Getting Pregnant After 35: A Doctor’s Guide

Planning to embrace motherhood after 35? That’s lovely. Geriatric pregnancy is the term for planning pregnancy at 35 or later. Many healthy women who conceive after 35 and even in their 40s deliver perfectly healthy babies. But that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t think smart to ensure you and your infant stay as healthy as possible during pregnancy. Here’s a comprehensive doctor’s guide to getting pregnant after 35.

Tips to Increase your Chances of Having a Healthy Pregnancy

Women planning pregnancy after 35 are indeed known as having advanced maternal age. But despite this misconception, you can still have enjoyable gestations and healthy infants. Although the chances of complications are high in planning a pregnancy in the second half of the 30s, you can take steps to multiply your odds of a healthy gestation.

Eat Healthily

It is a myth that if you are getting pregnant at 37 naturally, then you should consume food for two. The truth is that nutrition affects fertility in females, and doubling your nutrient intake will ensure the optimal development of the baby.
So, reduce the intake of fat, sugar, and salty foods. And increase consumption of a wide variety of vegetables and fruits. ,
You can also rely on whole grains to fulfill your daily requirement for minerals and vitamins. Most importantly, you should focus on eating food rich in iron. For instance, tofu, meat, and a variety of dairy products.
Moreover, eating the right combination of legumes, vegetables, fruits, and plenty of water will keep you at bay from constipation.
Many women getting pregnant after 35 naturally wonder if they can take caffeine. We got you covered. Experts say that you can take caffeine in moderation (two cups to three cups) during your pregnancy. Excess consumption can increase the risk of low birth weight and miscarriage.
It is crucial to safeguard yourself from food poisoning during this time. Therefore, avoid raw eggs, cheese, fast food, and street-side food items as much as you can. Moreover, you should also ensure appropriate self-hygiene while cooking and storing food.
Prevent eating more than one serving of fish per fortnight. It has high mercury levels, which can pose harm to the foetus.
Consult the best gynaecologist in Mohali to get the right dosage of folic acid and iodine supplements. Also, discuss all other nutrition requirements with your doctor to ensure the best for you and your baby.

Healthy Weight Gain

There are several pregnancy after 35 success stories that inspire women to maintain a healthy weight gain during their gestation period.
You see, being obese or overweight can invite a wide range of health problems and complications. For instance, preterm birth, stillbirth, gestational diabetes, depression, high blood pressure, etc. It can pose a threat to both you and your baby. Ideally, a pregnant woman should gain weight from 11.5 kg to 16 kg during her entire pregnancy.
Similarly, being underweight during this time can also invite many health issues. It can lead to preterm birth, low birth weight, and weak immunity in the infant.
Your doctor will tell you what the ideal weight gain in pregnancy is. It will depend on how much you weigh at the beginning. Even if you had a normal weight before pregnancy, gaining too much weight quickly is bad for you and your baby.
Stay close to your gynecologist and discuss the top physical activities that are safe for you and your child. Experts recommend spending 150 to 250 minutes in moderate to intense physical activity weekly.
Walking, swimming, gardening, jogging, and prenatal yoga are the top activities you can perform during this time. However, you should avoid any exercise that makes you dizzy, causes pain, or is done on your back.
Lastly, address all your weight concerns timely. Regular check-ups with the best gynaecologist in Chandigarh and collaboration with an experienced nutritionist can help immensely during this process.
Please note that indulging in strict dieting at this time can have an adverse impact on your baby’s health.

Immunisation

Getting pregnant at 38 or later; what to expect regarding maternal immunisation? Rubella (German Measles) and chickenpox (Varicella) are the two major vaccinations that are a must to ensure the good health of the foetus. Both these diseases can lead to severe complications in the newborn. You can learn more about them through the best gynaecologist in Chandigarh.
Besides, obstetric care providers also prescribe tetanus toxoid, acellular pertussis (Tdap), and reduced diphtheria toxoid vaccine to all pregnant ladies in India. These vaccines should be taken in the 27^th to 36^th week of gestation.

Alcohol and Drinking

Is this your second pregnancy after 35? If so, ensure you keep alcohol and cigarettes at bay. Here’s why:
Alcohol can pass through the placenta. It can enter the foetus’s bloodstream and increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth, and stillbirth.
Moreover, drinking heavily during pregnancy can also give rise to foetal alcohol spectrum disorders. It can lead to lifelong health issues in the child.
At times, women consume alcohol unknowingly before they know they are pregnant. Be rest assured, it will not have any effect on the baby. However, ensure you don’t touch alcohol for the rest of your gestation period.
As far as smoking is concerned – both active and passive smoke harms your and your child’s health. It increases the risk of stillbirth, premature delivery, and miscarriage. It can also result in low birthweight or sudden infant death syndrome.
Consult the top gynaecologist in Mohali to seek assistance and guidance in quitting smoking and drinking immediately.

Takeaway

Remember getting pregnant in your late 30s is as normal as getting pregnant in your 20s. All you need to do is take good care of yourself to ensure a healthy and joyful pregnancy. The crux is that you must get in touch with the best healthcare provider, lead an active and healthy lifestyle, and keep a check on your symptoms. Any unusual symptom should be discussed with your gynaecologist at the earliest. Remember, the right step taken at the right time can save your and your child’s life.