Advanced maternal age doula · Cumming, Forsyth County & north metro Atlanta
"They said 'advanced maternal age' because I'm 35 or older."
35 or older, and suddenly every appointment comes with an extra test or two. You can take every precaution and still have a say in your birth. I'll help you sort the real questions from the label.
What's probably on your calendar
Not everyone gets all of these, and your care team decides what's right for you. But these come up often.
Extra screening or testing options to talk through with your provider
For some people, more check-ins later in pregnancy
Questions about timing your delivery
Sources: ACOG, ACOG and the Society for Maternal-Fetal Medicine.
What people worry about
These are fair questions, and most people don't say them out loud. You can. We'll turn each one into something to ask, and something to plan for.
- "Am I really high risk, or just over 35?"
- "What if the screening results come back with something?"
- "Will they induce me just because of my age?"
- "Will I still get a say in how I give birth?"
Questions to bring to your OB or MFM team
Check the ones you want to ask. Print the page or screenshot it before your next visit.
Your OB or MFM team knows your situation best. Bring this list to them.How two birth plans help
- How you'd like to labor, and who's in the room
- What matters most to you for this birth, so the label doesn't decide it for you
- Comfort techniques for early labor at home and at the hospital
- If your care team suggests an induction around 39 weeks: what you want to keep, and what to ask first
- If labor is long: rest, food and pain relief options you've thought through ahead of time
- If you have a cesarean: who's with you, and the first hour with your baby
A label on your chart isn't the whole story.
I've been the high-risk patient twice, so I know how one word on a chart can change how every appointment feels.
What the guidelines say
If you're 40 or older, your ob-gyn may recommend giving birth at 39 weeks to lower the risk of stillbirth, and older age by itself does not mean you need a cesarean (ACOG).
What to ask your doctor
Which extra tests or plans are because of my age alone, and what would change them?
Let's talk about your birth.
I take one or two births a month, so start with your dates and I'll reply with the times I'm free.
No medical details needed here. Prefer to text? (478) 974-3434