Dr. Cathleen Harris shares her expertise:

If you’re 35 or older and you’re thinking about having a baby or maybe you just found out that you’re pregnant, you may be excited, but a little nervous too.  Some women wonder—could I be too old for a healthy pregnancy?

The good news is that most women over 35 can have successful, healthy pregnancies.  We believe that a skilled prenatal care team along with your commitment can result in a healthy baby and a healthy you!

There are some important things to know about:

• Women can take longer to become pregnant, and their risk of miscarriage is somewhat higher.  It’s important to take folic acid prior to conceiving, and to seek early prenatal care to confirm a viable pregnancy.
• Due to natural hormonal influences or fertility treatments, the rate of multiple pregnancies is higher in this group, so it is especially important to determine the number of babies at your initial visit.
• A detailed fetal anatomy ultrasound is routinely done in the midtrimester to ensure that the fetus and placenta are developing properly.
• Women have a number of options for genetic screening or prenatal diagnosis, since the risk of chromosome abnormalities (such as Down Syndrome) is higher in this age group.  Speak with your doctor about the risks and benefits of the various available tests.
• We check women periodically for signs of gestational diabetes and for preeclampsia, a pregnancy-related high blood pressure disorder, and watch for signs of premature labor.   Cesarean delivery is more common as well; your doctor may advise you regarding situations in which cesarean is recommended.

With a few precautions, the outlook for healthy moms and babies is excellent, and we encourage you to speak with your health care provider about plans for a pregnancy to learn more.  So we say--NO, you’re not too old to have a baby!

Cathleen Harris is the co-founder of AMOMI Pregnancy Wellness ~ Spa and Scottsdale Perinatal Associates. Dr. Harris received her medical degree at Loyola Stritch School of Medicine. Along with her expertise in managing high-risk pregnancies, Dr. Harris is also highly knowledgeable in the area of traveler’s health and public health issues affecting pregnant women. She has served as the Medical Director of the Women’s HIV Program at the University of Chicago and worked internationally in Lithuania, Latvia, Kosovo and Peru. Dr. Harris is the Director of Ultrasound and Prenatal Diagnosis for Scottsdale Perinatal Associates. For more information on AMOMI Pregnancy Wellness ~ Spa, please visit www.amomispa.com.