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Later in Life Pregnancy
January 25, 2007 |
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If you're over 35 and hoping to get pregnant, you're in good company. Many women are delaying pregnancy well into their 30s and beyond - and are delivering healthy babies.
Hilary Feundlich's grandmother was 42 years old back in 1915 when she gave birth to Hilary's father --- on April Fools Day. "And what a joke right? Surprise. And the rumor is that she didn't even know she was pregnant she thought she'd gone through menopause."
But she was pregnant. And history was about to repeat itself. Hilary found out she was pregnant at 42. A pleasant surprise-yet Hilary knew the risks associated with a pregnancy at her age.
Obstetrician William Rincon says, "increase in Down Syndrome. They also have a higher risk of going into pre-term labor, women who are older have a higher risk of miscarriages."
Dr. Rincon also says that there's also a risk - that could be considered a benefit. "The rate of twins and triplets increases so, for some women that's maybe a positive side to that."
But there are also social issues to think about when you have older children as Hilary and her seventeen-year-old daughter Hannah discovered. "If someone doesn't know she's my sister, they'll think she's my daughter."
And of coarse the original baby of the family must give up her throne. Ten-year-old Lindsay Freundlich says, "I liked being the little one, I mean, I got what I wanted and Hannah got in trouble and I liked that."
But little Tommie crawled into this family and all has worked out in the Freundlich household, except Dad's still outnumbered.
Regardless of your age, it's always an excellent idea to see your physician before you get pregnant so your doctor can assess your health.
Though most studies show that women over 35 have a higher chance of pregnancy complications this is usually due to preexisting conditions like blood pressure issues rather than simply age and pregnancy.
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