The optimal age of childbearing is a relative concept
Features of pregnancy in "age-related" moms
Modern medicine works wonders... but are they always justified?
Abraham 's ChildrenThe oldest mother in the world is 70 years old – Indian Rajo Devi gave birth to a healthy girl conceived through IVF in 2008.
She "moved Adriana Eliescu from the throne" – the Romanian gave birth at the age of 66, deceiving doctors. Compared to the records of the Bible, this is not so much – if you believe the Holy Scriptures, 90-year-old Sarah gave birth to Isaac from 120-year-old Abraham. But if you look at the natural capabilities of the body, medicine deceives nature. The oldest mother who conceived a child naturally is 59 years old, the oldest who conceived and gave birth to a live child without the use of hormonal drugs is 54 years old. And this is the maximum that the body's capabilities are designed for.
As a rule, a girl becomes fertile (capable of conception) at 12-13 years old, after the onset of menstruation. Before the final establishment of the menstrual cycle, the completion of growth and the formation of the figure, ovulation (the release of an egg from the ovary) occur irregularly, the body is not quite ready for pregnancy and childbirth. The peak of the highest female fertility is 20-27 years old, this is the optimal age for the first birth – the body is healthy, strong, has already gained strength and has not yet begun to lose them. Over the years, the level of female hormones in the blood begins to gradually decrease. After 35 years, the ability to conceive, as a rule, weakens, after 40 – significantly decreases. By the age of 45-55, a woman ends menopause, menstruation stops and after that she is not able to get pregnant naturally. However, until the last ovulation, the chance of conception remains – this explains the late (50-52 years) of pregnancy, initially mistaken for menopause or uterine tumor. Given the jumps in hormones during menopause, conception may suddenly occur in a woman diagnosed with infertility if the cause was ovarian dysfunction.
The flowers are overdue...Is late pregnancy a good thing or a bad thing?
"Age–old" mothers are sure that it's great to feel young again at 40-45, breastfeed, consciously and without panic to raise a baby. Life expectancy is increasing these days, youth is increasingly spent by women on education and career. Every 12th child in Europe is born to mothers who are already 35 years old or older.
Doctors have an ambiguous opinion on this issue. On the one hand, a healthy woman in 35-40 years can give birth as easily as a 20-year-old, especially if the child is not the first. On the other hand, there are few healthy women by the age of 40: smoking, alcohol, chronic diseases, adverse environmental factors play a role. After 40, the risk of toxicosis, exacerbation of chronic diseases, postpartum complications is much higher.
Disadvantages of late pregnancy:The risk of miscarriages in pregnant women over 40 increases to 33%.
- The risk of cesarean section is 47%.
- The risk of diabetes in pregnant women is 15%.
- Risk of eclampsia – 7%
- The risk of genetic abnormalities in the fetus is up to 10%.
The risk of stillbirth, premature birth, multiple pregnancies is also increasing. The chance of developing breast cancer in "age-related" pregnant women increases slightly, especially in those who did not give birth and underwent IVF after 40 years.
Advantages of late pregnancy:Rejuvenation of the body, ovarian stimulation.
- Relief of symptoms of future menopause.
- Increase in life expectancy.
- A conscious attitude to pregnancy, childbirth and the upbringing of a long-awaited baby.
With all the seemingly unfavorable factors, more than 90% of "age-related" mothers give birth to healthy children. Modern medicine allows you to stimulate ovulation, increase the chance of conception, minimize risks and complications. The main thing is to seek help in time, not relying on the forces of nature alone.
On the way to a miracleSome women deliberately postpone childbirth "until the last", for others, a late pregnancy turns out to be a surprise.
In any case, a decision should be made only after a multifaceted consultation with several specialists, weighing all the risks.
When planning a pregnancy after 35 years, it is necessary to start with a full examination in order to prepare in advance for possible complications. Visit a cardiologist, endocrinologist, mammologist, urologist, oculist, take all tests, cure your teeth in advance. Do tests for antibodies to rubella and cytomegalovirus.
If you plan to lose weight, take up the figure at least a year before the expected pregnancy – sudden weight jumps in a short period of time are harmful to the body. You need a healthy, nutritious diet, organic vegetables, fruits, dairy and meat products. Vegetarians and fasting during pregnancy are better off making some allowances in the diet.
Give up alcohol and tobacco in advance – at your age it is especially dangerous.
Choose a type of physical activity that you can do throughout your pregnancy – aerobics, dancing, swimming, yoga. You just need to gain strength, strengthen your abs and back. But bicycles, strength simulators, wrestling and serious loads are contraindicated.
Take care of your wardrobe, pick up comfortable clothes and low-heeled shoes. At 25, you can wear a "belly", walking on stilettos, at 45 it's better not to risk it.
Foreign trips and flights, holidays at resorts should be planned either before conception or after the birth of a child. It is better for "aged" mothers not to go far from their doctor and clinic, to put the fetus at risk during trips and acclimatization.
From the moment of conception until the end of lactation, be especially attentive to your health, contact your doctor for any reason that causes you anxiety. Regularly conduct a self-examination of the whole body. Check the ankles and hands for hidden edema, observe if there is any turbidity or blood in the urine, if there is any discharge from the vagina, especially bloody. Examine your breasts weekly. If you notice a painful immobile seal, an inflamed, reddened nodule, an ulcer, a deformity of the areola or nipple, bloody or brightly colored discharge – immediately contact a mammologist and try to insist on mammography and biopsy.
Follow all the doctor's instructions, do not skip appointments, take medications. Do not refuse examinations and genetic tests – even if you are ready to give birth to a child with genetic disorders, it is better to prepare for this in advance. And do not worry about trifles – a happy mom will definitely have a healthy baby!
Contraception for those over…If you do not want to follow the example of the foremother Sarah and give birth to an unplanned "autumn" child, take care of reliable contraception – both pregnancy and abortion after 45 years are dangerous.
Tubal ligation guarantees reliable protection against conception. The egg simply cannot meet the sperm and reach the uterus. The method is optimal for married women of 40+ who are categorically not ready for either abortions or childbirth.
Natural methods of prevention (the "safe days" method, interrupted sexual intercourse) fail after 40 years – ovulation becomes unpredictable.
Barrier contraception is quite reliable and completely harmless. Not everyone likes condoms, but they do not affect hormonal balance.
It is better not to use vaginal rings and implants with hormones during menopause – the amount of your own hormones in the body changes unpredictably, which increases the chance of side effects.
Birth control pills, according to many gynecologists, will not only protect against unplanned pregnancy, but also help to smooth out the symptoms of menopause, weaken hot flashes, emotional swings, and reduce the risk of osteoporosis. But in no case should you select them yourself – high doses of hormones can cause uterine bleeding, thrombosis and even contribute to the development of oncological diseases of the female genital area. Contact a gynecologist, be sure to take regular tests. If the pill is missed, there is an intestinal disorder, vomiting, etc. be sure to use barrier contraceptives in this cycle to avoid the risk of conception.
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru29.10.2013