ExpectingWords.com » Pregnancy In The News

Pregnant after 40? Not so easy.

Laurie — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:11:50 +0000

How could I not mention Kelly Preston’s story this week? Everyone has an opinion: She’s too old, it’s puts the baby-to-be at risk, etc. Well, I’m happy for the couple.

My only concern is that the focus on older celebrity moms could lead other women to think that getting pregnant past 40 is easy. The consequence could mean putting trying to conceive on the back burner until it’s too late. Becoming an older mom is not easy for most people, including our guest poster Robin. Data on U.S. fertility rates from 2000 to 2005 show that only 0.12% of babies born to American women are to moms ages 45-49, only 2% are to moms ages 40-44, and 10.5% are to moms ages 35-39. Another way to interpret the numbers is to say that for every 1000 babies born in the US, only 32 are born to women in their 40s.

I remember watching Oprah interview Martha Stewart’s daughter, Alexis Stewart, to discuss her struggle to conceive a biological child. Alexis told the audience about her daily injections, loads of pills and numerous doctor visits to try to get pregnant. When asked why would she open herself up like this on national TV, she answered that she wants women to know that it’s hard to get pregnant in your late 30s. She had waited and thought it would be easy. Sadly, it’s a couple years later and she has not had a child.

In Psychology Today’s Stepmonter blog by Wednesday Martin, guest poster KG Anderson, Ph.D. wrote about “Why “Older” Mothers are Big News.” She wrote:

Celebrity older moms like Kelly Preston raise questions about the appropriateness and acceptability of fertility at older ages, and attract attention because later fertility is viewed as unusual, perhaps even wrong. The evidence suggests that while it’s relatively uncommon, and not desired by most women, having a baby in your late 40s is biologically feasible (at least for some women), and desirable for a growing fraction of women. The time may come when an actress or musician who gets pregnant past 45 will no longer be considered a newsworthy event.

It’s an interesting post, but I don’t think a time will come when a pregnant post-45 year old actress or musician doesn’t make the headlines. It’s news because they are celebrities (even 28-year old pregnant celebrities are front page news), and because even with the use of medical interventions it seems the rate of pregnancy for women in their 40s is growing quite slowly.

So I think it’s wonderful that Kelly Preston is pregnant. It’s unusual, but certainly not wrong.

What do you think? Can someone be too old to try to have a baby?

Pregnancy in the News

Laurie — Thu, 08 Apr 2010 13:30:11 +0000

Couples Who Had a Miscarriage are 22% More Likely to Break Up

While some couples are brought closer together by the experience of a miscarriage, other couples may fall apart. How would your relationship handle this experience?

Study: Lack of Breastfeeding Costs Lives, Billions of Dollars

Ooo, this one gets to me. Yes, we should know about the benefits of breastfeeding and the cost of not doing so. But, I don’t understand why studies don’t factor in side effects, like a mom risking being fired from her job because she’s in the bathroom pumping in the ladies’ room three times a day (um, not everyone has a private office). Or what about the mom who has to leave work to visit her son at daycare so she can nurse or drop off freshly pumped breast milk because her supply in the freezer is running low? These are costs too. If we want more women to breastfeed, then we should find a way to create a gradual return to work after maternity leave.

A New Report Says that Even on Formula, Many Babies are Deficient in Vitamin D

Should your baby wear sunscreen all the time? Pediatricians say yes, although it takes just 10 to 15 minutes of sun exposure for the body to produce a day’s worth of vitamin D. Read the article and decide for yourself.

Study: Exercise in Pregnancy Benefits Babies

The study evaluated women doing serious exercise. Researchers asked the women to exercise on a stationary bicycle for at least 40 minutes per session, up to five times each week, starting in the 20th week of pregnancy. Read the results here.

Juno Screenwriter Diablo Cody Tweets that She’s Pregnant

She writes, “Thanks for the congrats on my fetus. No secrets here; just thought it would be fun to see how big I could get before someone noticed.”

Pregnancy in the News

Laurie — Mon, 15 Mar 2010 22:42:22 +0000

Assisted Reproduction Has No Affect on Birthing Process or the Baby’s Outcome

Researchers looked at 1.2 million women whose births were registered between 1984 and 2006. The researchers found no difference in birth weight, gestational age, risks of being small for gestational age, and preterm delivery when they compared infants of women who had conceived spontaneously and infants conceived after assisted fertilization. This is great news!

Vegetarian No More: Pregnancy made me do it says Tiffani Thiessen

Theissen hates admitting it, but the cravings for red meat made her cave. Even a strong vegetarian can’t stand up to those cravings. Now I don’t feel so bad about my ice cream binges.

Gestational Diabetes Rates Increase Because of… Tests

“Right now, 8 percent of all pregnant women are diagnosed with gestational diabetes. Under the new measurement guidelines, twice as many pregnant women will be diagnosed with gestational diabetes and more importantly treated for it before complications arise.”

Cord Blood Stem Cells Help Meet Minority Marrow Needs

Diana Tirpak thought leukemia would kill her. In fact, she practically faced a death sentence with no appeal. But then, her doctor found a new treatment that could save her and it worked: umbilical cord blood stem cells. Diana lives because of this revolutionary science. CNN’s Sanjay Gupta reports.

Heart Disease Risk Tied to Mom’s Number of Births

Researchers found that “compared with women who gave birth twice (the lowest risk group), women with no, one, or three births had about 10 percent greater risk of future heart disease. The risk was 30 percent higher in women with four births and nearly 60 percent higher in women with five or more births.” Since blood flow increases substantially during pregnancy it affects the heart. But I must say, with five kids I’m not surprised a woman’s heart might weaken from stress.

Pregnancy in the News

Laurie — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:56:35 +0000

Panda inseminated, seriously

Pandas go into heat only once a year and it only lasts 48 hours! Not wanting to miss the window to increase the panda population, Mei Xian was artificially inseminated by Tian Tian’s sperm.

New treatment for Melasma, a condition during pregnancy

Melasma is hormonal disorder causing dark patches in the skin and most often, it’s seen in pregnant women. Affecting 45 million people nationwide, the condition is most noticeable in women with darker skin. Now there is a treatment.

Game plan is essential for working pregnant women

You may be ecstatic when you find out you’re pregnant. But when should announce this news at the office? And when you do, will your co-workers be happy for you, or will they be filled with worries about how to fill your soon-to-be empty slot? A new book, The Working Women’s Pregnancy Book, authored by Marjorie Greenfield, addresses these issues.

Finally, the FDA looks at prescription drug use during pregnancy

Using data on 1 million births from 2001-2007, the FDA is partially funding research on the effects of prescription drug use during pregnancy. I’m excited about this because many women with health conditions requiring prescription medication are given a Sophie’s choice: drop the meds during pregnancy (which protects the fetus, but certainly harms the mother) or take the meds (protecting the mom, but possibly harming the fetus). From antibiotics to anti-depressants to heart mediation, the trouble is, we don’t know which meds actually harm the fetus. Perhaps this new research could eliminate the Sophie’s choice, for some.

State Board accuses octuplet doctor of negligence

Nadya Suleman’s fertility doctor who helped her conceive her 14 children has been formally accused of negligence and violation of professional guidelines by the California Medical Board.

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Pregnancy in the News

Laurie — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:09:28 +0000

Yes, Tiger Woods Cheated, on his Pregnant Wife

With all the attention on Tiger’s indiscretions, one aspect of his wrongdoing hasn’t received much attention. He has two kids: a two year old and a nine month old. His affair with Jaime Grubbs lasted 31 months. This means Tiger cheated before, during and after his wife’s second pregnancy. Cheating on a pregnant woman is the worst, don’t you think?

A Holiday Miracle

Elaine and David Kaempf thought they’d have to use in vitro, again, or adopt. Little did they know they had already won the fertility lottery. Elaine was unknowingly pregnant with identical triplet girls, which has nearly a 1 in 200 million chance of happening. From infertility to triplets—that’s a real miracle.

MRI Helps Detect Life-Threatening Pregnancy Complication

A new study showed that an MRI is a highly accurate means of identifying placenta accreta, a potentially life-threatening and increasingly common condition that is the leading cause of death for women just before and after giving birth. Risk factors for placenta accreta include placenta previa (placenta covers all or part of the cervix), uterine scarring, prior cesarean births and, in some cases, pregnancies after the age of 35.

Insect Repellents Linked to Genital Defects in Baby Boys

I’m not eager to give women more things to worry about, but in this case, it’s better to be safe than sorry. A new study showed that women who use insect repellents during the first three months of pregnancy are more likely to give birth to baby boys with a genital defect. Three months of a few extra bug bites is something any woman can handle.

Celebrity Tiffani Thiessen Announces her Pregnancy in a Modern Way

Tiffani Thiessen films the show White Collar in NY while her husband is based in LA. She didn’t want to miss his reaction to the “I’m pregnant,” announcement so she told him over skype. Would you announce over skype?

Pregnancy in the News

Laurie — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 18:15:23 +0000

Pregnant Cover Model of Teen Vogue Raises Eyebrows

The magazine said they didn’t know she was pregnant before the photo shoot for the November issue. Should that matter? Is a 19-year old pregnant cover model a bad influence or can her experience be a good starting point for parents to talk to their teens about sex and pregnancy?

Umbilical Cord Blood Cells Give New Hope

The Salk Institute conducted a study where they were able to turn cord blood stem cells into an embryonic state. This is an important discovery because cord blood stem cells can now offer all the power of embryonic stem cells without any of the ethical questions. Needless to say, this opens up a number of potential uses for cord blood. ViaCord blogs about this development in their post, The Value of Cord Blood—Even Greater than Once Imagined. And Science Daily published an article, Umbilical Cord Blood As A Readily Available Source For Off-the-shelf, Patient-specific Stem Cells.

38 Weeks is too Early to Induce Labor

Induced deliveries are on the rise and though national guidelines discourage elective deliveries before 39 weeks, some doctors do it earlier. New research shows that near-term babies (delivered at about 37 weeks) are at higher risk of breathing disorders and other problems than babies who finish their very last weeks in the womb.

Gestational Diabetes on the Rise

Here are some tips to reduce your chance of being diagnosed with gestational diabetes.

Down Syndrome Cases Rise as Women Delay Pregnancy

A study finds that the number of Down syndrome pregnancies has risen dramatically over the past two decades. And researchers attribute that rise to the fact that more women are having babies in their late thirties and beyond.

Pregnancy in the News

Laurie — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 17:32:46 +0000

Screening Test Doubles the Chance of Pregnancy for Women using IVF

Now this is really big news: A genetic-screening test could more than double the chances of pregnancy for women who undergo fertility treatment, a study suggests.

Kids of Working Moms are Less Healthy

Statistics are nice, but what are going to do about this? How about opening up elementary schools for indoor and outdoor play after class and on the weekend? What are your ideas?

Expecting Moms: Flu Shots Can Help Your Baby

Heather Warlick-Moore, aka Domestic Diva, tells us that since April, at least 100 pregnant women have been hospitalized with H1N1 flu, and 28 have died.

Medications to Avoid While Pregnant

We know we’re supposed to take a folic acid supplement while pregnant or trying to conceive, but new research says that other medications may prevent the absorption of the folic acid and increase fetal congenital malformations. Read this article to learn more and talk to your doctor about this if you are taking any medications if you are expecting or hope to be in the near future.

Women are Waiting Longer to Become Mothers

Is there a perfect age for pregnancy? The CDC reports that average age of first-time mothers rose from 21 in 1970 to 25 in 2006. They also report that first births among women ages 30 to 39 have doubled in the past 15 years, and those for women 40 and older have increased 50 percent.

Pregnancy in the News

Laurie — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 21:19:39 +0000

Can Health Insurance Be Denied Because You’re Pregnant?
Apparently, pregnancy is considered by some insurers to be a pre-existing condition. Better not lose your job and health insurance while pregnant!

The New Breastfeeding Rules
Is nursing always the best answer? You decide…

Two Factors Reduce Post-partum Depression Risk
Researches discovered two factors that reduce the risk of depression: age (the older the woman the lower her chance of depression), and whether or not a woman has worked during pregnancy (which reduces the risk). They also discovered a near spot-on method to predict PPD.

Half a Million Expectant and New Moms Die Each Year – 99% of Them Are in Developing Countries
No matter how many problems our health care system has in the U.S., a pregnant mom can find emergency care. I wish all mothers could.

New Mom Kim Clijsters wins the US Open title
This was not her plan. Having been forced by injury to retire at 23, Kim took time off and started a family. When her daughter was just a year old she played in a couple of tournaments that offered her wildcard entries into the Open. And then she won. How can we explain her success? She’s superwoman. Or perhaps having a baby improves both physical and mental performance? That’s what the research says:
BBC News – Motherhood: a boon for the body?
Gaurdian.co.uk – Kim Clijsters made it look easy, but for most it’s a different story

Recession Has Women Rethinking Childbearing
Researchers surveyed 1,000 low and middle-income sexually active women between 18 and 39 and found that 44% are postponing pregnancy or want to have fewer children because of economic concerns, and one way they are saving money is by cutting back on birth-control. Say what!?! I wonder how this is going to work out.

Pregnancy in the News

Laurie — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 17:08:19 +0000

The Duggars’ 19th Pregnancy
Is it really any of our business?

What Pregnant Women Should Know about H1N1
Read what the CDC has to say.

Job-related Claims of Pregnancy Bias Were Up 14% in 2008
When the economy sours, things get tough for everyone, especially pregnant women.

Early Maternity Leave Reduces C-Sections
New study shows that moms who take at least one month off before their due date were four times less likely to have a C-Section. While it’s true that many of us don’t have the luxury of taking an early maternity leave, perhaps this information will encourage all of us to take it easy and ask for help toward the end of the pregnancy.

Celine Dion Announces her Pregnancy, Really, Really Early
I did the math with the help of Babycenter’s Due Date Calculator. Her spokesperson said she was due to give birth next May, and she announced this on August 18. Um, at most this means Celine was 5 weeks pregnant at the time of the announcement. Is that too early to go public? What do you think?