Have you heard some disturbing things about "late" motherhood? It's time to separate myths from facts and dispel fears related to pregnancy and childbirth after the age of 30. We suggest what to do so that you do not have to tremble for your he alth and the fetus developing in your belly.
Thirty is a good age to have children. The woman is young enough thatpregnancyis not associated with an increased risk of complications, and her decision aboutmotherhoodis well-thought-out. The risk of complications increases after the age of 35 and does not depend on whether the woman has already given birth or not. But age alone does not qualify the future mother as a high-risk group. Much depends on the lifestyle, general he alth and individual predispositions. So take care of yourself, visit your doctor and enjoy the thought of the longed-forbaby .
Pregnancy after the age of 30 - the most important plan is
Before a woman realizes she is pregnant, it usually takes a few weeks to see a gynecologist - 2, 3 months. It is too long, because the baby's organs are already forming in the first weeks of pregnancy, and during this time something can happen in the mother's body that disrupts the development of the fetus. Most situations, however, can be prevented by getting ready for pregnancy early.
Pregnancy after 30 years of age - at least 3 months before conception
Start taking folic acid. It is essential for a baby's nervous system to develop properly and is involved in the formation of red blood cells. It reduces the risk of anencephaly, spina bifida, hare lip, and heart defects. Reaching for folic acid while pregnant has little effect on your baby's development, and you must get your teeth he althy before you get pregnant. Caries is a source of infections that can damage the fetus and even cause miscarriage. Visit a gynecologist. He will order tests that will allow timely detection and treatment of diseases that may affect the development of the fetus and the course of pregnancy.
ImportantFertility declines with age. Not every egg is capable of fertilization, and there are also more and more frequent cycles of non-ovulation. In men, the quality of sperm deteriorates: they die after 3-4 hours, they are less mobile, and they have physical defects. In addition, the desire to get pregnant, coupled with the fear that it may be too late soon, causes psychological tension that interferes with the secretion of hormones that control work.ovaries and testicles.
Pregnancy after 30 years of age - in constant contact with a doctor
Every woman routinely expects a baby once a month should visit a gynecologist. When your doctor appoints you for more frequent check-ups, you'll need to stick to their appointments. It is worth considering the choice of a specialist in advance. Running from a gynecologist to a gynecologist during pregnancy is not good. The doctor should know the woman's body, then it is easier to follow the changes taking place in it and spot the disturbing ones in time.If you suffer from hypertension, diabetes, varicose veins, rheumatism, asthma, allergy, kidney disease, thyroid gland, you have a serious vision defect - you need to inform the gynecologist about it . Some of these conditions can worsen during pregnancy or affect the course of your pregnancy. Fluctuations in blood sugar levels (they can lead to fetal defects or death), hypertension (a risk of fetal defects, detachment of the placenta, which directly threatens the life of the mother and child) or urinary tract diseases (an infection may result in miscarriage) are particularly dangerous. With a visual impairment of more than 10 diopters, childbirth may cause retinal detachment. Your gynecologist should cooperate with a doctor who deals with your other ailments (cardiologist, diabetologist, urologist, gastroenterologist, ophthalmologist). Pregnancy affects the functioning of all organs and your he alth may change, then the specialist treating you will verify the treatment. In addition, some preparations for the period of pregnancy must be replaced with others. However, you should not stop or change drugs or their doses on your own.
Prenatal testing
Women over 35 are offered amniocentesis (the test is reimbursed by the National He alth Fund). But you can disagree with such a study. Amniocentesis is done between the 14th and 16th week of pregnancy. It consists in taking the amniotic fluid with the puncture method and analyzing the exfoliated cells of the fetus. Based on the result, it can be concluded whether the structure of the chromosomes is correct, or whether there are any abnormalities that are a sign of genetic diseases, such as Down syndrome. Thanks to the test, you can also find out the sex of the child.
Symptoms that must not be ignored
Most ailments (heartburn, nausea, constipation) are harmless. Some, however, require immediate medical consultation because they may indicate serious problems.
- Pain in the lower abdomen. In order to make a diagnosis, gynecological examinations, sometimes also ultrasound, are needed. Cramps, accompanied by dull pain in the lower abdomen and around the anus, may be a signal of an ectopic pregnancy or miscarriage. A dull pain, hard belly, and lack of baby movement may signal a detachment of the placenta.while severe pain and increasing contractions in the uterine area - symphysis dehiscence.
- Spotting or vaginal bleeding. Even the smallest ones require a quick consultation with a doctor. If the bleeding is accompanied by severe pain, you must go to the hospital immediately. The doctor will start treatment on the basis of ultrasound and test of the level of chorionic gonadotropin - HCG (a hormone that informs about the development of pregnancy). Bleeding usually shows that your pregnancy is not developing properly or that something is wrong with the placenta and uterus. If the doctor determines that the cervix opens prematurely (which may result in a miscarriage), he or she may apply a special suture.
- Vaginal discharge. If they are accompanied by burning, itching, and sometimes spotting, this is a sign of an infection of the genital tract. Based on the culture, the doctor will select preparations that will effectively fight the infection and will not harm your baby. The lungs that appear in the last trimester may be oozing amniotic fluid. If you are overdue and the waters are greenish in color and have an unpleasant odor, you will need to give an antibiotic and speed up labor to avoid infection inside the uterus.
- Edema. A swollen, warm and sore leg may indicate inflammation of the superficial veins, which passes after application of the ointment, or a thrombosis which is treated with subcutaneous injection of low molecular weight heparin. Swollen feet, calves, hands and face, dizziness, pain in the upper right abdomen may be a symptom of high blood pressure or a sign of eclampsia (a life-threatening condition for the mother and baby) - you must go to the hospital.
- Fall. Contact your gynecologist if you have fallen on your stomach or back, if you are in pain, bleed, or anything else that worries you, see your gynecologist. If you are not feeling any discomfort, do not sound the alarm. Amniotic fluid cushions the blows. Your pelvic bones are also a safeguard for your baby.
Proper diet and lots of exercise
A woman should not gain weight by more than 10-14 kg throughout her pregnancy. The next kilograms are the result of greed and ill-considered diet. If you were overweight before you became pregnant, now you need to be especially careful about what and how much you eat. More dangers for the mother and the child are carried by overweight than underweight. Being overweight leads to high blood pressure and gestational diabetes. Obese women have weak muscles and bones, which make childbirth difficult and are more prone to infections. Wounds from an episiotomy and caesarean section heal worse. In the first three months of pregnancy, you need as many calories as usual (around 2000), in the following - 300 more. Eating double portions is unreasonable. When you are hungry, reach for an apple or a carrot. Drinka lot of water (even 3-4 liters a day) - it improves metabolism, prevents constipation and swelling. In pregnancy, the kidneys need to be filtered better. Fluids are also needed to thin the blood, which is thicker during pregnancy. If you have not exercised or taken up any sport before, start moving, but don't try too hard to exercise. Women who have always liked the movement should not give up on it. Pregnancy is just a different physiological condition, not an illness, and if it is going well, you can go to the swimming pool, ride a bike, do yoga, aerobics, stretching. Hiking and long walks as well as antenatal gymnastics are recommended. Systematic exercises will strengthen the muscles of the spine, improve the condition and prepare better for childbirth. In addition, movement regulates metabolism and helps to burn unnecessary calories.
Emperor or natural childbirth
It is not age that decides whether the delivery will be light or heavy, natural or with the intervention of a surgeon. The indications for surgery are some eye defects, heart diseases, pregnancy poisoning, improperly positioned fetus, a prominent placenta or a very small body structure. A caesarean section is also performed when labor is not going well or there is a sudden h alt of labor. However, it is not performed because of the woman's fear of pain - then anesthesia is the solution.
You must do it- Rubella antibody test. If negative, you must get vaccinated 3 months before pregnancy. Rubella during pregnancy can cause heart and hearing defects, and increases the risk of miscarriage.
- Morphology. Too little red blood cells (RBC) and hemoglobin (HGB) may be anemia. Increased leukocyte count (WBR) means low immunity.
- Test for the presence of toxoplasmosis antibodies. In the absence of immunity during pregnancy, you must stay away from pets and gardening. Getting sick after the 16th week of pregnancy may lead to miscarriage and fetal malformations.
- Cytology. In the event of inflammation, the doctor will prescribe a treatment. Neoplastic disease - when detected and treated early enough - does not eliminate the dreams of motherhood.
- ultrasound of the reproductive organ and nipples.
- Urine analysis. If it shows inflammation, urine culture and a cervical swab must be taken, as urinary tract infections usually go hand in hand with vaginal infections.
- Blood group. If a woman has Rh- and an Rh + man and the fetus inherit Rh +, a serological conflict may arise, which is the production of antibodies by the mother's body that will destroy the baby's blood cells. The conflict usually does not threaten the first pregnancy.
- Also check: blood sugar level, presence of HBs antigens (evidence of hepatitis B carrier) and cytomegalovirus antibodies.
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