I'm creeping up on 40...is it healthy for me to be pregnant? There's a chance I might be.?

If you have healthy habits, everything should be fine. There is a somewhat increased risk of genetic disorders, such as Down's syndrome, but many women your age give birth to perfectly healthy babies. Your doctor may put you in a high risk category simply because of your age, but it is nothing to panic about.


Be sure to get plenty of calcuim and folic acid. Take the vitamins, but work on eating a nutrtious diet too.

I'm creeping up on 40...is it healthy for me to be pregnant? There's a chance I might be.?
You should be perfectly fine.


My mom had my little brother when she was 43. Thy considered her high risk because of her age, and did a bunch of tests. According to her OB-GYN he had the worst Cerebral Palsy and Downs Syndrome and he wouldn't live long out of the womb. They said she should have an abortion. She replied with a few choice words and had him at home. There wasn't any complications at all. Although he was born early ( 5 weeks) he still weighed 5 lbs, flipped at the last minute and came out feet first he is a perfectly healthy, happy, arguing 2 1/2 year old. He crawled at 7 months and walked at 10. He knows his ABC's, talks 15 words per sentence, can count to 30 and knows a little Spanish (thanks to Dad). He is also right on scale weight -wise and is taller than most kids at 3. He makes his own microwave popcorn (under supervision) and he tried his hand at doing the dishes once, and promptly fell in the sink. You see why he can't be let of eyesight? He is a hyper little ball of fire.





My point is, the doctors are going to play things up and if mom had listened to the doctor, we would have been left without our Sam.


They will do a lot of tests and consider you high risk, but do some research on the tests, I bet a lot of them have a high false rate. You also need to take into consideration what they are including in the test. You never know exactly what is going on with the baby until he is born.


Don't let them scare you into making decisions that you will regret later.
Reply:You should be fine the doctors will check for things that are of concern in pregnant women your age. so you should not have any worries.


CONGRATS.
Reply:Since you are almost 40 the obgyn will consider you a high risk pregnancy but that just means that there will be some additional tests that you have to go through and they may monitor you a little closer. If you are...congratulations...
Reply:many women have babies safely well into their 40's. You will be at a slightly higer risk of complications, but usually everthing will be fine. Congrats!
Reply:You shouldn't have any problems as long as you follow what your ob says.
Reply:Only your doctor can really advise you on that. Many women in their 40s have perfectly fine health. Others have a lot of problems.





In general, women in their 40s are more likely to have miscarriage in the first 12 weeks, as well as higher likelihood of Downs Syndrome. You are normally offered amnio to test for genetic defects. For her health, she is more likely to have blood pressure problems and Gestational Diabetes. Other than that, it just aches and pains more because you are older.
Reply:my mother had me at 38 and im fine, and my cousin is pregnant and shes 43. you are fine, but they will give you a amniocentis (sp) because of your age. and theyll watch you closely. a lot of woman are having kids older now, there was a 60 year old woman who gave birth and her kids were fine, if a 60 year old can do it you should sooooo do it. just be careful and 3 months before you try to concieve take prenatals and folic acid and get seen by a gynocologist to make sure you are ok.
Reply:my mum had my sister when she was 40 it never hurt her
Reply:there are lots of women 40+ that have healthy and safe prgnancies. you will most likely have more appointments and may be considered "high risk" because you are over 35, but my mother had my youngest sister at 42 and everything went great. good luck!