Myths About Moms Over 40

Many women are afraid of being moms over 40 because they listen to the many myths that have become entrenched over the years. Women who choose to become moms over 40 don't necessarily have to encounter a host of difficulties, nor does motherhood later in life have to be the daunting task some myths have made it out to be. With the proper support and medical attention during your midlife pregnancy, you can enjoy all the benefits of motherhood that other moms over 40 are enjoying.
Dispelling Myths about Midlife Pregnancy and Motherhood It's important to dispel myths about midlife pregnancy, mostly because you should always know the truth about the journey upon which you are about to embark. You should be fully aware of what lies ahead, so that you will be adequately equipped to face whatever challenges or obstacles lie in the path of your midlife pregnancy. Here are a few of the most common myths and the facts to dispel them.
Myth # 1 Middle Aged Moms Don't Have the Energy for a Baby
Most women over 35 are fearful of experiencing a midlife pregnancy because they think that they might be overwhelmed by all that a baby demands. While having a newborn baby does involve a lot of work, moms over 40 have a decided advantage over younger ones. All mothers feel overwhelmed from time to time. The difference is, middle aged moms have learned through the years to expend only the energy that they need to at the time and keep the rest in reserve. Also they often have a network of friends and family who can offer support and guidance, something that isn't always available to newer, younger mothers. Middle aged moms also know the importance of keeping healthy and asking for help.
Myth # 2: It's Unfair to a Child to Have Older Parents
In truth, there is always the chance that a child will eventually have to care for older parents. With the life expectancy increasing year by year, there is little chance of a child not having to deal with an elderly parent later in life. However, with the advances in modern health and medicine, the quality of life for parents is improving.
Older adults can offer just as much love, support, and guidance as younger parents; sometimes even more so. Plus, if dads and moms over 40 take the time to take care of themselves, they'll be able to be an integral part of their children's lives for years to come.

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Sharon_Simons

Pregnancy Success Stories After 40 Years of Age

As women pass 40 years of age and consider getting pregnant, they often seek pregnancy success stories from other women as a first step in exploring their chances of conceiving. While the stories of others are certainly motivational, speaking with a fertility doctor is the best way to get accurate and relevant information pertaining to a particular woman or couple's chances of conceiving. Varying factors may go into determining their chances of successfully conceiving including certain health factors.
These days, more and more women are getting pregnant past 40. This is in large part thanks to medical advances that make pregnancy after 40 safer for both the mother and baby. Many have, therefore, heard some pregnancy success stories from women over 40 years old, giving hope to couples who have either waited to get pregnant, or who have tried and failed in the past.
There are multiple stories of women becoming pregnant over 40 years old, and even more controversial into their 60s. A few newsworthy occurrences were Elizabeth Buttle who gave birth after IVF treatment, but only after she said she was 49 years old which was later found to be untrue as she was 60 yeas old at the time. The oldest woman to give birth is Omkari Panwar, from India, who was 70 years old when she had twins in 2008.
A 48 year old mother from Canada, felt she was blessed to give birth to her daughter at 45 years of age. "I didn't think it would be possible at 44 to get pregnant without medical intervention. It was a bit of a surprise" says Debbie. Other new mothers over 40 may use fertility treatments to assist in the process.
Couples who cannot get pregnant after months of trying should speak with a fertility specialist to determine if they are affected by infertility. If this is the case, certain fertility treatments, such as in vitro fertilization, may be recommended. There are many fertility treatments available at most fertility clinics around the nation and couples are encouraged to explore all of their options.
When deciding to get pregnant after 40, no matter how many pregnancy success stories one has heard, couples should speak with a doctor regarding the potential risks to the mother and baby. As women age, the risk of birth defects may rise and the chances of medical complications for the mother may increase as well.
It is important that women learn as much as possible about certain steps that may make pregnancy safer and easier for them such as possibly using fertility treatments together like acupuncture. Couples should seek further information from a fertility doctor at a reputable clinic in their area.

Article Source: http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Justin_DiMateo

Telling Family and Friends About Your Over 40 Pregnancy

Congratulations you're expecting a baby! You've waited, prayed and are excited about your first baby. Whether you decide to tell the world or just secretly bask for a while in the wonder of future motherhood, here are a few pointers to prepare you in telling your big news.
First, decide whether you will have additional prenatal testing performed other than the routine. Routine prenatal tests are blood, urine and blood pressure checks. These test are preformed regularly on all pregnant women.
As an expectant mother over 35, your physician will give you the option of receiving prenatal tests to diagnose or screen for genetic or chromosomal birth defects such as Down syndrome. Amniocentsis and Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) are two of the most common tests.
While no prenatal test is 100 percent accurate, you may be an expectant mom who feels safe announcing her pregnancy after she receives a normal result from one of these tests. Or if the results are not as you hoped, you may be an expectant mom who wants to prepare family and friends for the arrival of a special needs baby. Or you may be an expectant mom who decides against any testing other than the routine. Regardless of where you stand on additional prenatal testing, you will have to make a decision.
Perhaps, prenatal testing is no big deal to you, but you want to wait until the end of the first trimester to announce your pregnancy to family and friends. Since medical experts say that the majority of miscarriages occur before 12 weeks, many expectant moms wait before telling others. Unfortunately, the common symptons of early pregnancy such as nausea, vomiting, dizziness and frequent urination may not allow you to keep a secret as long as you would like.
After sharing the good news with your partner, many women tell a close relative or friend. As an over 40 mom-to-be, the reactions you receive will range from joy to amazement to disappointment.
Prepare yourself for being told by at least one well-meaning relative or friend that you are too old to have a baby. Try to remain calm and respond with confidence that everything has a season and this is your season to give birth. Or use wit and humor by borrowing a line from Jan Andersen, an older mom, and ask "Aren't you too old to be so rude or tactless?"
Other family and friends may not say anything negative but respond with a disappoving or disappointing demeanor. Don't be too discouraged by their behavior. Your pregnancy may be interferring with their vision of you. They may have viewed you as the satisfied career woman who never wanted a baby or the best auntie who gave the best gifts because she didn't have children of her own.
When you are emotionally ready, ask the relative or friend the reason for his or her negative demeanor to your joyous announcement. Don't offer assurance by saying your relationship will remain unchanged. It won't.
A baby brings changes in life. You probably won't feel like taking your little niece to an early morning soccer practice after staying up all night with your crying newborn. Offer assurance by saying even though you will have to eliminate some activities during pregnancy and after the baby arrives, your love for that family member or friend will remain unchanged.
Most importantly, limit your contact with people who view your over 40 pregnancy negatively. Hormones during pregnancy create its own physical and emotional changes. Negativity only escalates these roller coaster emotions.
Take time to relax, pamper yourself and get plenty of rest. This is your season to celebrate the joy of being an expectant mom!

How Women and Mothers Over 40 Can Get Financial Aid

President Obama's scholarships for women over 40 have made it easier for women to return to college. If you are interested in getting a college degree then there are scholarships available for women at an older age. How women over 40 can get financial aid?
Step 1: A college degree is essential to getting a good paying job. If you are a woman at an older age with a family it can be difficult to make the decision to go back to school. Free scholarships for women over 40 have made going back to college a possibility.
Step 2: Even if you are really adamant on going back to college, finances can stop you. College scholarships for women over 40 were introduced specifically to make going back to school easy for women. Women with a family are more likely to get money because financial aid for mothers over 40 is available.
Step 3: Mothers looking for educational scholarships need to look into those that promote diversity. Women's colleges want to create diversity by having students that are mothers, and even single mothers. There are institutions that provide financial aid for women over 39. There are also graduate school scholarships available for women to pursue a graduate degree.
Step 4: If you are interested in pursuing an education in a field that is not highly populated by women then there are greater chances of getting scholarships if you are over 40. There are also many scholarships and grants for mothers who want to get a degree in science, medicine, law, or technology.
Step 5: Women, especially single mothers, that come from a disadvantaged background have the chance to get money from the government for college. These financial aid programs know how difficult it may be for such women to educated themselves.

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Mid-Life Pregnancy - Mother Over 40, Delight Or Doom?

What do Geena Davis, Marcia Cross and Mariska Hargitay have in common? Well, besides being television stars, all three became first-time mothers after the age of 40. Mention a woman is pregnant and see people beam. Include the detail that she's above forty and watch the same beaming people frown and shake their heads. What is it about being over forty and pregnant that brings out such reactions in people?
By being a mom over 40, you are taking a risk. But so are you if you decide to go skydiving or parachute-jumping. There are risks in everything. From something as simple as crossing a road, risks are involved. However, doctors are always warning against 'older motherhood'. What are these risks? Here is a list which features a collaboration of the many and usual health scares that warn against becoming a mother too late.
Pregnant moms will have an increased risk of getting high blood pressure and gestational diabetes.
Birth defects in the child - Down syndrome usually takes the lead here. A combination of mental retardation and physical abnormalities that are caused by the presence of an extra chromosome. Women usually have a 1-in-100 chance at age 40 and a 1-in-30 chance of having a child born with Down syndrome.
Miscarriage - 25% risk for women at 40
Placenta Previa - This causes extreme bleeding during delivery.
Foetal Distress - Increases if this is a woman's first labour.
Low Birth Weight - A preterm birth (less than 37 weeks of pregnancy) can be reduced by not smoking during pregnancy
Caesarean Birth - Usually a C-section will be advised when a woman is 40 and over.
Moment of fear
Alright don't despair just 'cause you read that and already are pregnant and over 40. Sure complications may arise due to age. But think about it. Complications could also arise from the habit of smoking you had as an impulsive teenager or when you were in your twenties, drowning your weekends in flavoured martinis. Age certainly is a component in the production of a healthy baby; however, it is not the main determining factor. Many people over 40, all over the world, have given birth to babies, regardless of whether it's their first or second or third (think: Jane Seymour, Emma Thompson, Susan Sarandon). How did they do it and continue to? You have to do your part to improve your pregnancy. Quell your fears with these tips!
Get a good amount of exercise before, during and after your pregnancy. Consult your doctor on what type of exercise you can do during the different terms of your pregnancy.
Follow a healthy diet. It's good for you and your baby.
Optimal prenatal care - Ladies, I can't stress enough on the importance of this.
What about after the kid has been born? Mid-life crisis VS Parenting duties?
Come on ladies. Having a child is an indication by itself, regardless of age, that you have reached mid-life and a crisis will soon happen, isn't it. We kid, we kid (no pun intended).
But what is the real problem here? Creaking knees and popping ankles sounding off as you chase after your little one? Mid-life Mom, those problems pop up all the time due to lack of exercise. Think of the positive issues involved with you being an 'older' mom.
Goodbye isolation - While most of your friends are having long-distance chats with their kids or wondering how university life is going for their children, you are having fun discovering new things with your itty bitty baby.
Career's made - Most young mothers would be busy juggling career and baby but you...you've already made your career mark!
Wisdom - With age, come wisdom (we hope!) so wiser decisions regarding you, your child and your family may be made.
Being a mother is a blessing. Being a mother at an older age is an even bigger blessing. Don't let the worries and concerns shadow the most beautiful time of parenthood. Take it in stride and who knows, pretty soon you might out beat the younger moms and be the 'cool mom' on the block!

Author: Sangeetha Nadarajan