What you should know before you get pregnant at an advanced age

Preconception care (3 months before pregnancy) With the introduction of the two-child policy, many senior women are consulting before pregnancy. In addition to the guide about health care content, other matters must be noted. I. Health education and guidance The main contents include: (1) prepared and planned pregnancy, avoiding pregnancy at advanced age; (2) reasonable nutrition and control of body mass (weight) gain; (3) supplementation with folic acid 0.4~0.8mg/d, or evidence-based medically proven multivitamin containing folic acid. Pregnant women with previous neural tube defects (NTD) need folic acid supplementation of 4mg per day; (4) Women with genetic diseases, chronic diseases and infectious diseases who are preparing for pregnancy should be evaluated and guided; (5) Use medication reasonably and avoid drugs that may affect normal fetal development; (6) Avoid exposure to toxic and harmful substances in the living and occupational environment (such as radiation, high temperature, lead, mercury, benzene, arsenic, pesticides, etc.) and avoid close contact with pets; (7) change bad habits (such as smoking, alcoholism, drug abuse, etc.) and lifestyles; avoid high-intensity work, high-noise environments and domestic violence; (8) maintain mental health, relieve mental stress, and prevent the occurrence of psychological problems during pregnancy and after delivery; (9) choose exercise reasonably. II. Routine health care 1. Assessment of pre-pregnancy high-risk factors: (1) Ask about the health status of the couple preparing for pregnancy. (2) Assess previous history of chronic diseases, family and genetic history, those who are not suitable for pregnancy should be informed in time. (3) Detailed information on history of adverse pregnancy and delivery. (4) Lifestyle, diet and nutrition, occupational status and work environment, exercise (labor) situation, domestic violence, interpersonal relationships, etc. 2. Physical examination: (1) Including measurement of blood pressure and body mass, calculation of body mass index (BMI), BMI = body mass (kg)/height (m).2 (2) Routine gynecological examination. Auxiliary examination 1. Compulsory items: including the following items: (1) routine blood test; (2) routine urine test; (3) blood group (ABO and Rh); (4) liver function; (5) kidney function; (6) fasting blood sugar; (7) HBsAg; (8) syphilis spirochete; (9) HIV screening; (10) cervical cytology test (for those who have not been examined within 1 year). 2. Preparation items: including the following items: (1) Toxoplasma gondii, rubella virus, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus (TORCH) screening. (2) Cervicovaginal discharge test (routine vaginal discharge, gonococcus, Chlamydia trachomatis). (3) Thyroid function test. (4) Thalassemia screening (Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan, Hunan, Hubei, Sichuan, Chongqing, etc.) (5) 75g oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT; for high-risk women). (6) Blood lipid screening. (7) Gynecologic ultrasonography. (8) Electrocardiogram. (9) Chest x-ray examination. Other matters: gynecological cancer screening: cervical cancer screening (whether cervical cytology combined with HPV testing) breast cancer screening: breast self-examination or breast ultrasound, ovarian reserve function test such as AMH (this test is not related to menstruation) and blood sampling on the second to fourth day of menstruation to measure FSH, negative ultrasound to measure the number of small ovarian follicles.