Trying to conceive over 40

@Unicorn9 glad it helped. Its funny but whenever I’ve dealt with healthcare professionals while ttc and pregnancy (I was 40 when I had ds) they’ve not had the same concerns regarding age. My midwife called me a spring chicken at 40 as she had two ladies over 50 on her books. There’s not the same panic when younger people take a while to conceive or have pregnancy loss yet with the over 40s there’s the assumption it’s age. Someone on another thread said their consultant didn’t think pregnancy loss in those under 45 was usually age related. I thought that was interesting.

Yes the recommended dose is 2x 200mg twice a day according to the nurse. She said she would check with the consultant to see if I needed more but I forgot to ask on the way out after the scan. I think I’m ok on the lower dose. Xx

@Catconfusion thank you so much for your post. It was so reassuring to hear you say that the epu nurses said they see plenty of women who are 42 with viable pregnancies. It made my day. Is the normal progesterone dose 2 200mg cyclogest pessaries a day one in evening and one in the morning or 2 in the morning and two in the evening?

We are planning to just try naturally now as don’t have the money to do ivf anymore and i was getting quite down re my age so it was great your message…

*beat the odds

@birdbybird I’d definitely recommend low carb. We’ve been following a Mediterranean diet with plenty of fish, leafy greens and beans. We’ve not been that strict but I wonder if it helped my cycles regulate a bit. Although, this baby was conceived on day 27.

This cycle is the first one I started progesterone (200mg pessary) every night 3 days after ovulation and I’ve taken baby aspirin every night throughout my cycle. I took the Zita West Vitafem prenatal. Plus 200mg of ubiquinol and an omega 3 tablet with epa and dha. Proceive do a really good omega 3. We also managed to dtd 2 days before O and on the day of O.

Interestingly the EPAU nurse said they’ve had a memo to say studies have proven Progesterone leads to more live births in ladies with recurrent miscarriage or with a history of spotting in pregnancy. They now have the green light to prescribe it. I’m on quite a low dose from my GP. The dose for miscarriage prevention is 2 200mg pessaries twice a day. I had the option of increasing but I feel like the dose I’m on is ok. It worked when I was pregnant with ds and I don’t have a history of spotting. Also I’m feeling really rough and suspect progesterone could be to blame.

I’m really not sure what made this cycle different. I do wonder if there’s just a lot of luck involved. Another theory is that it’s to do with vitamin d. I conceived my ds 10 days later two years ago. Summer seems good for me.

I really do wish you all the luck in the world. Ttc at our age is really tough. There’s so much negativity out there as well which doesn’t help. Today the nurse said they see plenty of 42 year olds and older with viable pregnancies so it’s totally possible and plenty do best the odds. Xx

Thank you ladies. It means a lot. We’re so pleased. I’m vomiting multiple times a day so hoping to get some meds from my doctor. It’s come on so early. Apart from that, we’re all good. Just hoping all is well in a couple of weeks.

Really hoping there’s more bfps on here soon. Xx

@Honey2 I hope they do more than just that for you, it's so unfair when we get no answers.

@Mattieandmummy thank you, I am a vegetarian of 26 years so not eaten red meat for a long time, may look into the gluten free though, I only use full fat milk for tea anyway and the odd bit of cheese so hopefully that won't effect it! 🤞🏻 x

@October1979 I'm feeling exactly the same, they must all just be bad eggs in there and it's so sad, I just wished we had tried sooner but we hadn't been together long!

@Portlandia hi and welcome, I can't give you much in the way of tips I'm afraid as being tried everything and nothing works for me 😂

@Catconfusion congratulations lovely, so pleased everything's going well for you

Congratulations @Catconfusion
I’m interested to hear what’s worked for you as you’ve conceived a few times… this is my first month with ovusense and I’m 8 DPO . Won’t test yet as not getting any pregnancy symptoms. The one thing I could do is follow a low carb diet… which is something I did before my son was conceived.

Hi @Portlandia

I’m sorry ladies who are feeling a bit down. . I have a feeling this is not my month.

@Catconfusion ahhhh that’s brilliant 🤩

So ladies it’s good news from me today. I’m 6 weeks plus 2 and we have a healthy looking little bean with a heartbeat. It’s early days but we’re beyond happy. ❤️❤️❤️

I’m so sorry to hear you’ve been feeling down @Honey2 and @October1979 It is completely understandable. You’ve both been through so much. I think you’re right @Honey2 there are always positives. In early June I was sad after finding out my best friend is pregnant. Someone said to me, it’s always darkest just before dawn and they were right. You both could have good news right around the corner. You’ll need strength for when it happens as then it’ll be onto the next stage of worry that pregnancy brings. I’m sorry for anyone else who’s struggling too. Xx

@October1979 completely understandable to feel down. Give yourself a bit of space to feel sad about it (because it is really sad) but know that it can still happen for you and now that you’re being taken seriously this will hopefully increase the chances. It just takes one good one!! Sending lots of virtual hugs

A bit more proof for everyone:

My best friend: 1st at 38 after 2 years of trying, second conceived at 40 and born at 41 after 4 months of trying - both natural conception

My other good friend: 1st at 39 and second at 42, both took 5 months if trying, both naturally conceived

Both said they almost gave up but then just got lucky xxx

@October1979 massive hugs and sprinkles all around - it's so hard to stay positive but @Honey2 is right there are several reasons to look on the bright side - it's just a tough journey to get there x

@October1979 hugs to you too… i think we have to try abs stay positive (so easy to say)

A) we know it is possible to get pregnant and stay pregnant age 40+ (@sabtom and @Littlemiss41andfabulous are our proof)
b) we now have appointments to get checked out - so if there is anything ‘wrong’ hopefully it will be found
C) now we are ‘in the system’ WHEN we do fall pregnant hopefully we will be looked after by the drs and won’t have argue for every little test/scan

At least that’s how I am trying to rationalise the fact we’ve had such bad luck so far.

Hi all, I'm 40 and ttc for my first child- I started trying last September and gave up for a few months since June as I got fed up with periods. But I've quit the mini pill again and am hoping dietary changes I'm making will get me pregnant. I've quit alcohol and coffee and am eating more fruit and veg. Anyone got any other tips on helpful diet changes? Is full fat dairy good or not? Or organic dairy?
Thanks in advance and baby dust be with you all xx

@Marvellouslymadmum I spoke to a nutritionist today and she said for adenomyosis and endo she always recommends going gluten free and no red meat to try to reduce the bodies immune inflammatory response. And cut your dairy right down to one full fat organic portion a day because cows in this country are given lots of estrogen and it comes through to their milk and you really don't want any extra estrogen with adenomyosis. Anyhoo thought I'd pass that on x

@Honey2 that doesn't seem like much testing when you consider the pain and agony you've been through to arrive at their clinic. And if they point to your age it will just make you want to bop them one - I agree just one or two good eggs not much to ask

@Marvellouslymadmum @Gemandi2 @Mattieandmummy thanks all for your comments and support.
I’ve just been looking at articles on what they test at the recurrent miscarriage clinic and It seems it’s basically blood tests for clotting disorders. Which Im not convinced is an issue for me as I was already on Herparin and Asprin in my first MC and still had a MC! I totally feel like they are going to tell me it’s my age. I’ve had 2 mc and 1 chemical in the last 6 months and I just feel like surely I deserve to get one good egg!!!

@Honey2 I'm the same and with you. I had to move away from MN for a while as I just felt so down after the MC and needed time away from talking about what had happened and what we were trying to do and just try and get myself back up on my feet. I know the MC only occurred at beginning of June but it feels like an age and also feels like time is truly running out for me to conceive again. I know I should be happy enough with the two children I've got but the thought of not having one more LO leaves me feeling bereft - anyhow we have to dust ourselves down and try and carry on (sorry not much of a motivational speech) but I totally get it - I know this is only cycle 9 and in that time I've been pregnant but with my last child was conceived within 3 months so just makes me 😔

@October1979 I am so so sorry to hear your devastating news - no amount of words will ease the way you are feeling but I send you love & hugs x

@Honey2 sorry you're feeling low, I know how you feel. I abs no issues at all having my two children (now 15&16) and even managed to get pregnant by accident on the pill 4.5 years ago but that ended in mc and now just nothing. I'm just hoping the gynae team will find a reason and fix it but I don't hold out too much hope anymore, ttc is such a hard journey!

@Honey2 just to say I totally understand this, had my last baby coming up for three years ago and boy am I sad about it. I don't have the heart for IVF so we're talking very seriously about adoption now.