Ellie Being Watched on TV By Her Two-Yr. Old Daughter
A recent Guardian (UK) article about the increasing popular of older mothers putting a strain on the already-filled plates of midwives in that country has created a stir which is slowly trickling around the world.
http://www.theguardian.com/society/2014/jan/05/older-mothers-strain-midwives
Ever ready to tackle any number of issues surrounding new older mothering, we asked UK-based Ellie Stoneley for her perspective, after she appeared on the BBC1 Show “The Big Question.” The topic: “Is Being a Mum in Midlife, Selfish?”
The photo shows her during the show.
Fat and Old?
I had an email from a news agency last week asking if I was available for an interview on the strength of the Royal College of Midwives report regarding the rising number of births in the UK to mothers over the age of 40. The email was clumsily worded:
“On Tuesday (we have) a special report on the rise in the number of obese mums and over-40 mums-to-be. As such we would be very keen to have you on for a live interview on the day.”
I wrote back asking if they were putting me in the ‘fat’ or ‘old’ category … they apologised and assured me I was only required to talk as an older mother! Britain flooded and the piece was shelved so nothing came of it.
Today, I looked at the Guardian (one of Britain’s most respected national newspapers) online and was disappointed to see an article on the same report … with the headline, “Older Mothers are Placing More Strain on Midwives.” It reads, “Older, more overweight mothers are placing an increased strain on midwives.”
(So, I’m) Damned again for being older and now presumed to be an obese? Dear, oh dear! The report states that there has been a boom in the number of births in the last 10 years, and in particular in the number of women over the age of 40 (a 4.1% increase), and also (separately) in the number of mothers presenting with maternal obesity. The two facts are not connected in any way. The article further states that in 2011, some 700,000 women gave birth in the UK which is apparently an all time high.
Here’s the thing: The majority of women who end up having children over the age of 40 didn’t set out in their 20s with this as a specifically laid out plan- it generally just turns out that way. The women who have children later are often faced with the “if you don’t do it now you never will” choice. Rather than vilifying older mothers, perhaps it would be appropriate to accept that there is a growing trend toward having children after 35.
Undeniably, it is physiologically harder to get pregnant the older you get, but that doesn’t mean it is impossible. The risks are also greater for pregnancy, but as the report also states, older mothers-to-be are more likely to be careful and pay attention to themselves.
Of the women at my daughter’s playgroup, I am the oldest, but many of them had far greater complications during pregnancy than I did. Women of all ages are at risk during pregnancy and it is crucial that this is acknowledged as well.
So, as far as I see it, we need to ensure that sex education includes fertility awareness so the very real message regarding the decline in fertility, with age is made clear. Then, we need to respect women who have been fortunate enough to succeed in getting pregnant at whatever age. Most importantly, we have to demand that the Government address the depressing lack of support for midwifery services. Midwives, after all, don’t just spend their time looking the relatively small numbers of saggy breasted aged crones in their care, they support mothers of all ages and should be afforded far more respect and reward.
We also took to some US-based Mothering writers for their “take” on this issue:
“From a medical perspective, older pregnant women do often require more care because of increase risks of medical complications (https://www.motheringinthemiddle.com/?p=212). I wouldn’t get angry – statics are statics and those are the facts. This has nothing to do with whether older mothers are good mothers etc or whether cost to society is ultimately lower because older mothers may be better able to support children, etc. It is true that there is a substantial cost with respect to NICU care for preemies, care for children with genetic syndromes etc, for healthy children. My best guess is that older moms are less likely to rely on state services etc.” Peg O’Neill, M.D.
And from Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, Intuitive Parenting Network, LLC
“In my opinion, they lumped obesity in with age, but showed no actual correlation, as I am sure there is none. They no doubt have a midwifery shortage in England, which has nothing to do with the age of women having babies.
And this paragraph caught my eye:
“Older women are more at risk of preeclampsia, miscarriage and complicated pregnancies which could result in use of forceps or caesarean section,” said Jacque Gerrard, RCM director for England. This means more time must be spent in the antenatal period educating women about the risks and the need to offset them by taking folic acid, coming off alcohol and other measures, she said, adding that older mothers tended to be more “educated, wiser women” and so more likely to take such advice on board”
So, these more “educated, wiser women” need extensive education to learn not to drink while pregnant? And, frankly, it’s the medical assumption of risk that usually creates risk. And for gosh sake, they need to stop telling women to take folic acid. Older women may just be more inclined to follow that advice–and thus have more miscarriages, preeclampsia and prematurity.
http://chriskresser.com/folate-vs-folic-acid
Mthfr.net gives a pretty good list of the pathology associated with folic acid use. And the nutrition that optimized well-being:
http://mthfr.net/prenatal-supplementation-optimizing-your-future-child/2012/01/20/
Maybe these midwives could learn this info and share it with everyone, not just “older moms.” In fact, they would see a lot more natural conceptions, healthy pregnancies and births among all ages if they did.”