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Handling Pregnancy In Old Age

By Puruvi Sirohi Singh Tara

With the recent advancement in the medical fields getting pregnant over the age of 35 has been a reachable mile stone. Many women have planned and completed successful pregnancies during old age by the help of technological marvels such as IVF, which was nearly an impossible task earlier.

The lower success rates earlier could be attributed to the fact that women lose their body nutrients from a very early age because of menstrual cycles and without appropriate medical supervisions they did not have the required health that would help them sail through.

10 Things To Help You Get Pregnant

Also, the egg quality in pre-menopausal state of women is much weaker than her early years which make it difficult to conceive or carry a healthy baby, in turn demanding medical intervention.

A pregnant woman who is over 35yrs may face several complications during the pregnancy such as:

* Stillborn or genetic disorders such as down syndrome in the child.

* Pre-term labour pains and hence, early delivery.

* Complications during pregnancy such as gestational diabetes, placenta abruptions etc.

* Developing chronic diseases post baby such as diabetes, high blood pressure etc.

* In some very unfortunate cases the mother might die during the birth.

However, these facts are to enlighten you and not scare you, and there are some precautions that might assist you in handling the pregnancy in old age. These precautions would help you deal with all the requirements that your body might have during the term.

Some to the precautions that you might want to take in pregnancy during old age are:

Pregnancy In Old Age

Pre-Conception Consult With The Doctor
This is very essential as the doctor would check for the status of your health and any possible effects that it might cause in future. He will also enlighten you on the ricks, pros and cons of handling a pregnancy in old age which is very important for maintaining a good health for you and your baby.

Regular Pre-Natal Check-Ups
The prenatal check-ups are extremely essential and become even more important in pregnancy during old age as they monitor you health status along with the health of the baby. Doctors follow a schedule for these check-ups and are mostly done to check for certain land marks such as trimesters, embryo developmental cycle etc.

Pregnancy In Old Age

Prenatal Vitamin And Nutrients
They are primarily given in order to replenish your body with nutrients that are essential for both you and your baby such as folic acid. Take them regularly to avoid any complications in pregnancy during old age.

Genetic Counselling
Pregnancy during old age can be difficult and risky for the baby as well. hence, if you are pregnant over the age of 35 years the doctor for refer you for a genetic counselling in which some of the fluid from your embryo sack will be extracted for examination to check on baby’s health.

The test is performed by highly skilled doctors and pose no threat as such for the child but is essential in knowing the child’s development and for checking any genetic deformations such as Down syndrome or retardation.

Pregnancy In Old Age

Post-Natal Check-Up
In many cases women develop chronic diseases post pregnancy during old age such as diabetes, high blood pressure etc. hence, it is extremely essential for you to monitor your health post baby.

Story first published: Friday, April 3, 2015, 17:14 [IST]
Read more about: pregnancy old age pregnant