| You Can Have Healthy Pregnancy After 35 | | | | conclusive studies are done you may want to limit |
| | | | your caffeine intake while pregnant. |
| There is not an expectant mother alive who hasn't | | | | 3. No to alcohol. No one knows how much alcohol a |
| had some anxiety about her baby's health. She | | | | woman has to consume to put herself at risk for a |
| wonders whether her baby will be born healthy. | | | | miscarriage or her baby at risk for fetal alcohol |
| Thoughts that never entered her mind are present. | | | | syndrome. |
| Movies, books, television, the nosy woman in the hair | | | | Fetal alcohol syndrome may include mental and |
| salon tell birth horror stories that increase a pregnant | | | | growth retardation, facial malformations, liver and |
| woman's anxiety. Combine all of this with the | | | | kidney abnormalities. |
| hormone changes that take place in the body during | | | | Because there is such uncertainty surrounding the |
| pregnancy, and it's a wonder that any woman | | | | level of alcohol consumption and pregnancy, most |
| survives pregnancy with her sanity in tact. | | | | health care providers recommended that pregnant |
| An expectant mom over 35 is hit with a double dose | | | | women avoid alcohol. |
| of anxiety. She worries about her baby's health and | | | | 4. Stop smoking. Smoking during pregnancy puts your |
| worries about the role her age will play in her baby's | | | | baby at risk. Smoking while pregnant reduces the |
| health. | | | | amount of oxygen delivered to your baby, which |
| Here are eight guidelines to ease your mind and to | | | | may impair the growth of your baby resulting in a |
| help you achieve a healthy midlife pregnancy: | | | | greater chance of having a premature or too small |
| 1. Choose an obstetrician or midwife who doesn't | | | | baby. |
| view midlife pregnancy as a problem. | | | | Smoking increases your risk of miscarriage, vaginal |
| Ask if your prospective health care provider has | | | | bleeding and infant death. |
| concerns about pregnancy over 35. | | | | 5. Legal and Illegal drugs- Some medications are not |
| Listen carefully to make sure the concerns are | | | | safe for a pregnant woman. You should review all |
| medically based rather than opinion based. | | | | drugs including prescriptions, over-the-counter and |
| Opinion-based concerns are those that do not have | | | | herbal medications with your physician before, during |
| any medical validity. | | | | and after pregnancy. |
| Your health care provider may be concerned that | | | | Illegal drugs can kill your future and the future of |
| collectively the medical history of pregnant women | | | | your baby. If you are addicted, find a support group |
| over age 35 shows an increased risk of: high blood | | | | or treatment. |
| pressure, diabetes, cesarean birth and chromosomal | | | | 6. Exercise regularly after checking with your health |
| defects. | | | | care provider. |
| Remember that these studies are based on the | | | | Never begin an exercise program without first |
| results of midlife pregnant women as a group and are | | | | checking with your doctor. Exercise is a good way to |
| not based on your individual medical history. Select an | | | | get and keep your body in shape. Exercise also |
| obstetrician or midwife who respects your right to | | | | relieves stress during pregnancy. |
| have your pregnancy viewed individually. | | | | 7. Get more rest. The body goes through many |
| 2. Diet matters. A pregnant woman needs an extra | | | | physical and emotional changes during pregnancy. |
| 300 calories a day. You can get these calories by | | | | Fatigue is common discomfort of pregnancy. Listen |
| eating a variety of foods that are high in protein, | | | | to your body. Rest whenever possible. Stop or cut |
| calcium and iron. | | | | back on many activities that sap your strength. |
| To prevent bacteria and parasites that could be | | | | 8. Limit your contact with negative folks. All |
| harmful to your unborn baby, avoid unpasteurized | | | | expectant moms, regardless of age, run into |
| milk or soft cheeses and undercooked or raw meat, | | | | unwanted advice about everything from clothing to |
| fish, shellfish or eggs. Also, wash all fresh fruits | | | | weight. |
| thoroughly before eating. | | | | As a mom over 35 you will run into people who |
| You'll need to increase your intake of protein and folic | | | | applaud your decision to give birth later to people |
| acid. Protein is crucial for the development of all new | | | | who tell you outright that you are too old to have a |
| cells. A minimum of 60 grams per day is needed for | | | | baby. |
| the physical and cellular development of your baby. | | | | The key is not in what others say but in how you |
| Taking a multivitamin supplement that includes 400 | | | | react and believe the message they are saying. Like |
| micrograms of folic acid daily is beneficial to a | | | | a soldier who puts on her physical attire for combat |
| pregnant woman as well as all women of childbearing | | | | you must put on your mental gear to protect |
| age. Folic acid helps in the developing the spinal cord | | | | negativity from penetrating your spirits. |
| and the brain of an unborn baby. | | | | Most of all enjoy your pregnancy! |
| During pregnancy curb your craving for caffeine. | | | | Cynthia Wilson James is a childbirth educator, author, |
| Consumed in large quantities, caffeine can cause | | | | a midlife mom of two bubbly toddlers and a |
| irritability, nervousness and insomnia as well as low | | | | stepmom. She gave birth to her first child at 42 and |
| birth-weight babies. | | | | a second child at age 44. She provides private |
| Some studies show that caffeine intake during | | | | telephone consultations to expectant and new moms |
| pregnancy can harm the fetus. Other studies state | | | | over 35 and 40 and women considering late in life |
| there's no proof that small amounts of caffeine | | | | motherhood. |
| cause problems during pregnancy. Until more | | | | |