Citizens Memorial Hospital | Vitality | Winter 2019

citizensmemorial.com 11 Your risk of pregnancy loss rises. Once you’re past 35, your chance of either a miscarriage or stillbirth increases. IFYOUARE YOU SHOULD GAINABOUT Underweight (BMI* less than 18.5) 28 to 40 pounds Normal weight (BMI 18.5 to 24.9) 25 to 35 pounds Overweight (BMI 25 to 29.9) 15 to 25 pounds Obese (BMI 30+) 11 to 20 pounds How much weight should I gain? It’s always good to discuss with your health care provider what a healthy amount of weight is for you to gain during pregnancy. The general recommendations below for pregnancy weight gain refer to weight before pregnancy and are for women having one baby. *Body mass index, which measures your weight in relation to your height. Source: National Institutes of Health H e ll o, b a b y ! What to know about pregnancy after 35 2 5 4 3 You’re 35-plus years old, and you’re considering getting pregnant. As much as you’d like to add to your family, a part of you may wonder, “What risks might my baby or I face if I get pregnant at an older age?” Well, here’s some reassuring news: Many women over 35 have healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. And you can take plenty of steps to raise your chances of being one of them. Still, there are things to keep in mind about pregnancy after age 35. You may have trouble getting pregnant. Your teens and late 20s are your peak reproductive years. By age 30, your fertility starts to decline—and that decline starts accelerating in your mid-30s. If you’re past 35 and you’ve been trying to get pregnant for six months, tell your doctor. He or she may advise treatments. 1 Multiples are more likely. As your ovaries age, they’re more likely to release more than one egg each month. This means your chance of sending out birth announcements for twins, triplets or more increases. You’re more prone to pre-eclampsia. This is a serious blood pressure disorder that usually occurs after the 20th week of pregnancy. It can affect all the organs of your body, and your baby may need to be delivered early. Your risk rises once you’re older than 40. Your baby’s risk of chromosome abnormalities is higher. Importantly, that overall risk is still modest. But as you age, your risk of having a baby with a missing, damaged or extra chromosome does rise. Down syndrome is the most common chromosome problem that occurs with pregnancy later in life. SMART CHOICES To give your baby the best possible start—and protect your health too—it’s a good idea to check in with your doctor before you’re expecting. This prepregnancy visit is your chance to help make sure you’re in the best shape possible before you conceive and to discuss how to improve your chances of a healthy pregnancy as an older mom-to-be. And if a health problem should develop while you’re expecting, work closely with your doctor to control it. Sources: American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists; March of Dimes; National Institutes of Health