Superstar singer Janet Jackson is reportedly suffering a health crisis with her middle age pregnancy. Sources close to the singer are stating that she has ballooned to a weight of 250 pounds and now doctors are ordering bed rest. Jackson has been missing from the public eye during her pregnancy and speculation was going wild over what was happening, She is married to Wissam Saleh Al Mana, a multi-millionaire from Qatar who has extensive business holdings throughout the Middle East and internationally.
The order for bed rest comes from concerns over serious health complications that could develop. After the age of 35, expectant mothers face considerable health challenges that put not only their lives at risk but also possibly the child. Because of the reported weight gain, Jackson is at risk for gestational diabetes, a condition that increases the risk of pre-eclampsia, depression, and requiring a Caesarean section. Babies born to mothers with poorly treated gestational diabetes are at increased risk of being too large, having low blood sugar after birth, and jaundice. If untreated, it can also result in a stillbirth. Long term, children are at higher risk of being overweight and developing type 2 diabetes.
According to the Mayo Clinic, a woman who decides to become pregnant late in life also faces the possibility of a multiple pregnancy. The chance of having twins increases with age. The use of assisted reproductive technologies — such as in vitro fertilization — also can play a role. In addition, the risk of pregnancy loss is higher. Miscarriage and stillbirth increase as mothers get older, perhaps due to pre-existing medical conditions or fetal chromosomal abnormalities. Sources are saying that Jackson is “struggling with her appearance” and that the pregnancy is doing a number on her.” The gender of the child has not been revealed to the public and this is Jackson’s first pregnancy.
