20-24 years old
Mental preparation is important
Chen Lu will officially become a mother in two months, and at the age of 24, she always has conflicting feelings about the arrival of this baby. She and her husband are delighted and worried that the baby will not affect their relationship and work. However, on second thought, it would be good for the child to have the baby when both of them are in the best physical condition.
Indeed, American Parents magazine writes that the age of 20-24 is the most fertile period for women. Most women have regular menstruation and a high chance of conception, with a monthly chance of about 20% if no protective measures are taken.
Moreover, the prevalence of hypertension during pregnancy will be very low at that stage of pregnancy; the chance of developing gestational diabetes is twice as low as that of pregnancy at the age of 40; the rate of miscarriage is almost the lowest, only 9,5%; the ratio of babies suffering from Down’s syndrome and other chromosomal abnormal diseases is similarly low, 1:1667 and 1:526 respectively.
Therefore, Sun Lifang, chief physician of the gynecology department of Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, believes that women in this age group will have no major problems as long as they do their maternity checks and arrange their work and life reasonably. However, she also pointed out that there are some disadvantages of pregnancy in this period.
Because of the young age of pregnant women, their mental capacity is relatively weak, and some of them are not ready to welcome the baby and do not know how to be a mother. Some women also worry that having a child just after starting a family may affect the couple’s relationship and the work during the fighting period.
Therefore, the most important thing that young mothers-to-be should pay attention to is to adjust their mental state. You can attend some formal prenatal classes, learn from the experience of the people around you, learn how to be a good mother, and reduce unnecessary worries and concerns.
The best way to give birth: if conditions allow, vaginal birth is the best choice.
25-29 years old
Regular pregnancy tests are fine
According to Sun Lifang, women at this age are physically, psychologically and materially assured, so choosing this age to conceive a child will undoubtedly lead to a satisfying pregnancy experience.
American Parenting magazine also points out that if you exercise diligently and eat right, it will add to your smooth delivery and it will be easier to regain your figure after giving birth. In addition, pregnancy during this period reduces the chances of breast and ovarian cancer. Like the previous stage, the chances of miscarriage are not high at this time, about 10%. Taking the birth of a child at the age of 25 as an example, the proportion of babies suffering from Down syndrome is about 1:1250, and the proportion of other chromosomal abnormalities is about 1:476.
In addition to physiological conditions, at this time, women are also more mature psychologically, they usually work to stabilize, the relationship with their husbands after the friction is also more harmonious, the pregnant woman’s psychological state is more peaceful, so to speak, has been ready for motherhood.
”It is the advantages of pregnancy that these women have that determine that most pregnant women do not have to pay special attention to anything.” Sun Lifang told reporters that it is recommended that if these pregnant women have a normal pregnancy, it is enough to do regular pregnancy tests.
The best way to give birth: vaginal delivery is preferred.
30-34 years old
Strictly control blood sugar
Ms. Lu is 33 years old and has been pregnant for more than 7 months. In recent times, her blood sugar has been a bit high, so she had to be extra careful. She laughs and says she is probably an “advanced maternal age”. The reason for this is that I don’t feel as physically active as I did when I was in my twenties, so for the sake of my own health and that of my baby, I don’t dare to leave a pregnancy test.
Sun Lifang pointed out that when women reach this age, the chances of conception are reduced and the chances of malformations in newborns are increased. Some data show that the chance of miscarriage at this stage is 11,7%, and the proportion of babies suffering from Down’s syndrome has increased to 1:952, the proportion of chromosomal abnormalities increased to 1:385.
But does it mean that there are only disadvantages and no benefits to pregnancy at the age of five? Of course not. When women reach the age of 30, they tend to have some achievements in their careers, and the relationship with their husbands has also entered a period of tacit understanding. So at this time, women are pregnant, the work pressure is relatively less, less a point of high-mindedness, more life experience; less quarrels with the husband, more tolerance and cooperation. The baby arrives in the mother’s calm state of mind, more conducive to its growth. Moreover, women of this age are more thoughtful and can better master their lives during pregnancy.
”However, physiologically speaking, pregnant women should pay extra attention to some issues.” Sun Lifang reminded that, on the one hand, pregnancy tests should be strengthened, and if abnormalities are found in the Down screening, amniocentesis will be needed if necessary. On the other hand, pregnant women need to control their blood sugar well and consume sugar appropriately in their regular diet. In particular, it should be noted that many pregnant women feel that fruits are good for their children, so they eat them desperately, which may lead to excessive intake of sugar and thus gestational diabetes. Therefore, it is recommended that pregnant women should consume nutrition according to the pregnancy diet standards and never overdo it.
The best way of delivery: it should be determined according to the specific situation of the pregnant woman, if she does not have the condition of normal delivery, she needs to choose caesarean section. A statistic shows that pregnant women aged 30-34 are about twice as likely to have a cesarean delivery as those in their 20s.
35-39 years old
It is better to have a C-section
Huang Ting, 37, was delighted to learn that she was pregnant, but some concerns surfaced afterwards. After all, Huang Ting is not young, and also has a pre-eclampsia miscarriage and high blood pressure. But a new contradiction began to plague Huang Ting: Can I have the baby by myself or not?
Foreign studies show that women’s fertility continues to decline past the age of 35, and after 38, it takes a sharp turn for the worse as eggs age, making childbirth even more difficult. Women who become pregnant at this time are 10-20% more likely to develop pregnancy hypertension, about twice as likely as younger pregnant women; gestational diabetes is also 2-3 times more likely than in younger age groups, or even higher; and the chances of babies developing Down syndrome and other chromosomal defects likewise increase dramatically. In addition, it is important for infertility patients in this age group to receive timely treatment, because the effect of treatment after the age of 40 is hardly comparable to this time.
Sun Lifang said that although the risk of pregnancy increases at this age, there are advantages that other ages do not have. Usually, the couple has a more stable and abundant economic base, which can provide a better living environment for the child.
Sun Lifang suggests that pregnant women in this age group should be screened for congenital diseases. Moreover, women at this time may suffer from cramps and calcium deficiency due to calcium loss and need to take calcium supplements under the guidance of a doctor, as well as prevent gestational hypertension and refrain from consuming foods high in salt. Parents magazine also recommends that pregnant women undergo amniotic fluid tests or other pre-birth tests.
The best way to deliver: At this time, labor may take longer and the chances of future births are reduced because of weakened pelvic floor muscles, so pregnant women may consider a cesarean section.
40-44 years old
Amniocentesis must be done
According to American Parenting magazine, the chances of getting pregnant over the age of 40 decrease dramatically, and the likelihood of getting pregnant each month has dropped to about 5 percent. In addition, several factors need to be in place to achieve a successful pregnancy and delivery: how healthy you are, what your personal habits are and whether it is your first child.
Because of the hormonal changes during pregnancy, many women who get pregnant in their 40s feel physically fatigued. The likelihood of miscarriage at this age increases dramatically to about 1 in 3. Not only that, but women at this time are more prone to constipation because of the greater pressure on the sagging tissues of the bladder, vagina and uterus, which stretches the nearby muscles and tissues.
In fact, in addition to physical factors, getting pregnant at age 40 also involves a huge psychological shift. At this time, women have more life experience and wealth, become more mature and develop a sense of loneliness without children on their knees, so at this time couples weigh the freedom of a two-person world against the joy of raising a child.
If, at this point, you have decided to give up your freedom and choose to raise your children, you need to pay attention to the following issues. First, maintain a proper amount of exercise and do more anal lifting exercises to increase vaginal muscle strength to relieve constipation. Secondly, as pregnant women are prone to comorbidities at this time, such as hypertension, diabetes and kidney disease. Therefore, Sun Lifang suggests that regular medical checkups should be done at this time of pregnancy for early detection and treatment. Finally, in principle, all pregnant women in this age group need to have an amniocentesis, so it is best not to be careless.
The best way to give birth: caesarean section may be the more appropriate way to give birth.
Finally, Sun Lifang pointed out that in China, there are very few women over 45 years old who conceive babies. U.S. experts also point out that only 0.03% of women choose to have a baby over the age of 45. However, it is not impossible to get pregnant at this time, as long as sufficient preparation and careful care of the pregnant woman, it is also possible to achieve a safe and healthy mother and child. After the age of 45, once you want to have a child, you will have to undergo more rigorous examinations and also cardiovascular health checks.