weights could also be born leading to further health complications.
• If you are looking to conceive after the age of 40, in-vitro fertilization and other reproductive methods could be adopted. They come with their set of health complications and of course, certain side effects.

These health risks, although frightening, can be managed easily if they are screened carefully and the right medication is provided to the expecting mother. Understanding the need for better late pregnancy care, hospitals are not offering several fertility treatments along with pregnancy care dedicated to high-risk complications. Fertility treatments have been successful in eliminating infertility complications in women above the age of 30. This is a milestone for healthcare providers. The next challenge lies in pregnancy care that does not end with childbirth. The mother and the child need to be monitored carefully to detect any kind of health issues which can be treated at an early stage. Gynecologists are affirmative that all health risks and conditions are manageable with regular screening, improved way of life and extra care during the trimesters and post-pregnancy.

Late pregnancy care:

With good care, healthy and normal babies can be born even in late pregnancies. You just need to pay some extra attention to the fundamentals, starting from:

• The doctor’s appointment: Get insights on lifestyle changes and your overall health pre-conception. This will ensure that your child is healthy and you do not suffer from any complications.
• Eat healthy: No amount of emphasis on healthy eating is ever enough. What you put inside your body translates to how healthy you are. It is all the more necessary to have healthy food habits during and post pregnancy.
• Get regular prenatal care: This will eliminate any signs of symptoms of abnormalities in the earlier stages.

Pregnancy, late or not, is an experience. Although there are some added complications to late pregnancy, it can be thoroughly enjoyed through each step from growth to the birth of your child.