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More mothers over 40
Mature mothers-to-be have become quite the norm in the past decade. In fact, according to data from the Singapore Immigration and Checkpoints Authority, the number of babies born to mothers aged 40 and above last year was 1,295 out of a total of 39,654. That's 3.3 per cent of deliveries, a consistent figure over the last ten years.
With late pregnancies on the rise, it is important for potential mature mothers-to-be to follow the tips given below to ensure a smooth nine months before delivery:
Longer to conceive
First and foremost, it may take longer for women over 40 to conceive so they should "get started" as soon as possible. The longer the wait, the lower the chance of conceiving. Other things being equal, the chance of having a fertility problem increases from about 11 per cent in your early 20s to about 33 per cent in your late 30s to almost 40 per cent in your early 40s.
Healthy lifestyle
The potential older mum should maintain a healthy lifestyle and stop drinking alcohol and smoking. This includes avoiding the inhalation of passive smoke. Pre-existing medical conditions such as high blood pressure must be treated optimally as an uncontrolled disease increases the risk of miscarriage and of baby abnormalities. Women over 40 should do their best to be in good general health before they attempt to get pregnant.
Regular antenatal visits
There should be an adequate intake of folic acid and calcium supplements during pregnancy. Folic acid reduces the risk of neural tube defects in the baby while calcium is important for bones. Pregnancies in women over 40 tend to be at higher risk of miscarriage and Down syndrome. Older women are more likely to have existing chronic medical problems (such as diabetes or high blood pressure) which may present during pregnancy. Hence, in advanced pregnancies, women over 40 should make regular antenatal visits.
Screening tests for the detection of Down syndrome are available. These tests are done between the 11th and 14th weeks of pregnancy and may identify up to 90 per cent of Down syndrome cases. Do ask your doctor about these screening tests.
Consultant: Dr Wee Horng Yen, Senior Consultant, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, KKH Adjunct Assistant Professor, Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School Clinical Lecturer, NUS Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine
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