What It’s Really Like To Become A Mom After 40

Late Pregnancy Concerns

Planning to have pregnancy after 40? If yes, then first things first, you should understand what it’s really like to get pregnant at your age. For your information, getting pregnant over 40 will require not just physical preparation. You also have to be mentally and emotionally prepared for it.

To help you decide whether pregnancy over 40 is for you or not, here are some of the things that you should understand about it:

1.You will have less chances of conception.

Let’s face it- getting pregnant over 40 is not that easy and you will struggle with conceiving a child because of the hormonal imbalances that come with old age.

Solutions: Some of the things that you can do to improve your chances of conception include protecting your eggs from damage by taking anti-oxidants and other types of supplements, keeping tissues healthy by increasing water intake, providing enough nourishment for your baby and expanding uterus by sticking to a well-balanced and nutritious fertility diet and maintaining a normal body weight.

2. You will have poor flexibility.

As we grow old, our muscles tend to become stiffer. As a result, it will be difficult for pregnant women to carry out regular activities like getting into bed or putting their shoes.

Solutions: To help improve your flexibility, you should try enrolling in a pregnancy yoga class as it will not just help you to become flexible—it can promote relaxation as well. Another great idea is to do a few stretching for a few minutes daily.

3.You will be at high risk of miscarriage.

This is usually brought about by a genetic defect.

Solutions: It is recommended that you reduce stress as much as possible, get enough sleep and stick to a healthy diet. You should also consult your doctor so he can prescribe you medications that can help to stabilize the pregnancy and nourish your baby.

4.You will have high chances of getting Gestational Diabetes.

This condition is brought about by the reduced secretion of insulin in the body and usually takes place during the third trimester.

Solutions: As much as possible, reduce your sugar intake. You should also undergo blood tests regularly to monitor any abnormal surge in your blood sugar levels.

5.You may experience placenta problems.

As we age, the placenta becomes weaker making it difficult for it to survive the tough situations during delivery. The most common placental problem is placenta previa which may lead to severe bleeding during childbirth.

Solution: To manage this challenge, the gynecologist will recommend a cesarean delivery.

6.Preterm delivery

Since the delivery is preterm, the development of baby may still not be complete leading to slow weight gain, poor feeding, body temperature regulation problems, or immature lungs.

Solution: To facilitate further development, your baby will need intense nursery care, medications, or surgery.

These are the things that comes with having pregnancy after 40. If you wish to get pregnant even if you are more than 40 years old, it is recommended that you talk with your gynecologist about it.