Myths and facts about geriatric pregnancy

Conscious or not, now the wedding age trend among women is getting backward. That is, due to the opening of equal opportunities in education and career, not a few women focused on pursuing careers rather than getting married. As a result, many newly married women are aged over 30 years. This is actually not a problem, but it is important to know that the older a pregnant woman is also the higher the risk. The pregnancy condition is no longer a young age known as geriatric pregnancy.

Maybe there are many celebrity figures who are experiencing this condition and they still have a healthy baby. However, it is important to understand some facts related to geriatric pregnancy.

Geriatric pregnancy a lot of health risks

This is a true fact. When you're 30 or 35 years old, you may start to feel some symptoms of the disease. Starting from gestational diabetes (diabetes during pregnancy), high blood pressure, is a type of health disorder that may occur at that age. In the case of diabetes, strict control of blood sugar through diet and physical activity is crucial. Sometimes medicines are needed. 

If left untreated, gestational diabetes can cause babies to grow larger than average-which increases the risk of injury during childbirth.  Gestational Diabetes can increase the risk of premature birth. As for the case of hypertension, pregnant women must routinely be checked into obstetrician to prevent complications.

More difficult to conceive

This is also worth considering if a woman wants to postpone her pregnancy to the age of 30 years. The reason is that a woman is born with limited number of eggs. As he reaches mid to late 30s, the egg has decreased quantity and quality. Additionally, the older female ovum is also not easily fertilized as the female ovum is younger.

If you are over 35 years old and haven't been able to get pregnant for six months, consider checking into the hospital to discuss with the doctor about the conditions you are experiencing. 

More may be pregnancy twins

The possibility of having twins also increases with age. This is because hormonal changes that can lead to the release of many egg cells at the same time. The use of assisted reproductive technologies such as in vitro fertilisation – can also play a role in causing natural twin pregnancies.

Geriatric pregnancy may require caesarean section

Older mothers have a higher risk of pregnancy and childbirth complications, so caesarean surgery is a great step to prevent this. Examples of complications often experienced geriatric pregnancy is the condition when the placenta block the cervix (placenta previa).

Higher risk of miscarriage

Miscarriage and birth in a baby's condition will increase as the age of women may be due to pre-existing medical conditions or fetal chromosome abnormalities. Research shows that the decline in egg quality combined with the increased risk of chronic medical conditions such as high blood pressure and diabetes, can increase the risk of miscarriage.

It is important to ask the midwife or doctor about the condition of the infant in the womb during the last weeks of pregnancy. Further research is also still needed, as some studies have also shown that the age of men at conception can also pose a health risk to children.

Step in time to experience geriatric pregnancy

Despite the many risks, it does not mean that children cannot be born healthy. One example of a woman who was a natural geriatric pregnancy was Meghan Markle, and she gave birth to her son, Archie, with a healthy condition through normal childbirth. Now, so that mothers and babies are always healthy, apply some of the following healthy lifestyles during pregnancy:

• Discuss with the doctor if you plan to have the age stepped 35 years or older;
• If you've successfully gotten pregnant, make sure you have a routine to check with your doctor;
• Safe consumption of healthy foods for mothers and infants in the womb;
• Add weight in a healthy way;
• Keep exercising active;
• Avoid things that cause risks such as alcohol, cigarettes, and such;

Also, it does not hurt to know about prenatal testing of chromosome abnormalities in infants, if needed, do the examination.

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