On the heels of our Halle Barry pick of the week yesterday, I thought it would be a great time to talk about pregnancy after the age of 35. As we mentioned in yesterday’s post, Halle just gave birth to a baby a few months ago. In fact, women over 35 having babies, is becoming more commonplace as more women pursue their careers and put off marriage until their thirties and forties.
Lately, many Hollywood celebrities have had babies over 35. Some of the most recent ones are: Salma Hayek, Nicole Kidman, Brooke Shields, Madonna, Courtney Cox, Marcia Cross. (See more information on Celeb moms 40 and older)
Celebs aren’t the only ones doing it. Between 1980 and 2004, the number of women having their first baby after the age of 35 jumped six fold. Women doing it list several benefits of waiting to have a baby:
1. You’re older and wiser and able to handle life’s challenges better
2. You’ve had a chance to have fun and live selfishly for years so you get it “out of your system” before the responsibility of a child comes along.
3. You and your man are most likely more financially secure than you might have been in your twenties.
However, if you are going to do it, it’s even that much more important to maintain a healthy body before and during pregnancy, so I decided to round up some good information and resources for all of you to read through to maximize your chances of a successful conception, pregnancy and delivery.
The best article I’ve read on the topic comes from Healthywomen.org. In this link you can read all about the risks and necessary precautions, as well as important success statistics. Another fabulous article which discusses recent discoveries about the important role of supplemental DHEA in improving conception rates and decreasing miscarriages can be found at The Center for Human Reproduction.
For those having trouble conceiving, Docshop.com has a wealth of information on in vitro fertility treatments.
Other good sites for more information on this topic:
And remember, as with any pregnancy, regardless of age, a healthy baby starts with a healthy mom. So, be a *f.a.t.(Fit After Thirty) pregnant woman by taking a prenatal vitamin before ever trying to become pregnant. Also, get fit, reduce your stress, and get plenty of rest before, during and after your pregnancy!
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