Let our 12 step guide help you deal with pregnancy in your 30's.

  1. The career - By the time the woman has reached her mid-30s, there is a better chance that she will be established in her career. This brings up the topic of discussing the pregnancy and the ability to return to work after the pregnancy with the boss. Most women wait until they are just about to show to tell their boss about the pregnancy.
  2. Habits - smoking. Women in their 30s who have smoked for a longer time period may have more difficulty breaking the habit. It is important to stop smoking as soon as learning about the pregnancy as possible. It is an even better idea to stop smoking before becoming pregnant.
  3. Long-term habits - drinking. If the two can be compared, drinking is far worse on the fetus than smoking. Drinking can lead to fetal alcohol syndrome. Fetal alcohol syndrome not only affects the fetus in utero but also the behavior of the child for a lifetime. There has recently been a link made between the alcohol drinking habits of pregnant mothers to the behavioral problems in children later in life.
  4. Your partner - Both of you are used being alone. Children will change this and you should communicate freely among the two of you to remove any misunderstandings.
  5. Life with other children - If the pregnant mother has other children, they may be older by the time mom has reached her 30s. Having older children with a new baby may seem like a Godsend, but the life change can bring about an interesting mood change between parents and children. The other children in the household may feel as though their place is being taken by the new baby. Parents need to talk about the baby and the positive effects of having a new child in the home.
  6. Introducing the health history - The health history of mom, dad, and other family members is truly important when a woman is pregnant in her 30s. If the mom has been pregnant before, the events during the pregnancy and the outcome of that pregnancy will directly affect the care received during this pregnancy. A family history of diabetes, high blood pressure, and other genetic conditions can also play into the preventative care and treatment of mom during pregnancy.
  7. A drop in metabolism and weight gain - We all know that the older we get, the less active out metabolism. If mom is overweight, pregnancy is the best time to change those eating habits and add in daily exercise. While weight loss is not suggested during pregnancy, the best choices are often the healthiest choices. If mom is eating right and consuming enough calories and still losing weight, there is no problem with this weight loss.
  8. Exercise is important - Exercise is important for mom when she is pregnant beyond the benefits to the body. Women who exercise tend to sleep better and are more prepared for the physical exertion of labor when the time for baby arrives.
  9. Changes in prenatal testing - Many of the same prenatal tests will be the same for the pregnant mom in her 20s and 30s with one exception. An amniocentesis will be suggested to test for several chromosomal disorders that are common in women over the age of 35. If mom is under 35, this test may not even be brought up by the obstetrician.
  10. Staying at home versus daycare - Having a baby later in life may allow mom the freedom to stay home for some time after the birth. Not only is this often a personal choice, but the cost of newborn daycare can often be more than the monthly income. If mom needs to return to work, there should be no negative feelings about leaving the baby in the care of a professional.
  11. Financial stability and baby - Parents will often wait until they are financially stable before starting a family. This means, have a stable job, buying a home and establishing some sort of rainy day fund or savings. Waiting for financial stability has increased the number of moms giving birth in their 30s for the first time.
  12. Your family - Letting your family know early on that you are pregnant is often helpful when it comes getting help