One of the greatest concerns every woman who becomes pregnant has is the survival of the baby. Conception is itself a miracle, much less a completed, full term gestation. We stress about every possible complication. We hyperfocus. We hyper-hyperfocus. We drive our partners to the cliff of insanity we live on and blame them for placing us there. Meanwhile, we have so many well-meaning friends and family asking questions that our anxiety is only exacerbated and we find it hard to answer kindly through gnashed teeth and clenched jaws.
Which brings me to Tangent 1: Let me just make one thing clear- No. I don't know the gender yet. Yes. I want to know. Yes. I will let everyone else know when I know. Yes. A boy would be nice after three girls. I am flattered at the amount of interest the gender of our baby has generated amongst our family and friends. I suspect there are bets riding on the answer, which would be fine as long as God is in on the pool, he wants a boy and the odds are in His favor. Well, I suppose they would be now, wouldn't they? He is God after all. Which brings me to Tangent 2: When I'm not hyperfocusing on disastrous outcomes, I'm not focusing on anything at all. My mind is like a three-year old who just had a whole box of marshmallow cereal with chocolate sauce, a side of sugared donuts and Jolt cola. I start projects, forget about them, and begin new ones. Meanwhile, I find the remnants of the first projects and get angry at whoever left this stuff out.....until I realize it was me. Then I am glad to use the excuse "I'm pregnant. Give me a break." What was this blog about again? Oh yeah, complications due to "Advanced Maternal Age".
At my last doctor's visit, I discovered my ego is stronger than I thought. After the usual check of vitals and palpitation of the belly by my Gynecologist, I was taken to meet my Obstetrician. My Gyn found a fun excuse to give me another ultrasound. I was not quite four months along and this was my second. I am convinced this is normal for older pregnant women and he was just trying to save my feelings by not declaring it. So, there we are in the room-3 rational men (my husband has been faithful in attending appointments with me) and me- irrational pregnant lady. As the ultrasound begins and the usual "fishing for the baby" occurs, the image of our child comes into focus. I have seen this gift before, but it still made me weepy with joy. The doctor continues to check for different things and then it's over. As I ask questions, the term is placed out there by my Obstetrician-"Advanced Maternal Age". KAPOW! Ego shot!
Now apparently, there are specialists for women of "Advanced Maternal Age", they are called Perinatologists. At least, that is their specialty for this blog's purpose. When I voiced some of my concerns, this is who was recommended- a Perinatologist. Now, here I am- Irrational and hormonal- and I have just been referred to a specialist. All I heard was "You have cancer, the baby is threatened and we can't handle you anymore because we just don't like you". None of this is true. That is just what I heard. As the three men saw my reaction, I suddenly felt like a psychiatric patient who was being talked down from a psychotic episode. "No. You are fine." (A look between the men insinuated "No quick movements, boys") "We just are not equipped to perform tests that could give more information on your concerns" (Another look of "Right, make it seem normal") "No. The baby looks fine. We just recommend anyone who wants to know more to the specialist. If you are going to keep the baby no matter what, it is not necessary." ("Man, she's annoying" "Tell me about it") At that point, my husband showed he wasn't too concerned. I calmed down and I was able to circumvent hyperventilation. The doctors both pointed out my "Advanced Maternal Age", AGAIN, which made me laugh and joke at being referred to a "Geriatric Obstetrician". Ego secure.
As Hubby and I left the appointment and rode home, we discussed whether to go to the specialist and we both agreed it was not necessary. No matter the baby's condition, we would love it and walk that road when we came to it.
So, here we are. What are some of the complications for a woman with "Advanced Maternal Age"? You have a higher percentage of having miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy in the first trimester. Once those critical months have passed, then comes the concern of chromosomal issues with the baby. The risk for a woman at 40 of having a child with Down Syndrome is 1 in 109, for any chromosomal disorder- 1 in 80.
Older women have the highest rates of delivering a child with hydrocephaly, tetralogy of Fallot, ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, endocardial cushion defect, pulmonary valve atresia or stenosis, and patent ductus arteriosus. In a 1998 study, only 22% of children born to women over 35 had a normal fetal genetic make-up. 22%. Wow. The pregnancy complications to the mother's health include higher risks of: Diabetes, Pre-Eclampsia, High Blood Pressure, Placental Abruption, and Placenta Previa.
Finally, we have a higher percentage of having a stillbirth and/or experiencing our own death during delivery.
This doesn't even approach all the issues older women can have with their reproductive health without being pregnant.
That's a lot to take in and process. It's also many reasons to have concerns for being Pregnant and 40.
Luckily, I have not experienced any these so far. While they are on my mind constantly, I have been able to not hyperfocus on them. Not too much anyway.
That evening, I took a bath. Baths have been my daily "Xanax" these past few months. I admitted to Hubby how deep my anxiety was on how the days appointment went. With sensitivity, he soothed my heart and soul as only the person we love the most can. There are times in our lives we are able to see God's hand on us.
Now and the next five months are my time.
http://www.babycenter.com/404_what-are-the-risks-of-having-a-baby-if-im-35-or-older_3127.bc http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=306902
Which brings me to Tangent 1: Let me just make one thing clear- No. I don't know the gender yet. Yes. I want to know. Yes. I will let everyone else know when I know. Yes. A boy would be nice after three girls. I am flattered at the amount of interest the gender of our baby has generated amongst our family and friends. I suspect there are bets riding on the answer, which would be fine as long as God is in on the pool, he wants a boy and the odds are in His favor. Well, I suppose they would be now, wouldn't they? He is God after all. Which brings me to Tangent 2: When I'm not hyperfocusing on disastrous outcomes, I'm not focusing on anything at all. My mind is like a three-year old who just had a whole box of marshmallow cereal with chocolate sauce, a side of sugared donuts and Jolt cola. I start projects, forget about them, and begin new ones. Meanwhile, I find the remnants of the first projects and get angry at whoever left this stuff out.....until I realize it was me. Then I am glad to use the excuse "I'm pregnant. Give me a break." What was this blog about again? Oh yeah, complications due to "Advanced Maternal Age".
At my last doctor's visit, I discovered my ego is stronger than I thought. After the usual check of vitals and palpitation of the belly by my Gynecologist, I was taken to meet my Obstetrician. My Gyn found a fun excuse to give me another ultrasound. I was not quite four months along and this was my second. I am convinced this is normal for older pregnant women and he was just trying to save my feelings by not declaring it. So, there we are in the room-3 rational men (my husband has been faithful in attending appointments with me) and me- irrational pregnant lady. As the ultrasound begins and the usual "fishing for the baby" occurs, the image of our child comes into focus. I have seen this gift before, but it still made me weepy with joy. The doctor continues to check for different things and then it's over. As I ask questions, the term is placed out there by my Obstetrician-"Advanced Maternal Age". KAPOW! Ego shot!
Now apparently, there are specialists for women of "Advanced Maternal Age", they are called Perinatologists. At least, that is their specialty for this blog's purpose. When I voiced some of my concerns, this is who was recommended- a Perinatologist. Now, here I am- Irrational and hormonal- and I have just been referred to a specialist. All I heard was "You have cancer, the baby is threatened and we can't handle you anymore because we just don't like you". None of this is true. That is just what I heard. As the three men saw my reaction, I suddenly felt like a psychiatric patient who was being talked down from a psychotic episode. "No. You are fine." (A look between the men insinuated "No quick movements, boys") "We just are not equipped to perform tests that could give more information on your concerns" (Another look of "Right, make it seem normal") "No. The baby looks fine. We just recommend anyone who wants to know more to the specialist. If you are going to keep the baby no matter what, it is not necessary." ("Man, she's annoying" "Tell me about it") At that point, my husband showed he wasn't too concerned. I calmed down and I was able to circumvent hyperventilation. The doctors both pointed out my "Advanced Maternal Age", AGAIN, which made me laugh and joke at being referred to a "Geriatric Obstetrician". Ego secure.
As Hubby and I left the appointment and rode home, we discussed whether to go to the specialist and we both agreed it was not necessary. No matter the baby's condition, we would love it and walk that road when we came to it.
So, here we are. What are some of the complications for a woman with "Advanced Maternal Age"? You have a higher percentage of having miscarriage or ectopic pregnancy in the first trimester. Once those critical months have passed, then comes the concern of chromosomal issues with the baby. The risk for a woman at 40 of having a child with Down Syndrome is 1 in 109, for any chromosomal disorder- 1 in 80.
Older women have the highest rates of delivering a child with hydrocephaly, tetralogy of Fallot, ventricular septal defect, atrial septal defect, endocardial cushion defect, pulmonary valve atresia or stenosis, and patent ductus arteriosus. In a 1998 study, only 22% of children born to women over 35 had a normal fetal genetic make-up. 22%. Wow. The pregnancy complications to the mother's health include higher risks of: Diabetes, Pre-Eclampsia, High Blood Pressure, Placental Abruption, and Placenta Previa.
Finally, we have a higher percentage of having a stillbirth and/or experiencing our own death during delivery.
This doesn't even approach all the issues older women can have with their reproductive health without being pregnant.
That's a lot to take in and process. It's also many reasons to have concerns for being Pregnant and 40.
Luckily, I have not experienced any these so far. While they are on my mind constantly, I have been able to not hyperfocus on them. Not too much anyway.
That evening, I took a bath. Baths have been my daily "Xanax" these past few months. I admitted to Hubby how deep my anxiety was on how the days appointment went. With sensitivity, he soothed my heart and soul as only the person we love the most can. There are times in our lives we are able to see God's hand on us.
Now and the next five months are my time.
http://www.babycenter.com/404_what-are-the-risks-of-having-a-baby-if-im-35-or-older_3127.bc http://answers.google.com/answers/threadview?id=306902
