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Exercises for Women Getting Pregnant Over 40

Getting pregnant over 40 requires optimum health conditions. The would-be mothers would need to coordinate closely with their doctors to ensure that both mother and baby are safe and healthy. Exercise is vital and beneficial for older pregnant women because health, body strength and overall vitality generally decreases with age.

An exercise regime reduces the aches and pains associated with pregnancy, it boosts mood and morale, and improves sleeping habits. More importantly, exercise helps the body prepare for childbirth through stronger muscles and greater endurance. If a pregnant woman exercises religiously, she is also preparing the body to get back to its old shape and condition after childbirth.

It is always prudent to consult a doctor before embarking on a regular exercise regimen for women getting pregnant over 40. The recommended exercises are generally safe but they may not be advisable to do in the last trimester of pregnancy.

Most women getting pregnant at the age of 40 are career women. They keep to very tight schedules and so most doctors will recommend low-impact aerobics in the gym. There are regular daily classes at predetermined times, which makes it easier for would be mothers to incorporate exercise in their daily routines. An aerobics class for pregnant women will allow women to interact with other pregnant women and to gain insights on how to care for themselves and the babies they’re carrying.

Both doctors and fitness experts agree that swimming is a sound exercise option for women getting pregnant over 40. Swimming tones the arms and legs, while offering cardiovascular benefits. It also gives pregnant women the feeling of weightlessness despite the added weight.

The easiest form of exercise is walking. This is also the best physical activity for the older pregnant woman. Walking keeps a pregnant women fit without unnecessarily straining the knees and ankles. It can be done anytime, anywhere without any equipment other than a good pair of walking shoes. In addition, it is safe to be done all throughout the pregnancy.

All form of physical activity as long as its done moderately can be beneficial. If you are a party animal, you might want to go dancing at home to your favorite tunes just to be able to move around. You have to avoid routines that require twirls, jumps and leaps, though. Through all these possible exercise routines and regimens, it is wise not to push your body beyond limits. Getting pregnant over 40 may not be a walk in the park but there’s no reason why it can’t be fun and fulfilling.

Still fertile, or over the hill: getting pregnant over 40


Take the case of actress Nicole Kidman. Kidman was previously married to Tom Cruise, a union which lasted for 10 years but failed to produce children. And not for want of trying, either. She had an ectopic pregnancy and an early miscarriage when she was in her 20s and 30s. The thrilling news of Kidman’s pregnancy is an inspiring story for 40-something women contemplating pregnancy. But is getting pregnant over 40 really easy to do?

Kidman attributes her surprise pregnancy to swimming in the fertility waters of the Kununurra falls in Australia. Before hopeful mothers-to-be rush to these waters, here are some facts to consider before attempting getting pregnant over 40.

Pregnancy is a result of three crucial steps: ovulation, fertilization, and implantation. Ovulation is the release of viable egg in the middle of a menstrual cycle. Most women who experience monthly menses are presumed to ovulate midcycle, or approximately on the 14th day after the start of their period. In women with irregular monthly periods, the occurrence of ovulation is more difficult to predict.

Some women in their 40s may not be ovulating as regularly as women in their 20s and 30s. More and more cycles of these women would be anovulatory. This means that they do not produce an egg.

Indeed, decreased fertility and fecundability (or the probability of pregnancy in a given time) in women over 40s is mainly due to a decrease in their ovarian reserve. A decline in ovarian reserve results in less eggs being produced.

What can be done to improve ovulation? Although we cannot increase a person’s ovarian reserve, there are some drugs and herbs which can induce ovulation. If you want to try natural remedies, you might consider taking Ginkgo biloba, Siberian ginseng, and/or chastetree berry. These herbs are believed to improve blood circulation to the reproductive organs, including the ovaries. They also have antioxidant properties. Chastetree berry have the added benefit of being able to induce ovulation by optimizing hormone levels conducive to ovulation.

Fertilization, the next step, is the union of the egg and sperm. After ovulation, the egg is ready for fertilization for approximately 24 hours. This means that sexual intercourse must happen at around this time. Timing is very important. Couples are usually advised to have sex every other day during a woman’s fertile period. Luckily for women in their 40s, age does not decrease sexual fervor.

If you have been attempting pregnancy and is unsuccessful, you might have to be evaluated for tubal problems. Women in their 40s have a higher incidence of tubal diseases or conditions which hinder fertilization. These tubal conditions may be the result of chronic smoking and drinking of alcoholic and caffeinated beverages in their youth. Or it may be the result of diseases such as endometriosis, which worsen over time.

Lastly, a fertilized egg must successfully implant in the uterus. Luckily for us, uterine health does not significantly decline with age. Uterine pathologies such as polyps and fibroids do not significantly affect chances of a successful implantation.

It might not be that simple, but getting pregnant over 40 is possible. And holding that baby in your arms is worth all the effort.

I had to pull this article as it's a dilemma ...

That I have heard about a mothers feelings that often sneaks up and springs on you at the most unexpected times ... As told in the article by Lowri Turner:

'I love my mixed race baby - but why does she feel so alien?'

Emotional turmoil over the colour of her child's skin

"She's getting very dark, isn't she?" This is what one of my friends recently said about my much adored - 12-week-old daughter.

She didn't mean to be rude. But it was a comment that struck me with the force of a jab to the stomach.

Immediately, I was overwhelmed by a confusion of emotions. I felt protective, insulted, worried, ashamed, guilty, all at once. The reason? My lovely, wriggly, smiley baby is mixed race.

Now, I think of myself as pretty 'right on'. My home is on the border of the London Republic of Hackney. I've been to the Notting Hill Carnival, even if I found the music a bit loud. Yet now I realise what a 'white' world I inhabit.

I am white and I have two sons from my first marriage who are both milky complexioned and golden haired. My twin sister, who I spend a lot of time with, has a Danish partner. As a consequence, she has two boys who are also pale skinned and flaxen haired.

Into this positively Scandinavian next generation, I have now injected a tiny, dark-skinned, dark-haired girl. To say she stands out is an understatement.

My colouring and that of my children has never really been an issue before. However, three years ago I met the man who became my second husband and who is the father of my daughter.

Although born in the UK, his parents came from India in the Sixties. This makes him British-Asian and our daughter mixed race.

There is another more PC term for the plump little bundle I strap to my front. She is 'dual heritage'. It's a bit trendy, but I quite like it. It implies a pride in coming from two cultures, rather than the less attractive connotations of 'mixed race'.

The usual time something is labelled 'mixed' is when it's a packet of nuts and they've bulked out the luxury cashews with cheaper peanuts. I'm not sure I want my daughter to be regarded as an adulterated version of some pure original. Still, it is the most accepted description.

The truth is, whatever the label, the fact there is a label proves that my daughter's conflicting parentage matters.

At the more frothy end of the scale, mixed-race children are regarded as pretty dolls ? white kids with a nice tan.

When I was pregnant and people asked me about the child I was having, and I explained her father was Indian, they would often coo something along the lines of: "Ooh, she's going to be beautiful!" as if I was discussing a new rose, made from an exotic cross-breeding programme.

On a less benevolent level, mixed-race children can receive a hostile welcome from both white and black communities. Being neither one thing nor another may get you on the cover of Vogue, but it isn't an easy way to make friends.