Women today marry older and start having children later than our mother’s generation. Today’s trends show an increase in the number of people putting off getting married and starting families until later in life. Many women are waiting until age 30 or older before trying to conceive. Whether you want to finish school and focus on a career before children or just want to live up your younger years, it’s perfectly fine to start a family later in life. There are a few changes in the way you should prepare in your early 30s, however. Because as you move closer to your 40s, your chances of becoming pregnant and avoiding complications will decline.
Read on to learn how to better prepare for pregnancy after 30.
Conception Success as We Age
Women are most fertile in our 20s. The great news is that from about age 32 to 36, women’s fertility rates only slightly decrease. However, once you hit age 37, the decline in fertility rate becomes steeper and will continue its slope as you age.
Age can cause fewer eggs, poor egg quality, and less frequent ovulation, but age is not the only factor that will affect your conception rates. Irregular periods, improper hormone balance, and other factors that may have affected you throughout your life only become a serious problem when trying to conceive.
Women under 35 who haven’t been able to conceive within 12 months should seek the help of a fertility specialist. Women over 35 are recommended to only wait six months without success before seeking help.
Julia Alkire, Founder and CEO of Family Creations LLC says, “Waiting to seek help for fertility issues is a mistake that can cost you precious time. Today’s many fertility options allow couples to conquer their conception issues and start the family they envision. Options like IVF, egg donation, and surrogacy can make their dreams come true.”
Ways to Prepare Your Body for Pregnancy After 30
Getting in shape, eating a healthy diet, taking prenatal vitamins—and quitting smoking, drinking alcohol, and using drugs—are the best ways that you can physically prepare for getting pregnant.
You’ll also want to cease using any contraceptives well ahead of time. For example, if you are using oral contraceptives, your body will need a few months to adjust to the new lack of hormones.
Pregnancy also takes a toll on your body with backaches, leg cramps, weight gain, swelling, and stretching out your ligaments. Becoming physically fit before getting pregnant will help you deal with these pregnancy symptoms. And it will also improve the quality of your eggs and cycles.
Mental Preparedness
You may have seen memes about pregnant women becoming overwhelmed by hormones and emotions, crying their eyes out from anxiety one minute and with pure joy the next. Hormonal changes and mood swings affect all pregnant women, regardless of age, whether or not they are first-time moms-to-be.
In most cases, you’ll even out in a short amount of time. But some women will want to seek the help of a therapist or counselor should they become too overwhelmed. You and your partner can also work together to get through the tough times of pregnancy.
Genetic Testing
Once you hit age 35, you are considered to be of advanced maternal age. And at that point, your baby’s risk of genetic disorders increases. Luckily, there are plenty of tests that can be performed as you progress through your pregnancy that will be a good indicator if your child is more likely to be born with Down syndrome, chromosomal disorders, or other conditions.
If you are having trouble conceiving, there are options available through your fertility doctor that can help. These may include monitoring ovulation, medication, or in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedures.
Some may also choose to opt for a surrogacy program or adoption if health issues are a factor that can’t be overcome by traditional methods. Or you may choose surrogacy or adoption for a number of very positive reasons. There are many options to consider, so do your research and consult with your doctor about the best methods to help you start a family.
Final Thoughts
Remember, plenty of women in their 30s have normal pregnancies and give birth to healthy babies. And no matter how you choose to have a child—monitoring ovulation, using fertility treatments, adoption, or anything in between—every journey is amazing and special. And every mama is a superhero!
What tip did you find the most helpful? Did you learn anything new about how to prepare for pregnancy after 30? Let us know in the comments below!
About the Author
Katie Tejada is a writer, editor, and former HR professional. She enjoys writing about events, travel, decorating trends, and innovations for the home, but also covers developments in HR, business communication, recruiting, real estate, finance, law, and investing.
LifeAsMama
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