Did you know that late-life surprise pregnancy is relatively common? Often, as women’s bodies near perimenopause and menopause, a window opens when it’s relatively easy to conceive and become pregnant.
You may have raised children earlier in life or focused on other parts of your life during your youth. Now you’re in your 30s or 40s and looking at a positive pregnancy test with surprise and uncertainty. Is it safe for you to have a late-life pregnancy? What should you do to make sure you and your baby stay healthy before delivery?
Even if you’ve been pregnant and given birth before, you may need to prepare differently for a pregnancy involving advanced maternal age. Board-certified OB/GYN Dr. Leonardo A. Longoria and his team can answer all your questions, guiding you through a safe and successful pregnancy.
Dr. Longoria treats new and existing patients from his practice at Longoria OBGYN in El Paso, Texas. Here are four expert tips that Dr. Longoria recommends you follow during a pregnancy with advanced maternal age, which is medically defined as 35 years or older.
Receiving the right care from the very beginning of your pregnancy journey means that you always have an expert on hand. For a pregnancy at an advanced maternal age, it’s more important than ever to check in regularly with a provider you can trust, such as Dr. Longoria and our Longoria OBGYN team.
Regular prenatal care keeps you and your baby safe during your pregnancy. Dr. Longoria monitors your health, as well as fetal development, and answers any questions that come up.
At a more advanced maternal age, you face some additional health risks related to pregnancy. These can negatively affect you and your baby without the right precautions, care, and adjustments.
One issue that needs extra attention is your blood pressure. Research shows that risks related to elevated blood pressure increase with more advanced maternal age. Dr. Longoria monitors your blood pressure at prenatal visits and can suggest strategies to manage high blood pressure if signs of this issue appear.
Late-life pregnancies also come with an elevated risk of gestational diabetes. This condition affects you during pregnancy and can occur even if you’ve never had diabetes or prediabetes before.
Gestational diabetes can lead to high birth weight and increases your risk of premature delivery. Gestational diabetes also often goes hand-in-hand with high blood pressure during pregnancy.
To prevent or control gestational diabetes, you may need to make changes to your diet. Dr. Longoria helps you understand what your risk factors mean for you and your baby and gives you accurate advice on gaining a healthy amount of weight during your pregnancy
A late-life surprise pregnancy can be a joyful, exciting time. You’re going to be a parent to an infant again! It’s also a time when, more than ever, you need to make healthy lifestyle choices.
Alcohol, caffeine, tobacco, and other drugs can create health risks for you and your developing fetus. Weight changes during pregnancy and being overweight or underweight may increase your risk of complications. Your emotional condition matters too, as stress can lead to high blood pressure and other issues.
Take good care of yourself while you’re pregnant. Eat a healthy diet, maintain a regular pattern of moderate physical activity, and manage stress. Dr. Longoria’s expert support guides you through a safe, successful pregnancy, even at an older maternal age.
For pregnancy care, contact Dr. Longoria today. Schedule your appointment by calling our office or requesting a visit online.
