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Pregnancy after 35: Healthy moms, healthy babies

Make healthy choices

Taking good care of yourself is the best way to take care of your baby. Pay special attention to the basics:

  • Make a preconception appointment. Meet with your health care provider before you conceive to make sure your body is prepared for the task ahead. He or she will assess your overall health and discuss lifestyle changes that may improve your chances for a healthy pregnancy and baby. The preconception appointment is a great time to address any concerns you may have about fertility or pregnancy at your age. Ask the best ways to boost the odds of conception — and the options if you have trouble conceiving.
  • Seek regular prenatal care. During pregnancy, regular prenatal visits help your health care provider monitor your health and your baby's health. Mention any signs or symptoms that concern you, even if they seem silly or unimportant. Talking to your health care provider is likely to put your mind at ease.
  • Eat healthfully. During pregnancy, you'll need more folic acid, calcium, iron, protein and other essential nutrients. If you're already eating healthfully, keep it up. A daily prenatal vitamin — ideally starting a few months before conception — can help fill any gaps.
  • Gain weight wisely. Gaining the right amount of weight can support your baby's health — and make it easier to shed the extra pounds after delivery. A weight gain of 25 to 35 pounds (about 11 to 16 kilograms) is often recommended for women who have a healthy weight before pregnancy. If you're overweight before you conceive, you may need to gain less weight. If you're carrying twins or triplets, you may need to gain more weight. Work with your health care provider to determine what's right for you.
  • Stay physically active. Unless your health care provider says otherwise, pregnancy can be a great time to get active. Regular physical activity can help ease or even prevent discomfort, boost your energy level and improve your overall health. Perhaps best of all, it can help you prepare for labor and childbirth by increasing your stamina and muscle strength. Get your health care provider's OK before starting or continuing an exercise program, especially if you have a medical condition or you haven't exercised in a while.
  • Avoid risky substances. Alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs are off-limits during pregnancy. Even moderate alcohol use can harm a developing baby. Smoking increases the risk of preterm birth, problems with the placenta and low birth weight. And drugs you take can pass from you to your baby, sometimes with devastating effects. Even prescription and over-the-counter medications deserve caution. Clear any medications or supplements with your health care provider ahead of time.
  • Learn about prenatal testing for chromosomal abnormalities. Diagnostic tests such as chorionic villus sampling and amniocentesis provide information about your baby's chromosomes or the risk of specific chromosomal abnormalities, but also carry a very small risk of miscarriage. Your health care provider can help you weigh this risk against the value you place in knowing the test results. Although most prenatal tests simply confirm that a baby is healthy, it's important to prepare for other possibilities.

Look toward the future

The choices you make now — even before conception — can have a lasting effect on your baby. Think of pregnancy as an opportunity to nurture your baby and prepare for the exciting changes ahead.

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References
  1. Pregnancy after 35. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1155.asp. Accessed March 20, 2009.
  2. Smoking during pregnancy. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1171.asp. Accessed March 20, 2009.
  3. Cleary-Goldman J, et al. Impact of maternal age on obstetric outcome. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2005;105:983.
  4. Later childbearing. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp060.cfm. Accessed March 20, 2009.
  5. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy. March of Dimes. Accessed March 20, 2009.
  6. Weight control: Eating right and keeping fit. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp064.cfm. Accessed March 20, 2009.
  7. Fitness for two. March of Dimes. http://www.marchofdimes.com/printableArticles/681_1150.asp?printable=true. Accessed March 20, 2009.
  8. Dietary supplement fact sheet: Folate. National Institutes of Health. http://dietary-supplements.info.nih.gov/factsheets/folate.asp#h3. Accessed March 31, 2009.
  9. Nutrition during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp001.cfm. Accessed March 31, 2009.
  10. Exercise during pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp119.cfm. Accessed March 31, 2009.
  11. Diabetes and pregnancy. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. http://www.acog.org/publications/patient_education/bp051.cfm. Accessed March 31, 2009.
  12. What am I doing that can cause infertility? The American Society for Reproductive Medicine. http://www.protectyourfertility.org/femalerisks.html. Accessed April 9, 2009.
  13. Reichenberg A, et al. Advancing paternal age and autism. Archives of General Psychiatry. 2006;63:1026.
  14. Saha S, et al. Advanced paternal age is associated with impaired neurocognitive outcomes during infancy and childhood. PLoS Medicine. 2009;6:1.
  15. Harms RW (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. April 15, 2009.
  16. Achondroplasia. March of Dimes. http://search.marchofdimes.com/cgi-bin/MsmGo.exe?grab_id=6&page_id=655872&query=achondroplasia&hiword=achondroplasia+. Accessed April 21, 2009.

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July 24, 2009

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