“No one told me how differently I would feel with this baby.  You think you know yourself.  Hell, I’m 41 years old!  I used to pride myself in my knowledge of who I was and how centered I had become over the years.  Then I got pregnant.  I cried all the time.  Where does that come from?  It’s like this pregnant woman is in my body, crying, and I’m watching her, thinking, ‘You are really silly.  Why are you crying?’” --Sandra, a first time mom at 43.

     Almost every mid-life mother we have spoken to has told us that they didn’t believe they understood who they were until they were at least thirty.  Many look back and say they were even older when they gained a real sense of themselves.  How ironic that the perceived cut off date for having a trouble free pregnancy and delivery is right at the time when a woman feels that she has the most to give to a child.

More Risk No Longer Means High Risk
     The current consensus among those who know is that of course there are risks associated with having children at midlife, but they have been greatly reduced by recent advancements in medical science.  With consistent prenatal care most problems that arise during a midlife pregnancy can be met with a change in diet, exercise, or the introduction of a specific medication.  Good prenatal care is the key.  Chose your healthcare professional early into your pregnancy, don’t miss prenatal appointments, and if complications do arise, report them to your health care professional immediately.