Know About Geriatric Pregnancy, Pregnancy in Old Age
GERIATRIC PREGNANCY - What are the risks if you are planning a pregnancy at an advanced age? If you're pregnant and over the age of 35, you've probably heard the term "advanced pregnancy" or geriatric pregnancy. In ancient times, geriatric pregnancies were fairly rare. But along with the times, marriage at a young age is no longer a necessity so that geriatric pregnancies are now increasingly prevalent.
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| GERIATRIC PREGNANCY |
This means that geriatric pregnancy is no longer a rare occurrence. However, there are many risks that will occur if you are part of a geriatric pregnancy group. Anything? Let's see the explanation below!
What is Geriatric Pregnancy?
Geriatric pregnancy is a pregnancy experienced by a woman after she is over 35 years old. This term was more commonly used in the past when there were not as many pregnant women over the age of 35 as now. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Trusted Source, the number of women between the ages of 35 and 39 having their first baby has increased across all racial groups.
In the past, doctors used the term pregnancies that occur in women over the age of 35 as "advanced pregnancies." Today, for obvious reasons doctors no longer use the term advanced pregnancy. In contrast, when a woman becomes pregnant over the age of 35, doctors use the term "advanced maternal age."
The rate of women having their first baby even while pregnant in their 40s is actually a common thing nowadays. The definition of late pregnancy is really changing as the trend as women start their families develops over time.
Geriatric Pregnancy Risks
As women get older, geriatric pregnancies are likely to have many medical conditions that increase the risk of pregnancy complications. Because a woman has the same egg as when she was born throughout her life, there is a higher risk of abnormalities during pregnancy that occur later in life.
The following are risks that may occur during a geriatric pregnancy:
1. Decreased Fertility
A study in The New England Journal of Medicine, showed that women who became pregnant at the age of 31-34 years experienced a 61 percent decrease in fertility. While pregnancy at the age of 35 years and over, will experience a decrease in fertility by 54 percent. With a decrease in fertility, it is more likely that it will be difficult to conceive in the next pregnancy.
2. Risk of Down Syndrome in Babies
A mother is at risk of having a child with Down syndrome if she is over 40 years old when she is pregnant. This is because a chromosomal abnormality causes the mother's egg cells to be older than normal. Coupled with certain medical history, such as hypothyroidism, viral infection disorders, and radiation.
3. Risk of Premature Birth
The next risk of geriatric pregnancy is the risk of giving birth to premature babies or being born with low body weight. This can cause the baby to experience various health problems, ranging from respiratory problems, weak immune systems, to stunted growth and development.
This condition will also increase the chances of you having to go through labor by Caesarean section. This can also make the baby vulnerable to health problems in the short term, as well as the long term.
4. Pregnancy Complications
The risk of geriatric pregnancy is also susceptible to various pregnancy complications, such as gestational diabetes and preeclampsia. This risk will increase if you have experienced a similar condition in a previous pregnancy. In addition, launching the American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, the risk of maternal death during pregnancy in old age also increases with age.
Tips for Having a Healthy Pregnancy in Old Age
Although geriatric pregnancy is riskier, you can still have a safe and healthy pregnancy. Therefore, there are some tips that can be done during pregnancy in old age:
1. Routinely Check the Content
During pregnancy, it is recommended that you check the condition of your womb regularly. This examination is important so that the doctor can monitor the health condition and growth of the fetus.
2. Consumption of Supplements for Pregnant Women
Moms also need to meet nutritional intake during pregnancy by eating nutritious foods. To ensure adequate nutritional intake during pregnancy, you also need to take pregnancy supplements that contain a variety of important nutrients, such as folic acid, iron, and various vitamins and minerals.
3. Detection of Chromosomal Abnormalities in Fetus
To detect chromosomal abnormalities in the fetus early, you can consult a doctor. The doctor can perform an obstetrical examination which includes ultrasound, amniocentesis or amniotic fluid examination, or examination of fetal blood through the placenta. This test aims to detect possible disturbances in the fetus so that treatment can be carried out quickly and precisely.
Consult a Doctor
The good news is that health assessments, genetic screening, diagnostic options and counseling are more sophisticated than ever. This allows women to understand as much as possible about their health, and pregnancy.
Not only that, better medical care, including increasingly successful infertility treatments, has increased older women's chances of conceiving and having healthy babies. Knowing this, older women are more willing to take risks in pregnancy.
Women over 40 also have an unintended pregnancy rate that is second only to very young women. So, for moms who are planning a pregnancy at an advanced maternal age, it would be better to consult a doctor. Then a health assessment is carried out so that we can find out whether our pregnancy is risky or not.
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