Advanced Maternal Age

by Lisa Lee of Angels 4 Mommies

Today many women are bearing children after the age of 35, at which point they are medically considered to be at an advanced maternal age.  According to the CDC’s National Center for Health Statistics, since 1990 the number of births for mothers age 35-39 has increased by 57% even though the population of women in this age group has only increased by 5%.   Also, since 1990 the birth rate for mothers 40-44 has increased by 70% and the birth rate for mothers 45-49 has tripled.  In 2006, 494 children were born to mothers age 50-54.  In the past it was not unusual for women to bear children later in life.  The difference today is women are having their first child after age 35.  The number of women having their first child over the age of 35 has increased eight-fold since 1970.  In the news and in the entertainment industry we see plenty of examples of later in life mothers:  Halle Berry, Geena Davis, Elizabeth Edwards, Nicole Kidman, Holly Hunter, and many more.

So why is a distinction made with respect to moms having babies later in life rather than sooner? Well, the main reason is that later in life moms are more at risk for pregnancy complications.  Pregnant women over the age of 35 are considered at higher risk for miscarriage, twins, gestational diabetes, pregnancy-induced hypertension, placenta problems, preterm birth, stillbirth and having a c-section.  Such mothers are also more likely to have pre-existing health conditions (i.e. diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart problems) that can affect pregnancy.  Babies born to mothers who are over the age of 35 are at greater risks for birth defects.  According to the New England Journal of Medicine, a twenty year old woman has a 1 in 1667 chance of having a baby with Down’s Syndrome and a 1 in 526 chance of having a baby with any chromosomal abnormality.  A forty-year old woman, however, has a 1 in 106 chance of having a baby with Down’s Syndrome and a 1 in 66 chance of having a baby with any chromosomal abnormality.

It’s imperative for women of all ages who are considering pregnancy to weigh the risks and benefits of pregnancy for themselves and their babies.  Prospective parents should talk with their physicians about any health risks from pregnancy for the mother and child.  If desired, the prospective parents may also want to discuss with their physicians the use of assisted reproductive technology.  Some later in life mothers choose in vitro fertilization in combination with donor eggs from younger women.  Genetic screening can be done on both parents before pregnancy to determine the risk of having a baby with genetic defects.  During pregnancy, women are offered certain genetic screening and/or diagnostic tests (i.e. amniocentesis, chronic villus sampling, and fetal blood sampling).  The important thing to consider is what to do with the test results once you have them.  Pregnant mothers-to-be can also decline to have genetic screening or testing done.

From a non-medical standpoint, prospective parents should consider their finances and support system.  Later in life parents may be concerned about paying for college during their retirement years, taking care of elderly parents and young children at the same time, and the lack of friends at the same life stage.  There are a number of social groups that have sprung up to meet the needs of moms having babies later in life: www.motherhoodlater.com, www.mothersover40.com, and www.fertilityover40.com.

Editorial provided by Lisa Lee, a later in life mom and owner of Angels 4 Mommies Baby Planning.  She can be reached through her website: www.Angels4MommiesBabyPlanning.com

Baby Planning Q&A by Lisa Lee of Angels 4 Mommies

What is a baby planner?

A baby planner is similar to a wedding planner except instead of helping couples plan for their wedding, a baby planner helps couples plan for the birth of their baby or babies.  A good baby planner is a good listener, non-judgmental, and truly understands that every pregnancy, like every person, is unique.

What type of services does a baby planner offer?

It depends on the baby planner but a number of baby planners offer a host of select services that generally fall into the following five categories:

Birth Prep – Oftentimes, moms-to-be want to know about their birth options (e.g. midwife, OB, homebirth, natural, medicated, etc.).  A baby planner can discuss each birth option and recommend providers that have been highly rated by other families who desired similar birth experiences.  A baby planner can also provide referrals for labor and postpartum doulas as well as lactation consultants.  Finally, a baby planner can help with designing and stocking the nursery, getting the car seat installed, organizing the baby shower, packing the hospital bag, and doing other big or little things that the parents may appreciate as part of the birth preparation process.  Baby planners can help adopting families prepare as well.

Support-Many moms I speak with through my baby planning business are interested in some form of support in the postpartum period.  It’s important for moms to have a period of recovery from childbirth and time to bond with their brand new baby.  They may need support with breastfeeding, and/or help with other children, housekeeping, and making meals.  A baby planner can help moms get the help they need by recommending and/or interviewing helpers on behalf of the family.  The baby planner sees to it that the helper meets the parents’ basic requirements and has the appropriate experience and/or training.

Products – A number of parents use baby planners to help with the baby registry and product selection.  There are a plethora of resources to help parents select baby products wisely, but some parents don’t want to spend their baby preparation time shopping.  Some parents are paralyzed by the sheer number of product choices and/or are concerned about the number of recalled baby products and really would like an expert to help them select the baby products that fit their values, lifestyle, and budget.  This second group includes parents who want environmentally friendly baby products.  A good baby planner should not push certain products because she or he receives a commission from their sale or works for the store that sells the product.  It’s important for the baby planner to offer her or his client families an objective viewpoint.

Childcare – For moms heading back to work, finding someone to watch over and care for their baby is a priority.  For moms staying home, they still need a few hours here and there without the baby, so they may look to hire a mother’s helper.  In any case, a baby planner can visit daycares, interview and screen nanny candidates, and help coordinate nanny shares.  The baby planner doesn’t actually select the provider but she helps the parents narrow the choices to viable candidates who would be a good fit for the family’s needs.

Concierge – Families can use baby planners to find reputable providers in baby related services, such as baby photographers, childbirth educators, child proofers, doulas, lactation consultants, night nannies, etc.  Some baby planners may also offer concierge services themselves (e.g. doula services, child proofing, etc).

How much does a baby planner cost?

Baby planners generally cost about $75/hour and up, depending on the market.  Some baby planners will do projects on a flat rate basis.  In addition, concierge services may be complimentary depending on the baby planner.

Are baby planners certified by any organization?

Many professional baby planners belong to the International Baby Planner Association (www.internationalbabyplanners.com).  Unfortunately, there is not yet a third party certifying organization for baby planners. The International Baby Planner Association is working on a third party certification program that would meet the needs of parents in evaluating baby planners

What type of questions should you ask when interviewing baby planners?

It’s important for parents to understand exactly what to expect from their baby planner, so possible interview questions include the following: What experiences do you have that are relevant to baby planning? Do you belong to any professional organizations for baby planners? Do you have references that I can contact? How will we communicate? How often? How many clients do you take at one time? Will you provide a written summary of services? Which resources do you use for your research? Will you keep our information confidential?  How long do you keep client files? How much do you charge? Do you offer flat rate services?

Should people who use baby planners have children?

Many people question the need for baby planners.  Their general viewpoint is that the parents and their respective families should themselves be able to handle baby preparation, birth, and the postpartum period.  However, many parents don’t have much or any family support, some parents undergo unanticipated changes during pregnancy (e.g. bed rest, moving across country for work, death of their own parent, etc.), and some parents find they need more assistance than originally anticipated.  The baby planner’s role is not to judge who truly needs a baby planner or not, but to serve families with compassion, integrity, and professionalism.

Baby Bump Planning featured in Daily Candy Kids Chicago

Congrats to International Baby Planner Association member, Amber Crosby of Baby Bump Planning on her October 11th feature in Daily Candy Kids Chicago.  Amber offers services in Chicago and Tulsa and her specialities as a baby planner include baby registry, nursery design, and more.  IBPA is proud to have Baby Bump Planning as a member and congratulates Amber on a job well done!

LITHIUM BATTERY DANGERS POSE EXTRA THREAT TO CHILDREN

By Desiree Miller, www.BottlestoBritches.com

Parents know babies are curious and nearly everything they touch ends up in their mouth, including dangerous things like coins or batteries. What most parents don’t know is there’s an increased threat with certain kinds of batteries found in items all over the house, many of which are well within a child’s reach.  From your TV remote control to your garage door opener to your bathroom scale or even musical greeting card, the round lithium battery commonly used in household gadgets could pose a lethal threat to your little one.

Cara and Terry George want to get the word out about the danger.  Their 18 month old daughter Brenna died after ingesting a battery that they didn’t know she swallowed. “We scoured our house and we have no idea where it came from,” her father explains.  The couple now works to build awareness about these batteries and the threat they carry.  It’s the best way for them to honor Brenna, Cara believes.

They are not the only ones fighting to protect other children.  Safety groups want parents to know lithium batteries are more than a choking hazard.  The batteries can still produce a charge inside your child’s body and damage internal tissues and organs.  Dr. Toby Litovitz with the National Capital Poison Control Center explains the damage would be similar to dropping Drano in tiny drops down the child’s esophagus.  The Poison Center gets calls involving about 3500 cases of battery ingestion each year and the calls are now more serious than ever, with 13 deaths and 73 severe injuries…injuries that can lead to feeding or breathing tubes, or death. The number of incidents involving lithium batteries is on the rise, climbing from just one percent to 18 to 20 percent in the last decade.

Groups such as the International Association for Child Safety and the National Capital Poison Control Center are working to build awareness about the dangers; hoping parents will take steps to keep these batteries away from children.  They want companies using these batteries in their products to put warning labels on the packaging where parents will see them.  They are also asking manufacturers to change the battery compartments to help protect children.  The recommendation is to change those compartments to require a screw.  Their statistics show 62% of children are getting the batteries right out of the gadgets and the hope is that will change if they are harder to remove.  Meantime, Colleen Driscoll with the IAFCS says parents can be sure to store the batteries out of a child’s reach.  “They can secure junk drawers and be sure not to toss them in a trash can, where children have been known to find them in the past,” Driscoll says.

Cara and Terry George want others to understand the risk is real.  They truly hope others will learn from their heartache.  Cara explains their work now is done in Brenna’s name, “Our only hope is to save lives and if we can give one child his or her future and spare one family this unimaginable pain and devastation then we’ll be doing something for her.”