Becoming a mother after the age of thirty-five is increasingly common, but mothers-to-be in this age group can face unique medical, emotional, and social challenges. Conception may be difficult and necessitate fertility treatments. The risk of miscarriage during early pregnancy is higher for women over thirty-five, as is the potential for complications such as hypertension and diabetes. And having a child later in life can also be surprisingly disruptive to well-established domestic routines and carefully cultivated careers. Michele Moore and Caroline de Costatwo physicians who have been down this roadoffer reliable medical expertise and personal reassurance for women tackling these challenges. Pregnancy and Parenting after Thirty-Five covers the full spectrum of motherhood in late life, from the possibility of Cesarean section to the awkwardness of being the oldest mom at PTA meetings to the joy of holding your infant in your arms. Drawing on the experiences of real women who have gone through mid-life pregnancy, Moore and de Costa have created a valuable resource that will help other women do so realistically and with confidence. One of the few books devoted to prospective mothers over thirty-five, this one also includes information on surrogacy, adoption, and the first few months of motherhood.
AcknowledgmentsIntroductionPart I: Planning a Pregnancy1. Thinking about Pregnancy2. Making Choices about Work3. Fathers, Partners, and Surrogate FathersPart II: Getting Pregnant4. Natural Conception5. Assistance with Conception6. Assisted Reproductive Technology7. Medical Conditions That May Affect Pregnancy8. Pregnancy following Cancer and Precancer9. Other Roads to MotherhoodPart III: Being Pregnant10. Screening for Chromosomal Abnormalities11. Prenatal Tests12. Miscarriage13. Termination of Pregnancy14. Lifestyle during Pregnancy15. Minor Maladies of Pregnancy16. Pregnancy Month by Month17. Assessment of Fetal Well-being18. Problems That May Arise during Pregnancy19. Twin PregnancyPart IV: Birth20. The Process of Birth21. The Experience of Birth22. Pain Relief in Labor23. Problems That May Arise during Labor24. Operative Vaginal Delivery25. Cesarean SectionPart V: After the Birth26. Going Home with Your Baby27. Breastfeeding28. Being an Older ParentAppendicesA. Drugs and Other Substances That Are Harmful to the FetusB. Drugs and Chemicals Not Shown to Be Harmful to the Pregnant Woman or FetusC. Body Mass Index TableD. Caffeine Content of Common SourcesE. Iron-rich FoodsF. Calcium-rich FoodsG. The Loss of a BabyH. Summary of Medical TestsGlossaryResourcesIndex
""A guide to the unique social, medical, and personal challenges of pregnancy and childbirth in later life.""
