Normal number of pregnancy doctor visits8/13/2023 Find an OB-GYN with whom you feel comfortable having honest conversations. If you are experiencing symptoms - such as fever and chills, shortness of breath, dizziness, or brisk, bright bleeding - seek medical attention immediately.ġ. For those who are considered high-risk, check in with your doctor within the first week or two. These visits are to make sure mom is recovering well and baby is healthy. According to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), women should follow up with their obstetric healthcare team within the first three weeks of giving birth for a post-birth assessment and also have a more comprehensive postpartum evaluation by 12 weeks. This is why it’s important to prioritize your postpartum follow-up visit with your doctor. “It’s still rare, but it is a huge focus for academic institutions like ours to understand how to reduce maternal complications and mortality,” says Dr. Maternal mortality is on the rise in the U.S., especially for women 40 and older, whose death rate is nearly eight times higher than those under age 25, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The fourth trimester -the 12 weeks after giving birth-is just as important for a mother’s health as the first three trimesters. “It’s important for all mothers to have a robust conversation with their OB-GYN about screening and diagnostic tests, especially when it comes to chromosomal abnormalities,” says Dr. In addition, genetic screening tests (which tell you if you are high-risk or low-risk for a condition) can be used to screen for genetic conditions like Down syndrome, while diagnostic tests like amniocentesis can confirm or rule out a condition. For example, a blood test can help diagnose gestational diabetes, and your doctor may suggest you monitor your blood pressure at home for preeclampsia. Many of these complications can be detected with routine prenatal checkups and tests. Fetal chromosomal abnormalities - The risk of a chromosomal abnormality that can cause conditions like Down syndrome increases with age.Stillbirth - This risk is relatively low however, it becomes more common as a per-son ages.Pre-term labor and/or low birth weight - This can be due to many medical reasons that require an early delivery, including the placenta not functioning well and not delivering adequate nutrients and blood supply to the fetus.Cesarean delivery (C-section) - Older women are at a higher risk for having pregnancy complications that require getting the baby out sooner.Preeclampsia - Characterized by high blood pressure during pregnancy or after childbirth, preeclampsia is more common among pregnant people who are very young or over age 40.Gestational diabetes - This type of diabetes only occurs during pregnancy your chance of developing it increases after age 25.Pregnant people over 35 are at an increased risk of: “That’s not to say that most people over age 35 will experience these complications, but it’s worth noting that these risks are increased,” Dr. Kalish, who is also an associate professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at Weill Cornell Medicine, to understand what to expect during a pregnancy after age 35 and to learn tips to help have a healthy pregnancy for you and your baby.Ī variety of increased complications can occur over age 35, any time from the beginning of a pregnancy to childbirth. Kalish adds that her over-40 patients usually ask her, “‘Am I too old?’ My answer is almost always, ‘No, you are not too old.’ And then their next question is, ‘Am I high-risk?’ Unfortunately, my answer is usually, ‘Yes.’ But with proper care and monitoring, the majority of women in that age range go on to have a healthy pregnancy.” “It’s really a gradual increased risk little by little over age 35, and it’s incredibly individualized.”ĭr. “A healthy 38-year-old could have an easier pregnancy than a 20-year-old who has multiple medical issues,” Dr. Kalish notes that in reality, there’s no “magic number” for being at-risk for complications. While delivering at age 35 and older is officially considered “advanced maternal age,” Dr. These include career aspirations, financial security, availability of a wide range of birth control methods, and access to enhanced fertility treatments such as in vitro fertilization (IVF) and egg freezing, she says.īut as people get older, they face an increased risk of medical issues that can potentially complicate their pregnancy. Robin Kalish, director of Clinical Maternal-Fetal Medicine at NewYork-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center and the NewYork-Presbyterian Alexandra Cohen Hospital for Women and Newborns. “There are many reasons for the trend in delayed childbearing,” says Dr. While the overall birthrate in the United States is dropping, especially among people in their 20s, there has been a dramatic increase over recent decades in the number of people giving birth at age 35 and older.
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