What should I expect for pregnancy at 35?

Now that my shock is starting to wear off, I started thinking wow, I guess I'm considered advanced maternal age now (how'd that happen? :think:). Should I expect anything differently? Anything I should be aware of? Obviously, it concerns me that I have a higher risk of complications. Also, with DS4, I was diagnosed with gestational diabetes at 9 weeks, but ironically, I had started eating my GD diet and started working out the first week of January so I'm hoping that this time, I will have it much more under control. Also, do insurances typically cover more ultrasounds and genetic testing? I know this is a really broad question b/c of all the different health plans out there, but I did call my insurance company and they said as long as the Dr. provides medical necessity evidence, everything should be covered. I asked if age alone determines medical necessity and they said that most of the time it does. But, I don't want to unnecessarily rack up a ton of costs so looking for some advice.

You're only 35!!!

Yes, you are now AMA, I was too with my son. It's no different where I live. The standard of care is the standard of care for everyone. At 11-13 weeks, you can do a NT scan and look for abnormalities and now you can opt for the Harmony test. Those two tests will give you a pretty good idea about the baby's health. If you want to do a CVS or amnio, you certainly can but it's not like something major has happened in your body since a year ago when you had your son!

Enjoy and good luck!

Congrats NC, I had been thinking of you a few months ago! Glad you are back and congrats! ;)

Goodness, I can barely remember 35 lol! ;)

I have 4 children now, had them at 33, 36, 40 and at 43 just had my baby 2 weeks ago...When i started going for IVF/PGD at 37 I switched to the high risk OB in the medical group I go to in anticipation that I would be pregnant and obviously over 35 and wanted to be monitored more closely for no special reason but because of age. I will tell you for all four pregnancies I worked 6-7 days a week right unit 24 hours before the Csection date... I never had ANY complications even at 43... My OB would tell me during some of the visits that "older" women tend to go early.. Well I kept telling him I usually don't and probably won't and I was right. In fact I was doing so well that he had considered doing the section at 38 weeks (he was going on vacation during my 39th week and I REALLY wanted him to do my section again) but when he examined me at 38 +1, there was nothing he could medically document for taking her out early...

This pregnancy at 42/43 was the same, usual symptoms I get nausea, heartburn etc..was I more tired? Well who wouldn't be with an almost 2 year old! AHH!

For the record I have 2 cousins who in their 20's went into premature labor at 6 months...So while people and medical professionals love to throw stats at us, don't let that "fear" get to you.. I had a textbook pregnancy even at 42/43!!

Best of Luck!

Thanks Jany and NBP!! Ha ha 35 seems so old and so young at the same time!! It is funny how it changes over time....I remember with DS1 making the appointment the same day I got a BFP and now I'm like ughhh I don't want to go to the dr.! I've been there, done that 4 times now and not looking forward to it!

I've also been to quite a few doctors. I went to the same Dr with DS1 and 2 (but we had to rotate among the practice) and then switched to a different one for DS3. Then, we moved to VA and DS4 started off at one practice, but after being there for a few months we had to move (long story but the house we rented went into foreclosure) and then we moved to a different practice. I've had to go to specialists too! Now with baby #5, we moved again to a different part of VA (the mountains) due to DH's work and it is much smaller and I guess I have anxiety about how things are going to work here! We have been on a crazy ride with work and babies!

BTW Jany, your DDs are soooooooooooo cute!!! :HH:

This is my 2nd one over 35. No differences. As for testing yes you will be offered more test. I used my ama to my advantage and got the harmony done just to find out gender lol. Just keep up your protein and water intake and you'll be good:)

This whole "over 35" thing is SO overblown it's so ridiculous I laugh about it now because I used to worry about it all the time too.

My pregnancy at 41/42 was my easiest one and easiest birth, too. My pregnancy at 39 was harder, but that was only because I had placenta previa. Preg at 36/37 was also easy peasy. Really, my first pregnancy was the worst in a lot of ways and I was only 21 years old LOL

AT least here, they only do extra ultrasounds if you have a medical need. I was surprised how laid back they were about my pg in my 40's but everything was perfectly fine and they acted accordingly.

Re the genetic testing, I ended up deciding not to do that. The triple/quad screens are horribly inaccurate, and my doctor assured me (and my research backed it up) that if there was something genetically wrong iwth the pregnancy that it shows up on ultrasounds so I didn't bother with amnio or cVS either. There are also the new Nipty/Nifty tests and I think they're great if you can afford them.

Big congrats NC Beachy!!! Xxx

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I don't know about in the U.S., but in UK they try to make you induce earlier once you are 'overdue'. Even though the evidence shows a negligible difference in outcomes :-(

I'm 35. yesterday I had blood drawn for the Harmony test at 11w4d pregnant. If the Harmony test comes back detecting any abnormalities then my doctor said I would need a NT scan and to be referred to an MFM for more testing. He said if it comes back normal and low risk then I'll just have a normal anatomy scan at 20 weeks. So far the Harmony testing has been the only thing extra that's been done. My doctor said it's better to see what the non invasive screening shows first rather than go to more invasive testing just because I'm 35. The good news with the Harmony is we will know the gender early which I am excited about. Hoping for pink but if it is another boy know early would be good so we can start shopping and planning. My son is almost 6 so we got rid of everything.

I've had worse morning sickness and gained more weight then with my son but otherwise being 35 and pregnant doesn't seem that scary so far.

This made me laugh as I didn't start having my children until I was 38 and 3 or my 4 in my 40's. My pregnancies were all pretty text book, I was tested for GD with DS3 and DD simply because I have big babies and tend to put on a lot of weight...but both were negative. My NT scans all started as high risk for downs because of my age but then with bloods and the actual scan (see nasal bone etc) they decreased. I did have an extra 32 week scan, but apart from that, even though I had them privately in the UK my ob didn't suggest anything different because of age. He told me I certainly wasn't his oldest patient.... All 4 were c sections, but that was becaue all of my boys were breach and the 4th was much harder for the couple of weeks afterwards, but even so I was doing physical excercise 6 weeks later. Providinng you are healthy and haven't had complications in the past it reallay shouldn't make much difference. Congrats and good luck xx

It is funny from the other side isn't it ever?? Talk about much ado about nothing!!! They scare the heck out of people for no valid reason!!

My Harmony results came back with a low risk baby girl today. So excited. I am glad my doctor is not making a huge fuss about my age. He told me he's had women in their 40s have perfectly healthy babies. My big fear is preeclampsia because I had that with my son in my twenties.

So happy for you GM!!

Some research indicates that you are most likely to have Pre-e with your first preganncy and many have it only with their first one.