Any older ladies? I'm 46 and really want another baby, too old?

@LavendarLove

Ah didn’t realise this was an old thread!

Lavender..Did you have another baby ?..

I don't think it's too late there a friend of mine had her first baby last year she was 46

It happens so I wouldn’t write it off but I wouldn’t plan on it either. Maybe just ditch contraception and put it out of your mind and if it happens it happens.

Also there is a burst of fertility one or two cycles before the menopause when twins are actually highly likely so keep that in mind.

My friend is 47 next month and 20 weeks pregnant with twins. She has another set who are 16. Bonkers to my mind. But wealthy enough to afford a nanny (she doesnt work) which she's already alluded to.

Lavender- come and join us 40+ ladies on our thread. We’d love to have you. Just find the thread ‘40+ ttc summer baby dust for me’. We’re always near the top of the conception board (cos there’s so many of us!) so easy to find.

Good luck!

Having kids young is no guarantee you'll be around for them (though of course it is more likely). My MIL was 30 when she had DH and 37 when she had her youngest. She died at 57. You can never predict what your fate is so best to live life in the present.

Good luck OP. 😊

@Kintan, I'm a GP - no GP is trained to interpret an AMH level (unless they are ex-gynae with a particular interest in fertility) and therefore it shouldn't be done in primary care and the NHS should only fund this (quite expensive) test for those who are entitled to NHS fertility treatment.

The FSH/LH is more of a moot point, I might offer them for someone of that age who has not conceived for 6-12 months, but they don't tell you anything about egg reserve and so on their own are fairly useless.

I think that at 46 with 3 kids, taking up an NHS GP appt to discuss fertility would be the height of selfishness, sorry.

I'm 42 and six weeks pregnant with my fourth. My mum was 43 when I was born. Both my parents are dead but that's just life, my best friend died at 40 due to cancer. Having me kept my parents young, actually I think they'd still be alive today if it wasn't for the fags. I definitely don't wish I'd never been born because I had older parents who died while I was young!!!

laptopdisaster I’m afraid I can’t agree with your viewpoint. The only time I have really used the resources of the NHS as an adult is when I had my son. I certainly don’t feel guilty about ‘denying’ someone else an appointment - where do you draw the line of who deserves an appointment? Surely everyone who pays into the system is entitled to use it on the rare occasion. Anyway this debate isn’t the point of this thread. I guess you are right that I got lucky to have the AMH test - I’m not a medical professional so I’ll take your word for it :)

I know it is not the same thing but i have a 4yr old adopted child and i am 53. I dont find the parenting any harder than when i had my birth children and even though i am no doubt ancient in parenting terms i have the same energy i always had.
Sorry not trying to be smug but i really think it keeps me feeling young.
I know other older foster carers and adoptors who are in the same situation and we all cope fine despite our age.

No harm except the use of a scarce resource of a GP appt denying one to someone who needs it.

@Kintan you got lucky. General rule is don't request a test unless it'll change your management. AMH should never be done in primary care.

laptopdisaster l was Iate thirties with one kid - I wouldn't have been eligible for fertility treatment on the NHS if I'd needed it either, but my GP was happy for me to have the tests done, just so I had an idea if I was still possibly fertile. She said she'd request for the AMH test along with the others not knowing if the lab would do it, but they did. I guess it varies from area to area what fertility tests are available. OP - there's no harm in asking for the tests!

@Kintan were you 46 with three kids? AMH is only done in secondary care and she won't be entitled to a fertility referral on the NHS due to age and already having kids.

I had tests on NHS, it's the maximum my area will do for fertility, they have stopped most fertility things now, but will always offer day 3 FSH & day 21 progesterone. Although to be fair, that achieves nothing, except for giving a snapshot of that day. My FSH was high and progesterone boarderline, and I got a bfp the next cycle, so to be honest I probably wouldn't even bother with those tests!

laptopdisaster why would the OP have to go private for the blood tests? I had them done on the NHS, offered to me by my GP.

Please don't ask your GP for blood tests, if you want them they'll have to be private. Only way to find out is to try OP!

Good luck Wilf

I am just trying to point out what many others have said, you WILL be going through the menopause soon and your energy will fall off a cliff. HRT makes a bit of a dent but you won't feel the same. Raising a toddler, as you know, is extremely hard work!

(I am 'only' 47 btw)

As I keep saying 42/43 is VERY different to 46/47. Well IMHO. It's half a decade! I, personally feel SO different at nearly 48 than I did at 42!

I had my youngest at 43 so I am not going to diss older mums.
I thought I would never lose the longing for another baby but when I got to your age I finally did.
I understand your yearning but I think it will pass fairly soon.