Trying to conceive over 40

@sabtom @Littlemiss40andfabulous that’s interesting about NIPT on the nhs if your 12 week scan is high risk. I have read that they sometimes don’t get enough DNA at 10 weeks and you have to have the blood re done.

@Catconfusion @October1979 glad all is still going well for you. I am so down in the dumps. Did another test this morning and progression is there but not as much as I’d hoped for 48hrs. I think lines this time aren’t even as dark as my last MC. It so horribly depressing as all I can think now is I’ve got to go through another painful wait to be told ‘non viable preg’ at an early scan. I might try and see if the dr will do beta hcg bloods so I can help manage expectations. ☹️

We ended up waiting for the nipt test via nhs. Chances are (due to age over 40) we’d all be referred for the nipt test anyway.

@Littlemiss40andfabulous it's not going fast enough lol it feels like these first 12 weeks will drag! 😩 I tested positive for covid a few days ago, so I've been recovering from that. I've had both my jabs so my symptoms were only a slight temp and a bad cold, although I have no sense of smell now which my be a good thing so I'm not smelling things which can make me feel sick lol. Pregnancy symptoms, I've not really had any, just feel really hungry all the time and yesterday I couldn't finish an avocado without throwing it up.

I had my booking in appointment earlier this week and the midwife told me about all the scans and tests that are offered. She said the 12 week scan is when they do bloods and screening test, but I can opt to have the NIPT test at 10 weeks to get a more accurate result. However, the NIPT test at 10 weeks is done privately with a cost of around £400. Or I can wait till the combined test at 12 weeks and if the results show to be high risk then the NIPT test will be offered to me at no cost.

I go for another scan when I'm 9weeks (had one at 5w6d and saw heartbeat) so if everything is still good at 9 weeks I think we'll pay for the 10 week NIPT test. That way if everything is normal we'll both be able to relax and enjoy the scan at 12 weeks.

@Catconfusion I just looked up Public Health Wales info about antenatal screening and according to that NIPT is offered if high risk results after the combined test at 12 weeks are found.

@birdbybird that’s great news. It baffled me that the more accurate test wasn’t available on the nhs for me. I think it’s so important especially for older mums to get that reassurance. Xx

@Catconfusion I haven't had any blood tests taken at all yet. The midwife said they'd happen at the same time as the scan appointment. I have blood forms to take with me so will check what's written on them today.

@Littlemiss40andfabulous I’d speak to your midwife and see what the deal is in your area. Fingers crossed you can have it at the same time as the scan. Xx

Some nhs hospitals do offer the harmony test. I got mine done via the nhs at the 12 week scan.

How early do people do a pregnancy test?
I’m 6dpo.

Thanks for that detailed information @Catconfusion. I'll definitely be asking for it on 21st when I have my scan at 12 weeks and 4 days.

Wow @sabtom that has gone fast! How you feeling?

Amazing @sabtom ❤️ Xx

The nipt or harmony was £400 a couple of years ago when expecting ds. It’s 99% accurate and you can find out the sex if you want. In my area it can be done at the local hospital. There’s a bit of a controversy with it because in Iceland it’s done with every pregnancy and there’s now no one with Down syndrome as those pregnancies are aborted early. There were plans for it to be available on the nhs but it’s not happened yet as far as I’m aware.

The combined test you get at the nhs 12 week scan is about 75% accurate but how the baby appears on the scan gives some indication of any issues i.e. size and movement. They measure the neck and if that measurement is normal there’s a good chance baby is ok. I was only 40 when I had ds so the odds were much better then. We just decided if all signs were good with the combined test we’d assume all ok. I think I had a 1 in 2500 chance of a chromosomal abnormality when we got the result. Apparently age is part of the calculation they do to find out the odds so it’s more common to get a false positive for there being a problem if you’re older. I think it’s something like 1 in 250 or greater where they advise an amnio. Though my friend who had a high risk just had the nipt at that point as the amnio has a risk of miscarriage.

If you go for the combined definitely make sure you get it done at 12 weeks. If you are 14 weeks or more it’s a different test which is even less accurate. This happened to a friend who got given a late scan date as the hospital was busy. She was livid to be given a less accurate test.

I will definitely get the nipt because we just want to have an accurate picture of how baby is early on and the odds of an abnormality seem to go up steeply with age. I try to think though, although the odds go up it’s still relatively unlikely. If for example it’s 1 in 50 if you line up 50 mums only 1 would have the abnormality. Also there’s individual risk as well. Some couples will be less prone to an abnormality so the statistics can be misleading.

Obviously the nipt doesn’t mean you’re home and dry as there can still be problems at the anatomy scan at 20 weeks like heart defects etc but if baby is chromosomally normal a lot of issues can be treated.

I think it’s amazing that a blood test at 10 weeks can look at the baby’s dna. It’s so clever. Xx

7weeks 2days

@sabtom remind me how far you are now?

@October1979 yes it’s the same as the harmony test. I think it’s still only available privately though.

@Littlemiss40andfabulous yes a blood test they do with or without a scan ( depending on the package you choose) you can have it from 10 weeks and the results come back in about 1 week. I am not sure if the NHS offer it. Privately it’s about £400

@October1979 I think they are the same thing? Unless one includes finding out the gender of the baby?

I agree with @Catconfusion at 10 weeks I'll be paying privately for the NIPT test. I don't think I could wait till 12 weeks only to be told I'm high risk. The sooner I can start relaxing and enjoying this pregnancy the better 😅. (Touch Wood I get to 10 weeks)

@Honey2 yes definitely having the nipt. With ds I found the wait for the combined screening test really stressful as I know a few people who’ve had false alarms and had to have amnios. I’d rather know all chromosomal ok at the ten week mark. Xx

@Honey2 if we get there I plan to have it if it's offered (am I right in thinking that's just a blood test so no risk to the baby?). But I don't plan to get too stressed about the results as I want to let nature take its course, what ever the results XxX

@Littlemiss40andfabulous @Catconfusion @October1979 just wondering if it’s gets to that point, are you considering getting the NIPT test?

@Lastyearttc I’m 41 (had my birthday in may)

AAAAAHHHH Yay AGAIN @Honey2! And great lines @October1979!

I’m 43 next month @Mum2baby07 but I figure I’ll keep “trying” though I admit I feel like a do a lot less than many of these amazing women. I did all my tests and all looks good, but haven’t asked for fertility referrals. I’m working on the basis that it’s just luck waiting for a good egg (or a good sperm!) so it’s up to nature. I figure it’s just time. The successes on here make me feel v positive, but if it doesn’t happen that’s okay too. Xx

That’s great news @Honey2 and looks a strong line! Fingers crossed this is the one.
@October1979 some great progression there - hoping the same for you and it’s a good egg!
@Lastyearttc I’m not sure it’s a problem for us all getting pg it’s more getting to full term. I accidentally fell pg at 42 but sadly mc at nine weeks and I’m 43 later this year but still going to have a few more rolls of the dice yet! The way I see it, I have nothing to lose and everything to gain x

@October1979 it just seems like madness to assume it won’t happen based on age alone when so many people have babies over 40. I guess they see the people who are having troubles so that group are less likely. Ttc for 2-3 years doesn’t seem abnormal for the under 35s but for us it means our eggs are no good 🤷🏻‍♀️.

Yes, probably wise to wait for nearer the 7 weeks mark. You do know your ovulation date as you’ve been tracking so there should be a HB during the 6th week. I went at 6 plus 3 with my ds as that’s the best appointment they could give me and there it was, beating away.

I have a really good feeling about this one! Xx

@lastyearttc we were told not to to abstain for longer than 5 days before the test and no less than 2 days because the more sex you are having the more testosterone your DH is producing and the better and more sperm he will produce and that testing outside of that 2-5 day range doesn't produce reliable results because the sperm degrades quite quickly.

Having said that the numbers all seem to be over the minimums so that's good but tbh I don't really know what it all means, sorry love