Curtis Glade B. - Your Pregnancy After 35

your
pregnancy

after 35

ALSO BY GLADE B. CURTIS, M.D., M.P.H, OB/GYN, AND JUDITH SCHULER, M.S.

Your Pregnancy Week by Week

Bouncing Back after Your Pregnancy

Su Embarazo Semana a Semana

Your Babys First Year Week by Week

Your PregnancyEvery Womans Guide

Your Pregnancy for the Father-to-Be

Your Pregnancy Journal Week by Week

Your Pregnancy Questions & Answers

Your Pregnancy Quick Guide: Feeding

Your Baby Your Pregnancy Quick Guide: Fitness and Exercise

Your Pregnancy Quick Guide: Labor and Delivery

Your Pregnancy Quick Guide: Nutrition and Weight Management

Your Pregnancy Quick Guide: Postpartum Wellness

Your Pregnancy Quick Guide: Tests and Procedures

Your Pregnancy Quick Guide: Twins, Triplets and More

Your Pregnancy Quick Guide: Understanding and Enhancing Your Babys Development

Your Pregnancy Quick Guide: Women of Color

your
pregnancy

after 35

THIRD EDITION

GLADE B. CURTIS, M.D., M.P.H., OB/GYN
JUDITH SCHULER, M.S.

A Member of the Perseus Books Group

Many of the designations used by manufacturers and sellers to distinguish their products are claimed as trademarks. Where those designations appear in this book and Perseus Publishing was aware of a trademark claim, those designations have been printed with initial capital letters.

Copyright 2013 by Glade B. Curtis and Judith Schuler

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publisher.

Your Pregnancy is a registered trademark of Da Capo Press

Set in 11-point Minion Pro by The Perseus Books Group

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Curtis, Glade B.

Your pregnancy after 35 / Glade B. Curtis, M.D., M.P.H., OB/GYN, Judith Schuler, M.S.Third edition, first Da Capo Press edition.

pages cm

Revision of 2001 publication published under the same title; originally published as: Your pregnancy after 30. 1996.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-7382-1649-2 (e-book) 1. Pregnancy in middle age. I. Schuler, Judith. II. Curtis, Glade B. Your pregnancy after 30. III. Title.

RG556.6.C873 2013

618.2dc23

2012044012

First Da Capo Press printing 2013

Published by Da Capo Press

A Member of the Perseus Books Group

www.dacapopress.com

Note: The information in this book is true and complete to the best of our knowledge. This book is intended only as an informative guide for those wishing to know more about pregnancy. In no way is this book intended to replace, countermand or conflict with the advice given to you by your own physician. The ultimate decision concerning your care should be made between you and your doctor. We strongly recommend you follow his or her advice. The information in this book is general and is offered with no guarantees on the part of the authors or Da Capo Press. The authors and publisher disclaim all liability in connection with the use of this book. The names and identifying details of people associated with events described in this book have been changed. Any similarity to actual persons is coincidental.

Da Capo Press books are available at special discounts for bulk purchases in the U.S. by corporations, institutions, and other organizations. For more information, please contact the Special Markets Department at the Perseus Books Group, 2300 Chestnut Street, Suite 200, Philadelphia, PA, 19103, call (800) 2551514, or e-mail .

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Glade B. Curtis, M.D., M.P.H., F.A.C.O.G., is board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. He has over 25 years of experience and has participated in more than 5000 deliveries.

Dr. Curtis is a graduate of the University of Utah with a Bachelor of Science and a Masters Degree in Public Health (M.P.H.). He attended the University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry in New York. He interned and was a resident and chief resident in Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Rochester Strong Memorial Hospital, Rochester, New York.

Judith Schuler, M.S., has worked with Dr. Curtis for over 25 years as his coauthor and editor. They have collaborated together on 18 books dealing with pregnancy, womens health and childrens health.

Ms. Schuler earned a Master of Science degree in Family Studies from the University of Arizona in Tucson. Before becoming an editor for HPBooks, where she and Dr. Curtis first began working together, Ms. Schuler taught at the university level in California and Arizona.

Glade B. Curtis. In this, the third edition of Your Pregnancy After 35, I continue to draw upon the many questions from discussions with my patients and their partners, and my professional colleagues. I have gained new insights and a greater understanding of the joy and anticipation of impending parenthood. I have rejoiced in my patients happiness and thank all of them for allowing me to be part of this miraculous process.

Credit must also be given to my understanding and generous wife, Debbie, and our family, who support me in a profession that requires much of them. Beyond that commitment, they have supported and encouraged me to pursue the challenge of this project. Thanks to David Stevens, D.D.S., for his dental expertise. And my mother has always offered her unconditional love and support.

Judith Schuler. Thanks to my son, Ian, for his continued support and encouragement. Special thanks to Bob Rucinski for his help and computer expertise with every book I write or revise. And thanks to the pregnant couples who, through the years, have inspired us. Our books are for you.

Pregnancy is an exciting time, and more women every year are happy to find they are pregnant in their 30s or 40s. Older mothers are giving birth to more than 675,000 babies a year.

During the 1980s, births to women in the 30- to 44-year-old age range nearly doubled. First births to women in their 30s in 1990 accounted for about 25% of all births to women in that age group. In 2008, it was reported nearly 15% of