What age is considered advanced maternal age? Generally speaking, women over 35 years old who have their first pregnancy can be classified as elderly mothers. As women age, their bodily functions gradually deteriorate and decline, which poses certain risks to conceiving a baby. But despite the risks, there are still many women willing to take risks for this, just hoping to have a baby. What are the dangers of elderly mothers? What preparations can elderly women who want to have a baby make during pregnancy preparation?
What are the dangers of elderly mothers
1. The risk of developing complications during pregnancy is relatively high
After the age of 35, the incidence of complications such as pregnancy induced hypertension, placenta previa, preterm delivery, premature rupture of membranes, diabetes in pregnancy, postpartum hemorrhage in older women is significantly higher than that in women of appropriate age.
2. The probability of giving birth to a baby with problems is higher
Due to the fact that the physical fitness of mothers is no longer at its peak, the problems of giving birth to babies in elderly mothers are also greater than those in eligible mothers, such as congenital idiocy, cardiovascular malformations, cleft lip, cleft palate and other deformities, which have correspondingly increased.
Therefore, if elderly women want to have a baby, they should strengthen perinatal health care during pregnancy, actively prevent pregnancy complications and complications, and be admitted to hospital for early monitoring to ensure the safety of mother and baby.
How to prepare for pregnancy for elderly mothers
1. Supplementing folic acid
From 3 months before pregnancy to 3 months of pregnancy, every woman should supplement with low-dose folic acid to prevent fetal neural tube defects, especially for "older mothers" who are more likely to develop neural tube defects in their children.
2. Try to avoid contact with small pets as much as possible
Families with pets should place them in someone else's home for a period of time, as cats, dogs, birds, and other animals may be parasitized with Toxoplasma gondii. Infection with Toxoplasma gondii can cause miscarriage, stillbirth, stillbirth, fetal hydrocephalus, vision loss, and other deformities, leading to neonatal pneumonia, hepatosplenomegaly, jaundice, and consciousness disorders.
3. Prohibition of cigarettes and second-hand smoke
The harmful substances in cigarettes can cause congenital malformations and intrauterine growth retardation in fetuses, increasing the risk of miscarriage and premature birth by 2-3 times compared to other fetuses. Their babies' physical and intellectual development after birth can also be affected. Therefore, it is advisable to stay away from cigarettes and reduce passive smoking as much as possible before pregnancy.
4. Reduce the time spent using computers and mobile phones
Due to the radiation emitted by computers and mobile phones, and their close proximity to us during use, elderly mothers should try to turn off their computers and phones as much as possible when they are not needed, or engage in outdoor activities for a while every hour or so, in order to reduce the harm caused by computers and mobile phones.
5. No makeup, no nail polish
Make up should be reduced as much as possible in the preparation stage before pregnancy and during lactation, avoid hair dyeing, and do not apply nail polish. Because lead in cosmetics can be absorbed through the skin and mucous membranes, excessive prenatal exposure to lead can damage fetal brain tissue and affect physical and intellectual development during childhood.
Due to the higher risk of pregnancy complications among elderly mothers compared to ordinary women, and the higher likelihood of giving birth to problematic babies, it is important to strengthen protective awareness during pregnancy, minimize negative factors for the baby, and ensure a healthy birth.
