Dr. Tasha D | Los Angeles Doula | Pelvic Floor PT

It was formerly called “Geriatric pregnancy” and now it’s “Advanced maternal age” I never liked these terms. It lumps everyone into one group and doesn’t allow for variation.

Each person has an individual risk assessment that includes many factors . Age is just one factor in the big picture of your overall health

Your age in isolation does not automatically mean that you will have issues or complications. I have seen plenty of folks 35 and older have healthy pregnancies and thrive. Birth rates in ages 35-44 have increased significantly over the last few years. I think this is fantastic and also why this conversation is needed.

Your baseline fitness, pre-existing medical conditions , current health status, personal and family medical history should all be considered

Don’t miss my point, there is nothing wrong with being educated on certain conditions that may increase with age, being offered extra screening or monitoring etc. It is always your choice to accept or decline after being given the information you need. I find this type of blanket labeling as high risk solely due to age can feel negative and often cause unecessary stress and anxiety.

Being 35 or older isn’t a disease or condition. A whole person approach that is tailored to you is best practice for prenatal care, no matter the age.

#losangelesdoula #birthdoula #postpartumdoula