40 And Pregnant

Whenever a female celebrity who is in her 40s announces she is pregnant, why are we shocked? With finger wagging and comments suggesting she is selfish and irresponsible for “wanting it all”, articles written about her make a point of mentioning her age. Why? When it happens to a man such at David Jason at 61, Rod Stewart at 66 and even Rupert Murdoch at 72, there are cheers all round.

Of course there are risks to your health associated with being pregnant over the age of 40, but the dangers tend to be elaborated slightly even by some medical professionals. Medicine has moved on and problems with blood pressure and pregnancy diabetes can all be managed much better these days. Chromosomal abnormalities such as Down’s syndrome can all be screened for and decisions made if they have to. Figures from the Office of National Statistics for 2005, show that the risk of having a baby with a genetic abnormality such as Down’s Syndrome rises from 2 per 1,000 births at ages 35-39 years, to 4 per 1,000 at age 40-44 years up to 14 per 1,000 at age 45 years or over (please see article on Nuchal Translucency (NT) scans for more information on this) If you’re almost, or over 40, you should strongly consider genetic testing because the risk of genetic problems increases the older you are. Don’t forget that younger women can and do experience problems in pregnancy too. There are also risks associated with being an older father, with a higher risk of the child being affected by autism, so it is not just older mothers who carry greater risks.

Previously, a child born to an older mother might have been orphaned. But as life expectancy increases, a woman giving birth in her 40s is likely to life a healthy life well into her child’s middle age. This is nothing new. In the days before contraception, women were having babies right up to menopause.

The thing that has changed is that women are having their first child over the age of 40. The biggest problem with this, is that fertility has already started to decline at this age, making it harder to get pregnant in the first place. In the last two decades, the number of women giving birth after the age of 40 has trebled.

Many women who have delayed pregnancy until they’re over 35 are surprised to find that, given generally good health, they’re not much more likely than younger women to have serious complications, and the vast majority end up having healthy babies.

Despite the increased risk with increased age, it is important to remember that the vast majority of babies are fine. Except for the factor of chromosomal abnormalities, figures suggest that babies of older mothers are no more at risk of most birth defects than those of younger mum.

Want more information on pregnancy in the over 40s then make sure you read pregnancy over 40

The Technology of a 4D Ultrasound

This is sometimes known as the ultrasound keep sake, so some people may find it unnecessary. A great way for parents to bond with their unborn child, you will be able to see him moving around making faces in the womb.

Ultrasound works by using sound waves to show am image of the baby. It help doctors determine if there is a problem and can determine what the sex of the baby is for the parents. Studies show that women take better care of themselves after they have had a 4d ultrasound scan as it creates a bond with their child. They eat properly and make sure they are getting enough sleep. Keeping the baby happy becomes more important to them.

The 4D ultrasound takes these sound wave pictures at a very fast pace allowing them to come back in real time, and creating a sort of animation show for the parents. They will actually be able to see their child moving in the womb. Using a display screen, an electronics console, and a hand held transducer the ultrasound device emits high frequency sound waves and when the waves bounce back they create an echo that shows up on the screen as a picture. There is no radiation involved in an ultrasound scan this process so it is healthy for the baby.

The 4d ultrasound scan mean that doctors are able to conduct examinations on unborn babies that were not possible before as they are able to see the entire picture which captures the baby’s movement. Ultrasounds are used by doctors to see how the baby is developing, so are able to determine how old it is, whether you are having twins, any abnormalities as well as the sex and weight of the baby.

People were thrilled with the introduction of the 3D ultrasound which allowed them to see an amazingly clear image of the baby in the womb. The 4D ultrasound scans are even more amazing to future parents because they can see the movement of the baby in the tummy.

Original ultrasounds produced a blurry picture and it is often difficult to see the different parts of the baby. The sex of the child was also difficult to determine accurately leading to mistakes. Doctors sometimes were unable to detect twins until later in the pregnancy

With the introduction of the 2D ultrasound doctors were able to be more accurate on the age, sex, and weight of the baby. They were more accurate with the prediction of due dates, and with the sex of the babies.

3d ultrasounds allowed parents to actually see facial features of the baby and know the sex of their unborn child. Advances in ultrasound scans have been quite significant in the past five years and have come a long way from the original baby scan.

4d baby scan

What Moms Should Know About 4D UltraSound Scans

Ultrasound technology has been used in prenatal care for over thirty years. High-frequency sound waves are directed at the mother’s body to produce a picture of the baby. These pictures can be either two, three, or four-dimensional. Research has found that 4D Ultrasound Scans are good for bonding but no more effective than 2D at diagnosing medical problems.

2D images are the standard in medical care. 3D images show the baby from three dimensions by sending the sound waves from different angles. The images are three-dimensional, but they are static. 4D offers a live image of the baby by adding real-time movement to the 3D image.

A 4D scan should be delivered between twenty-four and thirty-two weeks. A mother should always first obtain a 2D scan from her physician. 4Ds are not paid for by insurance, so mothers should be prepared to pay at the clinic. A mother does not need to have a full bladder during the session. She can invite multiple friends and family members. In addition, she will often be able to receive a video or DVD recording of the baby’s movements.

There are no side effects associated with this technology. However, the FDA views 4D as an unapproved use of a medical device. Also, The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine discourages commercial use of the technology. They instruct mothers to limit sessions to one hour. They also suggest having no more than one monthly session. Sound waves passing through tissues do increase their temperature. All machines, for this reason, have a thermal index.

Mothers should consider certain risks before obtaining a 4D ultrasound. Anecdotally, doctors say that there is an increase in left-handedness among boys who were scanned with 3D or 4D waves. Uninsured mothers are also at risk. Because a 4D scan is cheaper than a traditional ultrasound performed by a doctor, uninsured mothers may use them in place of good prenatal care. An additional danger is that a mother, seeing a healthy, thriving baby, may discontinue prenatal care or the use of prenatal vitamins.

Other risks include false images. For instance, the device may broadcast an image of an extra arm. This image is just an echo that can be adjusted by experienced operators. However, images like this can cause unnecessary anxiety for mothers. Also, if beds in 4D clinics are not conducive to pregnant women, mothers may experience back pain or be in danger of falling. Additionally, inexperienced technicians may manipulate a mother’s belly too aggressively.

Some recommend that the mother consumes caffeine before a scan. The idea is that caffeine will make the baby more active. However, physicians discourage this practice as caffeine may be harmful to unborn babies.

4D scans can broadcast breathtaking images of a gestating baby. They can show kicking, smiling, swallowing, and thumb sucking. The pictures provide a chance for mothers to bond with their babies. However, there could be unknown risks associated with 4D Ultrasound Scans. Mothers should remember to heed safety precautions. They should never use the scans in place of high-quality prenatal care.

What is a 4D Ultrasound Scan?? Well, that is what we are going to explain. We want to show you a 4D ultrasound scans FAQ. Our FAQ is high quality and will answer your questions.