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Have you decided to have a baby, but are worried that it will be too late? A woman who is thinking about motherhood after 35 years should prepare for pregnancy, especially take care of herself and have regular check-ups during pregnancy. Learn how to change your diet and what tests to do to help your pregnancy go well, and your baby is born healthy.
Pregnancy after 35: Control visit to the gynecologist
First, you should start by visiting a gynecologist. You should tell your doctor about your plans. As a result, he or she may order tests early and identify conditions that can affect the development of the fetus (for example, hypothyroidism, which makes it difficult to get pregnant and maintain it).
Your gynecologist may also advise you to lose a few pounds and regulate your blood pressure, as obesity and high blood pressure increase the risk of abnormalities during pregnancy.
The expectant mother should definitely consult a dentist and have her teeth treated. Caries is a source of infections that can damage the fetus and even cause miscarriage.
Every pregnant woman also needs a blood test once a month.
Pregnancy after 35: Nutrition and diet, what is there?
Folic acid. According to doctors, the intake of folic acid should be increased 3–4 months before pregnancy. This substance is found in: lettuce, soybeans, beans, peas, tomatoes and eggs. However, the surest way to increase a mother’s folate levels is by taking it in a supplement prescribed by a doctor. Folic acid is essential for the proper development of the baby’s nervous system, and proper levels in a woman’s body reduce the risk of genetic defects.
Indispensable calcium. A deficiency of this element (found in milk and milk products) can threaten the development of the child’s skeletal system. You need to take about 1200 mg of this mineral daily. This is equivalent to a liter of milk or kefir or 600 ml of yogurt.
Pregnancy after 35: Exercise – is it possible?
Most doctors believe that moderate exercise is recommended during pregnancy. This applies to all women, including those who become pregnant after 35 years.
Pregnancy is not a disease, and if it is not endangered, we do not need to give up activity and spend several months on the couch. On the contrary, now even expectant mothers who previously did not like to move should be convinced of this. Of course, this is not about starting an intense run, but about signing up, for example, water aerobics for expectant mothers.
Physical activity allows the body to better adapt to the changes occurring in it, and can also affect the way of delivery.
Pregnancy after 35 years – advantages and disadvantages
Choosing to have a child over 35 has both advantages and disadvantages. On the other hand, a mature woman usually chooses to become pregnant more consciously and is therefore better prepared for motherhood. According to doctors, such women follow their recommendations more strictly, take better care of themselves and observe their diet. Statistics also show that children of older mothers are more well-groomed and therefore healthier.
However, late motherhood is associated with certain risks. Among other things, the risk of certain birth defects, such as spine, heart, kidney, Down syndrome. However, thanks to research, these defects can be detected early enough, and many of them can be effectively treated in the prenatal period.
Pregnancy after 35: Tests to identify possible birth defects in the fetus
Women who become pregnant after 35 years must have genetic tests (free of charge) (ultrasound and PAPP-A test between 11 and 13 weeks of pregnancy).
Mniocentesis (or amniotic fluid analysis) is a test that can detect genetic defects (such as Down syndrome), the central nervous system, and certain metabolic diseases. The test is very accurate, so although it is associated with a minimal (less than 1%) risk of miscarriage, many women choose it.
You should also check your blood glucose levels and blood pressure regularly during late pregnancy. Pregnant women over 35 have an increased risk of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure
