Today's women,unlike years back, are more preoccupied with career. So they tend marry and make babies at older age.
That makes it important to highlight the risks associated with getting pregnant at age 35 and above.

...For the young women, to make an informed decision ...and for the older ones, to plan well before,during and after pregnancy.
These risks increases with age especially if the woman is a smoker or her partner is over 40years of age.

FOR THE BABY

The risks include...

* Chromosomal abnormalities

_most common is Down syndrome. This is the biggest risk for a mothers who are 35 and above.

* Miscarriage

_most of the miscarriages are due to chromosomal abnormalities in the baby.

* Pre-mature birth

* Still birth

* Autism
_risks increases if the father is 40 and above.


FOR THE MOTHER

The risks include...

* Infertility

_fertility rates begin to decline gradually at age 30. Women unlike men are born with limited number of eggs. And these eggs begins to decline in quality and quantity as they age. Even ovulation becomes less frequent. Also at this age,conditions like fibriod and other tumors may arise and will further decrease the chances of conception.

* Multiple pregnancy

_in medical world multiple pregnancies such as twins are not really considered a blessing as a layman would believe. They come with greater problems than singleton pregnancy.

* High risk of ceasarean section

_first-time mothers older than 35 years have a higher risk of difficuly labour which may end ur in C.S.

* High blood pressure/Pre-eclampsia/eclampsia

* Gestational diabetics

* plancenta abnormalities/Bleeding

* Ectopic pregnancy

* breast cancer

* Post partum stress incontinence


PREVENTION

# PRE-CONCEPTION COUNSELLING
Ask your healthcare provider where you can get this service. Try to achieve a healthy weight for height (BMI between 18.5-24.9) before conception. Stop drinking alcohol,smoking or taking drugs (both hard and over-the-counter drugs)


# PRENATAL VITAMIN
Especially folic acid

# GOOD DIET AND SUPPLEMENTS

# GOOD ANTENATAL CARE
be regular to clinic and keep appointments. That way your doctor can monitor your pregnancy and detect any illness early before it gets complicated.

# GENETIC COUNSELLING AND TERMINATION OF PREGNANCY

except for some medical conditions,abortion is still illegal in nigeria. And most christians do not believe in it. However, there's option of aborting the pregnancy if the baby is considered abnormal. There are alot of tests that can detect these defects,some of which are very expensive. They include amniocentensis,ultrasound,chorionic villus sampling,maternal serum screening,alpha feto protein test.

# PELVIC EXERCISE
for post partum stress incontinence.


BENEFITS OF LATE PREGNANCY

* more likely to fine joy in parenthood and appreciate it more.

* older mums are likely to spend more time with their babies...most may have accomplished their career and other life ambitions.

* older mums are usually more financially secure