More women are having babies later in life. Here's how to improve chances of healthy pregnancy - KSL News

ST. LOUIS — Dr. Jacquelyn Means knew that being pregnant in her late 30s would be challenging."It is definitely harder on your body. You just feel a lot more fatigued. There are certain complications to watch out for," said Means, a Texas OB-GYN who had her first child at 37 and her second at 39. "It's usually going to be fine, but there are things to be aware of."Like Means, more and more women are having babies later in life. A federal report showed that 21% of all births in the U.S. were to women 35 and older in 2023, up from 9% in 1990. And this "advanced maternal age" raises risks for both moms and babies.Older pregnant women are more likely to have conditions like high blood pressure and obesity, for example, and are more prone to developing pregnancy complications. They're more likely to undergo cesarean sections and give birth to twins or babies with some genetic abnormalities.But don't be too worried. Risks are generally low; they're just higher than average. And while most older moms have normal pregnancies, doctors say there are ways to lower risk and prevent problems before, during and after pregnancy."Moms over 35 can still have a healthy pregnancy and a happy baby," said Dr. Michael Warren, chief medical and health officer for the March of Dimes, a nonprofit that works to improve the health of mothers and babies.Dr. Ashley Zink, a maternal-fetal specialist at the University of Texas Southwestern, said optimizing your health is like "building your baby's first home."That involves following the time-honored advice of eating a well-balanced diet, staying active and avoiding risky behaviors like smoking."Make sure those good health habits that you've established over the course of your life are still in place," Warren added. "If you have chronic diseases, make sure those are well-managed. Make sure you're getting regular preventive medical care."Being as healthy as possible is important, Zink said, because pregnancy can be as rigorous as a marathon."Your volume of blood expands; it's harder work for your heart," she said. "And just the discomforts of pregnancy — all kinds of things — are a little bit better tolerated if you're in good physical condition."A checkup before trying to conceive can be helpful, doctors said, allowing you to discuss health concerns, get treated for any conditions that might affect your pregnancy and make sure you're up to date on v