OLDER MUMS

Yes, I'm with Marina - second child at 40 this summer. And there are others out there - Blu for one.

Merlin, a really wise and fab regular Mumsnetter (and I cannot remember if she has ever gone public with her age so I'll not name names ) had her second child at around your age and puts me to shame for the energy and zest she expends on her two. I had my third baby at 40 this summer and can agree with the others here - it was a healthy pregnancy and the only preoccupation of the medical team was the increased risk of chromosomal disorders e.g. Downs, which may be an issue for you, it wasn't for me. Admittedly the previous summer I lost a baby, but as far as we could tell this was just a horrid tragedy and NOT age-related. There were loads of mums at least my age and more at antenatal and on the ward.
It may be more a second child than an older mum thing, but I feel heaps more relaxed this time round and our dd is much more settled than ds was. If you get cracking now there will be quite a nice age gap. Ds is 4 and therefore a) at school for part of the day enjoying himself and leaving the coast clear for us two and b) able to understand how special having a new baby is and why it cries/poohs at awkward moments

Good luck Merlin! Get onto the Trying to Conceive thread.... it's a bloody fertile one!!

Mog - No I don't think it's ever really bothered them. My Dad is 55. It's just normal to them and they do enjoy having adult sisters coz they can stay overnight at our houses!

lol Janh.

Suedonim had her last child at 42 - it certainly doesn't sound like she's had any probs. I think basically if you can biologically conceive a child there are few other probs related to age except chromosomal issues such as Down syndrome. Other than that, yes there are small rises in risk of comparatively rare conditions such as placenta praevia (which i had at 37) but most probs are due to age related conditions unrelated to pregnancy - eg obesity, diabetes, hypertension. If you are fit and healthy you should have no more probs than a woman ten years younger. If it's what you want, go for it.

Mog, my DSs don't (they are 15 and 10, I am 52).

M2T, do you think your brothers mind having older parents? Is it something they ever comment on? Interested as an older mum myself.

Merlin, I had my 4th 4 days before my 42nd birthday - 4th caesarian too - recovery from the CS was just as fast as the others.

I am less energetic than I was before but the only thing that bothers me now is being older than some of his friends' grandmas.

M2T, I'm the same age as your mum!

Merlin - My Mum had my brothers at 37 and 40. They are both perfectly fine. Her pregnancies were straightforward apart from her BP being slightly high toward the end. But then that happened to me with ds and I was only 23!

They are now perfectly healthy (but cheeky!!) 14 and 12 yr old boys.

Merlin,
Try the mothers35plus site.