Caught this article on Modern Weight Loss Tips and wanted to share with my after forty moms and moms to be. Basically, they recommend that women over forty who are considering becoming pregnant give themselves the best advantage if they ensure their body mass index is where it should be.

For anyone who isn’t sure what body mass index (or BMI for short) is, it measures your weight relative to your height. There are quite a few calculators available online if you search BMI or you can have it more accurately calculated by at your local gym or health and wellness center. I know my naturopath does it for one.

Here is the full article:

Pregnancy after 40 can be less risky if women reduce their BMI

Pregnancy after 40 is a risky endeavor for most women, but a new study indicates that reducing body mass index before pregnancy can reduce chances of cesarean delivery, gestational diabetes, gestational hypertension/preeclampsia, and preterm delivery.

In the United States more than 13% of pregnant women are 35 and older, and nearly 3% are age 40 and older. However, this data undermines the impact of obesity on increasing risky pregnancies in otherwise healthy women.

The study evaluated 53,480 women who were voluntarily enrolled in a pregnancy risk assessment and education program operated by Alere Health within a five years span.

Researchers excluded women who reported heart disease, chronic hypertension, pre-gestational diabetes, tobacco use, and conception with assistive reproductive technology.

Data was grouped by maternal age — 20 to 29 years or 40 and older — and obesity. Those with a body mass index of 30 kg/m² or higher were defined as obese; those with lower BMIs were defined as normal.

Women over 40 years of age were shown to have delivered at a significantly lower gestational age, had a greater incidence of cesarean delivery, gestational diabetes, preterm birth, and both low and very-low birth weight infants, compared with controls aged 20 to 29 years.

The study indicated that both advanced maternal age and obesity influence pregnancy outcomes. Pregnancy at 40 years and older can be less risky if women modify their diets and reduce their body mass index to healthier levels, prior to conception.

It’s important to note that here were limitations to the study: While the population included both Medicaid and commercially insured women from across the United States, it cannot be assured if the same results would be observed in the general population or for those with later prenatal care. It is also important to stress that despite increased weight, the women in the study were relatively healthy.