Content

• Steps
• Warning

A lot of women decide to have a late baby and a lot of them have a healthy pregnancy. With increasingly advanced science and technology, the older women are increasingly protected than ever. However, becoming pregnant at the age of 40 still has many potential risks and complications for both mother and fetus.Preparing yourself before you get pregnant keeps your body in the best condition for a healthy pregnancy.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Seeing a Doctor

1. 

   Schedule a consultation appointment with your own doctor or obstetrician. The older people get, the more likely they are to have health problems like high blood pressure or diabetes. Older women may also be more prone to problems that adversely affect the fetus.
   • Your doctor will do an exam and may perform a cervical and pelvic exam. The exam usually takes less than 15 to 20 minutes, but it will also take time to talk to your doctor about pregnancy.
   • Ask your doctor how to increase your fertility and how you need to make lifestyle changes to ensure a healthy pregnancy. Be honest when talking about your current lifestyle and try to take in advice about changes in your lifestyle.
   • Discuss with your doctor which of the medications you can continue to take while you are planning to become pregnant, as well as during pregnancy and while breastfeeding. Ask your doctor if alternative therapies or medications are safe for your pregnancy, and given your medical history, if these are really effective.
   • Evaluate which health problems are most important to you before getting pregnant with your doctor. Since some illnesses like high blood pressure can worsen as you age, finding a way to control these problems is essential.
   • Immunization on doctor's advice. Your doctor may perform blood tests to check if you have antibodies to diseases like rubella or chickenpox. Wait a month after getting the vaccine before you intend to conceive.
   • Your doctor may need to do tests to evaluate the ovarian reserve or the probability that a good egg remains.

2. 

   
   
   Discuss the risk of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. The risk of certain health problems associated with pregnancy increases with age. Discuss your risks with your doctor and see what you can do to limit them.
   • Sometimes, high blood pressure can temporarily develop in a pregnant woman, and some studies show that this risk increases with age. Women of any age need to have their blood pressure checked regularly throughout pregnancy, so your doctor will make every effort to make sure your blood pressure is within control. You may also need to take blood pressure medications during pregnancy to ensure a safe delivery.
   • Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that occurs only during pregnancy and is more common in older women. Untreated gestational diabetes can cause your baby to grow larger than normal, so it's important to keep your blood sugar under control with exercise, diet, and medication as needed if diagnosed. this disease.

3. 

   
   
   Consider your birth options carefully. A lot of women in their 40s have a normal birth. However, as complications associated with pregnancy at this age increase, the likelihood of having a caesarean section increases with age.
   • Consider a specific birth plan with your doctor and make sure you include the possibility of a cesarean section in this plan. If you have had a caesarean section, some doctors will not allow you to have a normal delivery this time. Discuss any concerns you may have with your doctor and clearly state your fertility aspirations.
   • The older you get, the greater the stress of pregnancy. Problems related to high blood pressure and placenta during childbirth also get worse with age. Your doctor needs to check your health carefully throughout pregnancy. If your doctor thinks you are at risk of complications during delivery, you may be asked to have a cesarean section.

4. 

   
   
   Consider fertility treatments. Conception with women in their 40s can become more difficult, so you may need to consider a cure for infertility. Talk to your doctor about fertility while taking medications or surgery.
   • Oral medications, such as clomiphene or clomiphene citrate, are taken during the day, from day three to day seven or day five to day ninth day of the cycle. These drugs increase the likelihood of ovulation. There is a 10% chance of having twins when using these drugs. The rate of successful conception and birth with the drug is 50%, but only if the user is not ovulating. These drugs actually do not increase the rate of pregnancy if the user has ovulated by itself.
   • Gonadotropins and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin (hCG) are hormone injection drugs used to increase the likelihood of pregnancy in older women. The injection is given after the first 2 to 3 days of the menstrual cycle and lasts 7 to 12 days. You will need a probe ultrasound while taking the medication to check the egg size. The rate of multiple pregnancies using this method is quite high. About 30% of women conceive by the method of injecting hormones pregnant multiple pregnancies, and two-thirds of these are twins.
   • If there is any damage to the reproductive system that makes it difficult to deliver, your doctor may perform surgery to resolve the problem. If successful, the surgery will significantly increase the chances of conceiving.
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Part 2 of 3: Lifestyle Changes

1. 

   Take control of all health problems before pregnancy. If you are having any health problems, make sure they are under control before you try to get pregnant.
   • Sexually transmitted diseases (STIs) can interfere with your ability to conceive, so see your doctor to see if you are at risk for an STI. Most STIs can be effectively treated with antibiotics. Get complete treatment for these diseases right away and do not try to conceive until you are completely cured.
   • If you are taking medicine for a chronic condition such as hypothyroidism, you should have a blood test before pregnancy to make sure all problems are under control. You will need to have periodic check-ups throughout your pregnancy and your doctor will also need to change the dose of the medicine slowly.

2. 

   Start a healthier diet. Making changes in your diet is very important during pregnancy because you will need to increase certain nutrients during pregnancy. Make sure you are prepared for a healthy diet.
   • More than half of the grains you eat every day should be whole grains like whole wheat, brown rice, whole wheat pasta and whole wheat bread. You should also eat a wide variety of fruits and vegetables throughout your pregnancy.
   • Try to add protein, preferably lean protein, nuts, eggs and legumes. Fish is a good source of nutrients and protein, but you should avoid fish such as mackerel, shark, swordfish and sea buckthorn because they are high in mercury.
   • Dairy products also play an important role during pregnancy thanks to the plentiful amounts of calcium and Vitamin D. If you cannot tolerate dairy products, consult your doctor about calcium supplements.
   • There are many foods that need to be completely restricted during pregnancy because they can harm the unborn baby. Raw and cold meats can contain toxins that can be harmful to the unborn baby. Smoked seafood can also be a toxic food source. Any food that contains raw eggs or yolks can be harmful, so be sure to always eat fully cooked eggs. Soft cheeses such as brie cheeses should be avoided, as they are usually made from unpasteurized milk. You should also reduce your caffeine intake during the first trimester.

3. 

   Maintain a healthy weight. If you are overweight or underweight, your doctor will want you to adjust your weight to a reasonable level before you become pregnant. Talk to your doctor about how to gain or lose weight in a healthy way and develop a effective diet and exercise routine with your doctor.
   • Being underweight is when your BMI is below 18.5, and being overweight is when it is over 25. A BMI of 30 or more is considered obese. If you were underweight before pregnancy, you should gain more weight during pregnancy, and if you are overweight, you should gain less weight.Since it can be difficult to control your weight during pregnancy, it's best to have a reasonable weight before getting pregnant.
   • Being overweight during pregnancy increases your risk of gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. Meanwhile, being underweight can increase the risk of premature birth, and your body isn't healthy enough to feed your baby.
   • Consult a nutritionist before pregnancy to achieve a reasonable weight, balanced for your height. Discuss exercises and nutrition, and see what lifestyle changes you need to make to get a good weight.

4. 

   Avoid harmful substances. During pregnancy, you need to avoid tobacco, alcohol and stimulant drugs, so right from the moment you plan to become pregnant, you should also limit them entirely. Minimize caffeine use as caffeine should only be used sparingly during pregnancy. If you are a coffee addict, try to cut back gradually before pregnancy to minimize symptoms of caffeine deficiency. You should only consume about 150 mg of caffeine a day, the equivalent of two cups of coffee.

5. 

   Practice. Exercise is not only safe, but is even encouraged during pregnancy. There are a variety of exercises that are safe for pregnant women to do before and during your pregnancy.
   • Aerobic exercises, increased endurance and endurance are very important for pregnant women. Walking, spot cycling, yoga, swimming and weightlifting are also safe. However, every woman has a different pregnancy, so talk to your doctor about your health before exercising. Your doctor can advise on more or less exercises, depending on your overall health.
   • When exercising, your heart rate will increase rapidly, but if you are over the age of 40, it is important to keep your heart rate between 125 and 140 beats per minute. You can measure your heart rate by examining a pulse in your neck or wrist and counting the number of beats at intervals of 60 seconds.
   • Be careful with exercises in the supine position. These exercises can be dangerous to the fetus as the blood circulation is restricted.
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Part 3 of 3: Understanding the Risks

1. 

   Risk of chromosomal disorders. The incidence of chromosomal disorders is higher in infants whose mothers are over 40 years old than in other babies. You need to be aware of this risk and be prepared to do the necessary related tests.
   • An abnormality, a type of chromosomal number mutation, tends to occur more with a woman's age and can cause disorders such as Down Syndrome. Every woman has a certain number of eggs in her body, and healthier eggs tend to ovulate when young. Eggs with a chromosomal mutation usually ovulate and fertilize around the age of 40. When you are 40 years old, your risk of Down Syndrome is 1 in 60 babies and this number continues to increase with age.
   • There are many types of tests used to check for chromosomal mutations. A sample of amniotic fluid or placental cells may be used for the examination. These types of tests can slightly increase the risk of miscarriage. There is now a new test that can be done without affecting the fetus, a simple blood test called a free DNA screening test that can detect fetal abnormalities.

2. 

   The risk of miscarriage is high. Miscarriage has the potential to cause profound damage, and this risk, including stillbirth or miscarriage, increases with age, especially when you are over 40.
   • Be careful with the risk of miscarriage before you intend to become pregnant. Many women give birth to healthy babies in their 40s, but the risk of miscarriage due to previous health conditions as well as hormone abnormalities is even more common. You need to be mentally and emotionally prepared to accept it if this happens to you.
   • If you are over 40 years old, careful antenatal care during your pregnancy is extremely important to help prevent the risk of miscarriage. Talk to your doctor about any risks associated with your age and ask them to increase visits throughout your pregnancy.
   • By the age of 40, the rate of miscarriage increases to 33% and the number continues to increase with your age. At the age of 45, the miscarriage rate is 50%. Talk to your doctor about what you can do to prevent this risk.

3. 

   Understand that the likelihood of having multiple pregnancies is high. Your chances of having twins or triplets also increase with age, especially if you use in vitro fertilization or fertility drugs to increase your chances of conceiving.
   • You need to make sure you are financially prepared for multiple pregnancies. Equip yourself with knowledge of twins, triplets, including birth control. Many twins have to use a caesarean section.

4. 

   Patience. Getting pregnant when you are over 40 can take longer. Eggs from older women are not as fertile as young women, and it can even take up to six months to conceive. If you are still unsuccessful after six months, consult your doctor.
   • The likelihood of having multiple pregnancy depends on many factors, but certain fertility therapies may increase this rate. Hormone injections increase the likelihood of multiple pregnancies by 30%, while oral medications also increase the likelihood of twins by 10%.
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Warning

• If you have a family history of an inherited disease, you should also seek advice about a genetic disease. A specialist will take a quick look at your family situation as well as test your husband and your blood to assess your risk.