Am I classed as an older mum now??

[user1474949113]

What age do they class you as an older mum?
What age do they say you should have the amniocentesis?

I am 37 - Literally found out I'm pregnant today - I have 2 teenagers and a 10 yr old so very much out of it when it comes to pregnancy!!

[FlyingDragon]

Congratulations.

An older mother is usually over 35 but it's over 40 for consultant led care. Nowadays you can have a combined blood and scan to see if your baby is high risk of an chromosome abnormalities. A few hospitals do a Harmony blood test which is much more accurate, although you can pay to have that done privately if your hospital doesn't and you want to have it done.

[fitzbilly]

I believe if your over 35 you're classed s an older mum so yes!

And congratulations!!!

[idontlikealdi]

I had geriatric primagravida on the top of my notes - I was only 34!

[29redshoes]

I didn't think you had to have an amniocentresis at any age?

I'm fairly sure "older" was over 40 at my hospital when I gave birth.

[PotteringAlong]

I'm 36 and will be 37 when the baby is born and was told by the midwife I will be classed as older but not geriatric!

[PotteringAlong]

And you don't have to have an amino at any age

[SlipperyJack]

I had "elderly primigravida" on my notes for DC1. I was 35! And 37 for DC2

Congratulations - all will be well, I'm sure.

[OldFarticus]

I am 29 weeks today and officially geriatric.

Consultant was happy to write "geriatric primagravida" on my notes but balked at "too posh to push" in relation to my ELCS. I was hoping to piss off a few more Daily Wail readers....

Congratulations OP!

[SydneyCarton]

I had my second baby 5 months ago at 37 and no one mentioned anything about me being an older mother. Being over 35 is something they may flag up but my understanding is that it's usually in conjunction with other potential complications like high blood pressure, diabetes, high BMI etc

[Whathaveilost]

Congratulations!
Isn't there two definitions of being an older mum? Ie what is medically classed as older and what MN think!
There's usually a load of indignant posts saying 'well I'm a first time mum and I'm only 53! I'm not old ' and the like.

[user1474949113]

Thankyou all X
Still wrapping my head around all this!
Pleased to not have an amino - shows how long ago I last had a baby!!!

[user1474949113]

That was meant to be AMNIO - baby brain?

[Mybeardeddragonjustdied2016]

I had ds at 43.
Actually prehistoric!

[Jos2004]

Hi, I am pregnant aged 39. Classed as an older mother but it just seems to be a label as nothing has happened any differently. I have two adult step sons and a 12 year old daughter so it has been a long time since I have been in this world too!
Just starting to get my head around it now - how are you feeling about parenting teenagers and a toddler at the same time? 😊

[BreatheDeep]

Over 35 is an older mum for their 'risks' assessment when they ask you allllllll the questions about health, weight etc and give you a risk class. But it's only one part of it. I'm 35 so have that ticked in my risks but everything else is low and therefore I'm low risk overall. Only thing I've had because of my age is the diabetes test as over 35 is one of the reasons to have that in my area.

[Heatherbell1978]

I had DS at 36 and I'm now 38 and pregnant again. Where I am (Scotland), consultant led care starts at 41 so I'm treated the same at my age. I guess the media always uses 35 as the cut off for older mums.

[BeardMinge]

Had my first at 40, but whenever I mentioned being old at the hospital the midwives and consultants said 'Pah! You're not particularly old'. Might have something to do with the area I live in though, quite a few forty-something pregnant women around.

[GiveMyHeadPeaceffs]

I had ds at 41 and was consultant led which was very reassuring. But one midwife did make me feel like a veritable old crone...the others were brilliant though and women having babies over 40 are now much more common.

Congratulations!

[MumofthreeandBean]

Thankyou all.

I feel much better now!
I guess pregnancy may well treat me differently than when I was last pregnant in my 20's - a whole decade has passed by!

[LostInMess]

I had DC1 at 34, DC2 at 36, DC3 at 38. Nobody batted an eyelid, DC1 was in MLU and DC2&3 planned homebirths.

Found out DC4 was on the way shortly before my 42nd birthday. I have never known such fussing - not for antenatal care, I was consultant led but only saw him twice and they pretty much left me to it - but re due date. They were adamant I would have to be induced if he wasn't on time. I was equally adamant he wouldn't as all the others were late. Fortunately he turned up a day early after a textbook pregnancy and birth. I appreciate I was very lucky with this.

So if my experience is anything to go for, panic sets in amongst the medical profession once you hit 40!

[MumofthreeandBean]

Well I'm expecting twins!!!

[Frazzled2207]

Round here 40 is classes as "older mum" though It didn't affect my friend's pregnancy at all really. i was 38 and although seemed a lot older than many of the other mums in hospital didn't get treated any differently at all.
Congratulations

[AMR123456]

Congrats on the twins!! I was 30 when I had my 1st. My notes said geriatric on them I was like

[Owllady]

Twins :o