Vim & Vigor - Summer 2018 - Gwinnett Medical Center - 27

How Old Is
Too Old?

Strength and Stamina

"There are definitely cases where younger moms have more energy," Garbus
says. But lots of factors can contribute to energy levels during pregnancy,
including morning sickness and the demands of work or other children.
McDonough says she had a lot of energy with her first pregnancy, in her
20s. "I was so excited, and I wasn't nauseous," she says.
But while carrying her second and third babies, she had the demands of
one young child, and then two, to contend with, and she was exhausted. Her
fourth pregnancy came so many years after the third that she could rest if she
needed to. "The kids were older, and they could fend for themselves," she says.

Life Experience

Most would agree that having a baby as a teenager isn't ideal, and the teen
birth rate has been declining for years. But for very young women who do
become pregnant, they face different risks than older moms-to-be. The
brain's prefrontal cortex isn't fully developed until the early 20s, and that
can affect reasoning in various ways.
"Younger moms can be less likely to keep their appointments," Garbus
says. They are also more likely to have multiple partners and less likely to
have the support of a long-standing relationship. ■

Women in their 50s, 60s and even 70s have
given birth, but the odds of successfully
conceiving and carrying a baby to term
decline steeply as women age. And older
women are more likely to face health risks
during pregnancy. Still, not everyone can
plan their family when they are at their peak
physical health and fertility.
"Whether it's starting a new relationship,
or having a life-altering experience, there
are many reasons people may want to
start a family later in life," says Kimberly
Shea-Carter, CNM, a provider with
Gwinnett Physicians Group OB/GYN.
For older women who want to try to
conceive, it's critical to have any existing
medical issues diagnosed and well-managed. That will help increase the odds of
a healthy pregnancy for both the mother
and the baby.
"In women who are older, identifying any underlying medical conditions is
crucial," says Shea-Carter. That's because
older women often have higher rates of
diabetes, hypertension, obesity, vascular diseases, lupus, kidney problems and
other medical conditions that can complicate pregnancies.
"But it's all relative," Shea-Carter points
out. "I have taken care of many women
above age 45 who have had successful
deliveries. If you have the motivation, the
desire and the health, there shouldn't be
an age limit preventing you from pursuing
having a baby."

WEBSITE

Pregnancy Help
Pregnancy is an exciting time-
but it can also feel overwhelming.
GMC offers a convenient way for
you to have pregnancy-health
questions answered. Get health
tips by visiting everydaywell
ness.org/pregnancy.

SUMME R 2018

27
http://www.everydaywellness.org/pregnancy http://www.everydaywellness.org/pregnancy
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