News background: On June 16, 2014, Ms. Gai Cuiyu, the wife of the famous collector Ye Maozhong, died of illness in the United States at the age of 41. Gai Cuiyu was born in Jilin City, Jilin Province on June 10, 1973, and has two daughters. At the age of 22, she entered Hebei TV Station as a host and producer, winning the respect and love of her colleagues. At the age of 32, she dedicated herself to the love of her life: collecting art. In just nine years, she has become a first-class art connoisseur and collector, which has brought a great sense of happiness and accomplishment to her life, and also contributed to the inheritance of traditional Chinese culture.
(Gai Cuiyu took a photo with friends before his death)
What are the risks for older women?
1. Older women are more likely to have intrauterine growth retardation and premature birth.
2. Elderly primiparous women have significantly prolonged labor, and the incidence of late delivery and infant mortality are higher than those of ordinary mothers.
3. As age increases, the elasticity of the vagina also decreases, especially the cervical canal becomes more difficult to open, the contraction of uterine muscles weakens, and the risk of miscarriage or dystocia increases.
4. The older the pregnant woman is, the higher the chance of suffering from gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes. In mild cases, it can cause edema and headache, and in severe cases, it can endanger the lives of pregnant women and fetuses.
Can older women give birth naturally?
Whether an elderly woman can give birth naturally depends on her own situation. In general, cesarean section is usually recommended for older women and mothers of twins with high-risk pregnancies. If all indicators of an elderly woman meet the requirements for normal delivery, the fetal position is correct, and the fetus is not too large, then normal delivery can be considered. There are also cases of successful vaginal delivery in older women. The specific method of delivery chosen depends on the woman’s specific circumstances.
What examinations do elderly women need?
Because older mothers are at greater risk, they should pay special attention to regular prenatal check-ups and always pay attention to their body changes.
1. Ultrasound examination
Two treatments are generally required, one at 12 weeks and another at 20 weeks. This test can be used to further determine the date of pregnancy and any developmental abnormalities, such as cleft palate, organ abnormalities.
2. Down syndrome screening
Screening for Down syndrome is required from 16 to 20 weeks of pregnancy. This test is to draw blood from pregnant women and test the quantity and concentration of various substances contained in the blood to determine some diseases that the fetus may have.
3. Amniocentesis
Amniocentesis is performed after 20 weeks of pregnancy. Normal young pregnant women do not need this test. Research shows that the older a pregnant woman is, the higher the incidence of congenital stupidity and deformed children. This is because as women age, their ovaries gradually age and degenerate, naturally produced eggs also age, and the chance of chromosomal abnormalities also increases.Increase. This test can directly obtain the number of chromosomes, and based on the test results, you can know whether the fetus is abnormal. The test has a 0.5% chance of causing a miscarriage.
4. Alpha-fetoprotein detection
Taken at 16-20 weeks, this is a risk-free blood test that measures alpha-fetoprotein levels in the blood and can detect neurological deficits, Down syndrome, kidney and liver disease, and more.
5. Pay more attention to blood sugar, blood pressure and other indicators
Pregnancy in older women is more likely to be complicated by heart disease, pregnancy-induced hypertension and gestational diabetes. Because the blood volume of pregnant women increases significantly compared with non-pregnant women, the burden on the heart increases. Pregnant women who already have heart disease may have to terminate their pregnancy early because they cannot tolerate it.
Daily Precautions for Elderly Women
1. Don’t overprotect your baby
Some elderly mothers are too nervous about their fetuses and will inject or take antifetal drugs such as progesterone. The doctor said: \”Progesterone cannot be used blindly. Only those with bleeding and other signs of miscarriage and a history of repeated miscarriage can be injected under the guidance of a doctor. Generally speaking, daily monitoring is enough.\” The report pointed out that the large amount of progesterone in contraceptive pills Use may increase the risk of fetal malformations. In fact, 60%-70% of early pregnancy miscarriages are caused by natural abnormalities, mainly caused by congenital abnormalities of the embryo, that is, certain defects in the sperm, egg or fertilized egg itself lead to abnormal development of the pregnant egg. In foreign countries, some people believe that there is no need to protect the fetus, let nature take its course, and advocate eugenics and eugenics. \”The physical condition of elderly pregnant women is not very good. It is understandable that sometimes abortion is needed, but excessive abortion is not recommended. Sometimes abortion is the choice of survival of the fittest. At this time, elderly pregnant women should have a zero mentality.
2.Appropriate exercise
Many people think that they should have a good rest during pregnancy, so they often stay in bed or sit for long periods of time. However, this is not true. Since the venous return of the lower limbs is assisted by muscle contraction, if you lie in bed all the time and lack activity, the muscle contractility will decrease, the venous blood flow will slow down, and the postpartum blood will be in a hypercoagulable state, making it easy to lose weight. Causes venous thrombosis of lower limbs. Know that you are pregnant, not sick. At this time, appropriate exercise needs to be carried out under the guidance of a doctor. For example, you can take more walks, do housework, and go out to work to ensure that you have good productive energy. Don\’t feel like you\’re sick when you\’re pregnant. It is recommended that your daily work and life continue as usual.
3. Balanced nutrition
Currently, older pregnant women have higher incidence rates of diabetes and hypertension, which are often related to overeating. \”It is enough to supplement more vitamins. Some pregnant women eat too much and supplement too much, resulting in overnutrition. In fact, during pregnancy, even if the body of elderly pregnant women is not as good as before, it is not appropriate to use special supplements to supplement it. Pay attention to balanced nutrition. That’s it.
4. Control your weight
Because older pregnant women tend to receive more \”protection\” and \”preferential treatment,\” excessive nutritional intake, overweight, and excessive miscarriages may occur. Being overweight can easily lead to pregnancy complications such as gestational hypertension and gestational diabetes, and can easily lead to the birth of a giant baby, which affects the healthy development of the baby after birth.
Elderly mothers don’t need to be too nervous, just be fully prepared
Because older women have more pregnancy risks and complications, plan your pregnancy as soon as possible if you can avoid becoming an older woman. But once you become an older pregnant mother, you don’t need to be too nervous. In fact, the process of pregnancy and childbirth for older women is not much different from that of pregnant women of other ages. A little more, but as long as you cooperate with the doctor\’s instructions during pregnancy and maintain a healthy state, even if you have common chronic diseases, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, endocrine diseases, heart disease or obesity, as long as you make a complete delivery
Pre-examination, combined with diet and drug treatment, can control the increased risk. At the same time, the birth method can also be tried naturally. There is no need to directly resort to caesarean section due to fear of dystocia. As long as the doctor evaluates the health status of the body and is fully prepared, it is not difficult to be a successful and happy elderly mother.
Giving birth at an advanced age has become a social trend. The most common problem for older mothers is unnecessary fear and anxiety. There is a proverb that says: \”Ignorance easily breeds fear.\” Therefore, as long as you can fully communicate with the prenatal doctor, conduct prenatal consultation, and arrange comprehensive prenatal examinations, you can eliminate the worries of elderly mothers and maintain their health during pregnancy. In order to deliver a healthy baby through a smooth labor process.