Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Community Healthcare - 39

TRUE OR FALSE:

Something happens to women's bodies at 35 that makes
pregnancy more challenging
and risky.

FALSE. There is nothing magical
about age 35, says Siobhan Dolan, MD,
medical adviser for the March of Dimes,
an organization that seeks to prevent
birth defects and fight premature births.
There is history to 35, though. The
age used to mark the time when the
risk of having a baby with a serious
genetic condition was about the same
as having a miscarriage as a result of
amniocentesis, an invasive procedure
that tests for genetic conditions and is
more commonly done after age 35.
These days, the miscarriage risk is
much lower, and doctors recognize
that what matters is an individual
woman's age and health history. Still,
the number persists in our culture.

TRUE OR FALSE:

If you're younger than 35,
an amniocentesis simply
isn't done.

FALSE. Amniocentesis is a test
that looks for problems in the developing baby, including birth defects and
genetic disorders. It can reveal Down
syndrome, the risk of which rises with
the mother's age.
While amniocentesis is not typically
done in younger women, the test is a
choice. Younger women may opt for it
because they have had a previous baby
with a birth defect or a family history
of genetic disorders.
"If you want to know for sure, you
should have the test," Dolan says. "Today,
we're more focused on what we call a
personalized risk assessment."

Whatever her age, it's up to each
woman to work with her doctor to
understand her options and risks.

TRUE OR FALSE:

It's harder to conceive after
age 35.

TRUE. "The facts are that as you
get older, it can take longer" to become
pregnant, Dolan says.
According to the American Society
for Reproductive Medicine, a woman
has about 300,000 eggs at puberty, and
she will ovulate about 300 times during her reproductive years. The eggs
that don't ovulate go through a natural
degenerative process. As the number of
available eggs in her ovaries decreases,
a woman's fertility declines.
While a healthy, fertile woman who
is trying to conceive has a 20 percent
chance of getting pregnant each month
when she's 30, her chances are approximately 5 percent by age 40.

TRUE OR FALSE:

As a woman ages, there are
more health risks during
pregnancy.

TRUE, BUT ... Yes, as a woman
ages, certain pregnancy risks increase.
For example, premature birth, low
birth weight, miscarriage and other
issues are more common in older
women than in younger women.
Some of these problems can be
attributed to conditions such as high
blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
As Dolan points out, your personal
circumstances play a huge role.
"If you come to me and you're 32
and morbidly obese, with diabetes and
hypertension, you're at a higher risk
than if you're 38 and healthy," she says. ■

HELPING DADS WITH

THE ABCs OF
PARENTHOOD

Some new dads are very comfortable
stepping into the role of father. Others
may be looking for a little guidance
from medical and healthcare professionals, who can provide pointers
and answer questions. The hospitals
of Community Healthcare System-
Community Hospital in Munster,
St. Catherine Hospital in East Chicago
and St. Mary Medical Center in Hobart-
offer classes that provide new fathers
with safety tips, education and the skills
necessary to conquer any fears or concerns about infant parenting. Find out
when to call the doctor, how to childproof your home, what to do in an emergency, and about infant and child car
seat safety. Classes are offered at convenient Community Healthcare System
locations and are free.
Grandparent classes also are available and offer an opportunity to review
basic baby care while learning some of
the new recommendations on how to
keep babies safe and healthy.

CALL

Taking Care
of Baby
Learn what it takes to
take care of a baby. Call
219-836-3477 or toll-free
866-836-3477 for upcoming
dates and times or to register
for classes at the hospitals of
the Community Healthcare
System.

SUMME R 2017

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Vim & Vigor - Summer 2017 - Community Healthcare