Older Moms, Healthy Babies If you are older than age 35 and
planning to have your first baby, you may have concerns about
becoming pregnant later in life. You may have heard that a
woman's risk for complications during pregnancy goes up after
age 35. The fact is that most women in their 30s and 40s have
healthy pregnancies and healthy babies. To ensure a healthy
pregnancy, you should do what any woman should do: Prepare for
your baby with healthy lifestyle choices. Talk with your doctor
about your risk factors and learn what you can do to prevent
potential problems. Baby your body The best thing you can do for
your baby is to be in good health before you become pregnant.
Eat a balanced, nutritious diet, lose weight if you are
overweight, and take a prenatal vitamin that has at least 400
micrograms of folic acid. You should have a full medical exam
before you become pregnant. Tell your doctor that you are
planning to become pregnant and ask about potential health
risks. For example, if you have high blood pres