5 Risks of Childbirth Complications over the Age of 40 and the Solution
Giving birth over the age of 40 years does have a high risk for pregnant women. Keluarga
Launching the tommys.org page, statistically, older women seem to be more likely to experience complications in pregnancy and childbirth.
The complications that often arise in women over 40 years include:
1 Having gestational diabetes
Pregnant women in their 40s are more likely to develop gestational diabetes than women in their 20s or 30s.
In the UK, all pregnant women deemed at risk are offered a gestational diabetes test during pregnancy.
Read More: Hamburger Calorie Count and How to Make It Healthier
2 Having a very big baby
Pregnant women over 40 are more likely to have very large babies (over 4.5kg or 10lb).
Having a very large baby is often also associated with gestational diabetes. Kehidupan keluarga harmonis
The midwife or health care provider will arrange for a scan to check the size of the baby if they think the baby is large.
3 Need cesarean section
Women over 40 are the age group most likely to have a cesarean delivery.
Almost double the chances of them needing a cesarean section. This may be because the uterine muscles become less effective with age, especially in first-time mothers.
If you have additional complications, such as a large baby, your health care team may discuss plans for a cesarean section. Keluarga Bahagia
4 Experiencing stillbirth
If they are past their due date, women in their 40s are twice as likely to have a stillbirth than women under 35.
It is very important to monitor the baby’s movements while in the womb.
Call your midwife or birthing unit immediately if you feel your baby’s movements have slowed, stopped or changed.
All pregnant women over 40 are offered induction around their due date, as the risk of stillbirth increases after 40 weeks.
5 Have a chromosomal abnormality
Being an older mother means we have a higher chance of having a baby with chromosomal abnormalities, such as Down syndrome and Patau syndrome.
However, all pregnant women are offered a screening test to detect chromosomal abnormalities early. Ibu dan anak
However, that does not mean pregnant women over the age of 40 years will definitely experience these complications.
By consulting, both with doctors and midwives, these pregnancy complications can be minimized.
Moreover, most of the midwives and doctors have been trained to treat pregnant women in their 40s, but can also be referred to consultants.
In some hospitals and maternity units, women over 40 years of age will be under consultant-led care. This depends on the policy of each hospital.
So, what can be done to ensure women have healthy pregnancies over 40?
- Apart from consulting, the best thing a pregnant woman can do at any age is to concentrate on trying to be as healthy as possible by:
- Do not smoke
- Eat a healthy and balanced diet
- Lose weight before pregnancy if you think you are overweight or obese Manage weight gain if you are overweight or obese in pregnancy
- Trying to avoid certain infections during pregnancy, including rubella
- Avoiding certain foods during pregnancy
- Do not drink alcohol or use illegal drugs during pregnancy stay active
- Limiting caffeine intake before and during pregnancy.
