Understanding The Risks
As the average age at marriage rises in the U.S., so does the average age of new mothers. If you're an older mom, you're not alone. About 11 percent of babies born in the U.S. each year have moms over the age of 35. Recent studies, however, have shown that women who postpone childbearing do face some special risks, including: infertility and miscarriage, premature delivery and stillbirth, gestational diabetes, bleeding complications, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, C-section, chromosomal abnormalities in babies, growth retardation in babies, and delivering multiples.

So what can you do? All women should monitor their reproductive health. If you are over age 35, follow the guidelines outlined in this slideshow to help ensure the best possible condition for your pregnancy.

Take a Prenatal
Take prenatal vitamins containing 400 micrograms (0.4 milligrams) of the B vitamin folic acid before getting pregnant to help prevent neural tube birth defects such as spina bifida, a condition in which the tissue over the baby's spinal cord doesn't close.

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