January 30, 2012

Pregnancy risks over 40

There are some problems that are often found by doctors in pregnant women over the age of 40 years, such as gestational diabetes (diabetes that appears during pregnancy), high blood pressure and also the problems in the fetus. Pregnant women with older age will also be more likely to experience bladder problems in pregnant women compared with younger age. Other risks are greater miscarriage risk, the more who gave birth via Caesarean section because of conditions that are not allowed to give birth normally, and also have a higher risk of birth defects.

When her late 30's, women tend to experience medical conditions related to the reproductive system, such as uterine fibroid tumors and muscle. Uterine fibroids are growths of muscle cells or other tissue in the uterine wall, forming a tumor. And uterine fibroid tumors can cause muscle pain or vaginal bleeding during pregnancy progresses. If a pregnant woman over the age of 40 years, the severity of even more severe. The problems had been able to grow in the presence of haemorrhoids (piles), incontinence (difficulty holding urine), varicose veins, vascular problems, muscle pain, back pain, and also the birthing process more difficult and longer.

Besides the risk of having a baby with down syndrome, the risk of miscarriage and birth by caesarean section, pregnant women aged over 35 years also have a risk of babies dying while in the womb or during childbirth. Although this risk existing at each gestational age, but in women aged 35 years and over, the risk is greater,  7 out of 1000 pregnancies.

Genetic Counseling

Women who are pregnant with the age above 35 years are usually also be required to perform genetic counseling, or counseling can also be done by an obstetrician. There are three areas that are the focus at the time of genetic counseling, the history or patient's reproductive history, family medical history, and consanguinity, that is a genetic condition caused by marriages between relatives.

Reproductive history included whether the patient ever been pregnant, had experienced miscarriage, or have experienced the death of the fetus in the womb or during childbirth. Besides the use of family planning methods, long time use of family planning, and whether the patient had been exposed to harmful substances such as work environment is also important information in counseling.

Patient's family medical history is also important to determine whether the pregnancy is being undertaken, including a high-risk pregnancy or not. This includes information about the health status of patients and spouses, the siblings of the patient and spouse, if any who have died will also be asked for the cause and age at death and if anyone has died in connection with the birth (during delivery or at birth). Family health history will help doctors identify abnormalities that have occurred in families of patients and help predict likely to occur in patients.

If the patient is still considered brother and partner, it is also important to invoice the doctor / counselor, because if a husband and wife is the cousin directly, they have 1 / 16 of the same gene. This means that the possibility of genetic abnormalities in children who will be born higher than if they marry someone who is not in one family. Some African and Mediterranean ethnicity also have a tendency to lower the disease sickle cell anemia on its derivatives.
The important thing to note is, counselor or doctor will not give decisions on patients and their partners with respect to the results of counseling. They will only provide the necessary information about the patient's pregnancy and the fetus, and the decision that if the pregnancy would be continued or terminated (if the predictions of the risks that may be experienced too high) left entirely to expectant parents.

Prenatal Testing


Prenatal Testing-testing or testing during pregnancy is performed in high risk pregnancies can’t detect any abnormalities that may occur. However, chromosomal abnormalities can be detected during fetal development through a series of tests such as amniocentesis, ultrasound, chorionic villus sampling and fetoscopy. The results of this test series will provide an option for couples to continue the pregnancy or abort the fetus if it is detected abnormalities. The results of these tests will also be a guide for physicians and health personnel to perform the actions necessary during pregnancy, birth, and help the parents to make suggestions about the growth and development of the baby.
Pregnancy at the age of 40 years it sounds scary, but as mentioned earlier, most women who are pregnant at the age of 40 years of successfully running a healthy pregnancy and gave birth to a perfect baby. It is true that the risk will grow with the increasing age of the mother during pregnancy, but with the preparation of a more mature, more complete information, and help health workers more sprightly and informative about the condition of high risk pregnancies will help the expectant mother to be able to continue to believe self, healthy, and spirit while undergoing pregnancy.


More about Having A Baby At 40

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