Black To Life… For A Healthier You

Bringing forth new life, after 40

BY DR. ANNETTE MAYES

With the annual celebration of Mother’s Day, let us take note of the growing number of women choosing to become pregnant after the age of 40.

There is no unanimity of opinion on the best time to conceive a child. Many women wish to have a baby after establishing more financial security; others delay pregnancy in hopes of finding an ideal mate.

If a woman is interested in becoming pregnant over the age of 40, here are some of the advantages to consider:

• More financial security. Studies show that a woman’s earnings can increase up to 9 percent for every year she postpones childbirth.

• A woman over 40 is likely to have the patience and breadth of experience that would lead to wiser parenting decisions.

• Mothers over 40 are more likely to breastfeed.

There are also a number of disadvantages:

• It is harder to conceive in your 40s, with some experts indicating dramatically lower chances by age 46.

• There is a greater risk of chromosomal problems, which in turn raises the risk of miscarriage, birth defects and Down syndrome.

• Increased possibility of high blood pressure, gestational diabetes and pre-term birth.

There is no denying that your odds of getting pregnant are far lower in your 40s than they are in the two decades that precede it. Nonetheless, if you are considering bearing a child and just turned 40 year of age, statistics suggest that your odds are good for having a healthy pregnancy and baby. However, if you wait until you are in your middle 40s, the potential grows for fertility complications and other difficulties.

Many women do get pregnant at age 40- plus, with some using fertility treatments to beat the odds. For the women still awaiting a knight in shining armor, there are options such as freezing eggs to make sure that there is no shortage when they are prepared to take a relationship to that level.

Prenatal care is always recommended, but it is especially crucial for women in their 40s to stay committed to their health care and regular OB-GYN monitoring of the unborn baby.

Whatever your age, if you are committed to a healthy lifestyle, your dreams of a healthy baby may indeed become a reality.

For additional information, contact the Las Vegas All Women’s Care offices at (702) 522-9640. Or visit us at 700 Shadow Lane No. 165 (1st floor) in Las Vegas.