Page 2 | Trying naturally for a second baby at 41 after low AMH results

newmumcrazytired · 2026-07-17T15:26:10+00:00

I am 41. I know. Old. I am trying for my second baby. We have been trying for 8 or 9 months. We saw a consultant yesterday and my AMH is 0.8. 6 follicles. He said he wouldn’t recommend IVF because the chances of retrieving a viable egg with such a low AMH reading is very low. He recommended to continue trying naturally. I’m gutted. Any success stories of getting pregnant naturally at 41 without dying from the stress and pressure of it? He recommended having sex twice a week rather than by the ovulation monitor readings and taking C10 co-enzyme 200mg, which I’ve bought. I just keep thinking I’ve missed the boat and it is hitting me so hard. I suffered a horrendous miscarriage before my daughter was born but this somehow feels worse. I have cried a lot today. Really struggling and feel so guilty my daughter is seeing this. I think it might be a depression, which I have suffered from before.

Original poster

newmumcrazytired · 19/07/2026 16:52

january1244 · 18/07/2026 13:35

Yes to ubiquinol - 200mg to 600mg a day. Have a look at It Starts with the Egg, she also recommends the antioxidant NAC. Both of you take good quality vitamins, with methyl folate in it.

And 5% a cycle is still 50% ish chance in one year of it happening

I’ve bought Ovum so going to have a go with those. It says they have everything from It Starts with the egg book. I do have the book but I feel you need a biochemistry degree to understand what is best to take!

Thank you - that is a good way to look at it. 50% chance over a year. My husband and I agreed to try until end of next year.

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Sonic85 · 18/07/2026 21:26

Hi OP, I’m the same age as you and also TTC number 2 after having my son at 38. We’ve been trying for over a year now.
Is your AMH in pmol/L? Your follicle count does sound OK and better than the AMH would suggest. My AMH is also low (4pmol/L) and there were 5 follicles when I had my scan, which the consultant seemed reasonably happy with. I wasn’t discouraged from pursuing IVF, though was told the chances of success are pretty low.
I was also disappointed with my AMH result because my FSH was OK (7.9 a few months ago). My mum didn’t go through the menopause until around 55 and there are women in my family who had children in their forties.

BabyBorn · 18/07/2026 20:05

I get my omega 3 tablets from cytoplan, I take the vegan ones as my body doesn’t really like fish but I’m sure they sell normal ones on there, my multivitamin is a prenatal one from Wild Nutrition. My Ubiquinol is Solgar brand and I also took 4000ui of vitamin D which I forgot to mention in my previous post x

Original poster

newmumcrazytired · 18/07/2026 17:32

HanJanFan · 18/07/2026 13:41

I had my first child at 38 years 9 months, then had to wait a year to try to conceive again due to having a section. It then took 7 cycles to conceive again, giving birth just after I turned 41.

That is inspiring! Thank you 😊

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Original poster

newmumcrazytired · 18/07/2026 15:44

Pineapplesunshine · 18/07/2026 15:28

Hi Op, just in terms of the amh- I had fertility issues and was told my amh was very low and natural pregnancy unlikely, but my scans showed more follicles than the amh suggested - which it sounds like might be your situation? I was younger than you, but we seem to start peri quite early in my family - I was early forties and my sisters were late thirties / thirty to forty threshold. Anyway, after my low amh tests I felt hopeless and cried a lot. I then got pregnant naturally the the month i was due to have ivf. Conceived my second 2.5 years later very quickly. And, my sister who was peri in late thirties and the nhs wouldn’t give fertility treatment to given chances of success, paid for ivf and only had two eggs and got pregnant with ivf first time. Hope that things work out for you.

That’s really interesting. Thank you. It does sound very similar although mine is age related. I’m trying to keep in mind that AMH is only about quantity of eggs not quality but maybe I’m clutching at straws. I think all we can do is keep trying naturally. Thank you for your inspiring story.

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Pineapplesunshine · 18/07/2026 15:28

Hi Op, just in terms of the amh- I had fertility issues and was told my amh was very low and natural pregnancy unlikely, but my scans showed more follicles than the amh suggested - which it sounds like might be your situation? I was younger than you, but we seem to start peri quite early in my family - I was early forties and my sisters were late thirties / thirty to forty threshold. Anyway, after my low amh tests I felt hopeless and cried a lot. I then got pregnant naturally the the month i was due to have ivf. Conceived my second 2.5 years later very quickly. And, my sister who was peri in late thirties and the nhs wouldn’t give fertility treatment to given chances of success, paid for ivf and only had two eggs and got pregnant with ivf first time. Hope that things work out for you.

Original poster

newmumcrazytired · 18/07/2026 15:16

You are so right. I’m feeling better today. Having one is lovely. I think we’ll continue to try for a second but try not to put too much pressure on.

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Mulledjuice · 18/07/2026 13:52

newmumcrazytired · 17/07/2026 17:57

Is there any other success stories? Drowning in despair here

Well you need to have a word with yourself. Getting into a downward spiral of disappointment is not going to be helpful to conception, other people's stats are not your stats, and you will miss out on so much if you let this take over.

I sympathise, really - i am coming to terms with not having the second child i wanted so much, for not dissimilar reasons. But i have an amazing son and there are as many advantages to him of being an only child as in having a sibling. And I dont want to look back and regret missing him

Original poster

newmumcrazytired · 18/07/2026 13:48

HanJanFan · 18/07/2026 13:41

I had my first child at 38 years 9 months, then had to wait a year to try to conceive again due to having a section. It then took 7 cycles to conceive again, giving birth just after I turned 41.

Thank you. That has given me hope! I’m 41.5 and not conceived yet after 8 or 9 months trying. I conceived my first child after 3 months but that was after a miscarriage. The miscarriage one maybe took 5 months. It is so stressful 😣

OP posts:

HanJanFan · 18/07/2026 13:41

I had my first child at 38 years 9 months, then had to wait a year to try to conceive again due to having a section. It then took 7 cycles to conceive again, giving birth just after I turned 41.

Original poster

newmumcrazytired · 18/07/2026 13:39

BabyBorn · 18/07/2026 13:21

I would suggest a very clean diet, lots of good quality protein. 400-600mg a day. High strength Methylfolate, very good quality multivitamin and Omega 3 capsules. I have just had my 4th child at 41. I did all these things and it happened. Good Luck!

Sorry, me again just to say I’ve bought some omega 3 now on Amazon so will take that as well as the Ovum. Hopefully that will be enough?

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Original poster

newmumcrazytired · 18/07/2026 13:36

BabyBorn · 18/07/2026 13:21

I would suggest a very clean diet, lots of good quality protein. 400-600mg a day. High strength Methylfolate, very good quality multivitamin and Omega 3 capsules. I have just had my 4th child at 41. I did all these things and it happened. Good Luck!

Thank you! I have just bought a pot of the Ovum vitamins as apparently they have all of what is recommended in ‘It starts with the egg’ book. Apparently you have to take three a day spaced out over the day, but I’m going to have a go. My diet is probably not the best so that is something to work on. I find it hard with a three year old! Congratulations on the birth of your new little baby. Thank you so much for the advice.

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january1244 · 18/07/2026 13:35

Yes to ubiquinol - 200mg to 600mg a day. Have a look at It Starts with the Egg, she also recommends the antioxidant NAC. Both of you take good quality vitamins, with methyl folate in it.

And 5% a cycle is still 50% ish chance in one year of it happening

BabyBorn · 18/07/2026 13:22

Sorry I meant Ubiquinol 400-600mg a day. In my opinion the COQ 10 isn’t pure enough x

BabyBorn · 18/07/2026 13:21

I would suggest a very clean diet, lots of good quality protein. 400-600mg a day. High strength Methylfolate, very good quality multivitamin and Omega 3 capsules. I have just had my 4th child at 41. I did all these things and it happened. Good Luck!

Original poster

newmumcrazytired · 17/07/2026 20:58

LambriniBobInIsleworthISeesYa · 17/07/2026 20:18

I was younger when I got pregnant, but swear by the “have regular sex not lots of sex around ovulation” theory. With my first I did everything correctly in terms of OPKs and timing intercourse and I swear that it caused me and my husband so much stress that it completely negated any chance of it working. With number two we just had sex at least twice a week and it made me I took a prenatal vitamin. I could never get into the “if it happens it happens” mindset either, so trying to stay as unstressed as possible was important for my sanity. Good luck.

Thank you. That is so helpful to know. We will keep trying. I think that’s my only option,

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LambriniBobInIsleworthISeesYa · 17/07/2026 20:18

I was younger when I got pregnant, but swear by the “have regular sex not lots of sex around ovulation” theory. With my first I did everything correctly in terms of OPKs and timing intercourse and I swear that it caused me and my husband so much stress that it completely negated any chance of it working. With number two we just had sex at least twice a week and it made me I took a prenatal vitamin. I could never get into the “if it happens it happens” mindset either, so trying to stay as unstressed as possible was important for my sanity. Good luck.

Original poster

newmumcrazytired · 17/07/2026 19:56

Onechild · 17/07/2026 19:48

Your AMH and very low IVF success rate is normal for your age and unfortunately that means diminished reserve. I think it’s selfish that your husband waited until your late 30s to get you pregnant knowing you wanted more than one. He will have known fertility decreases dramatically by your late 30s and even more in your 40s.

I know a couple of women who had children in their early 40s but also know lots who don’t have children. I’m a lot younger than you and have one child. Sometimes it makes me sad I won’t be able to do this again but I really love having one child! There are lots of positives of having an only.

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Yes, I did put another thread up about my husband as I do feel a lot of resentment at times. People said I should take responsibility too, which I agree. It is hard to accept though.

I think, in time, I could definitely come to terms with having just my daughter. She is truly wonderful and I love her so much. I know I am so very lucky to have her. I suppose it is hard to adjust your expectations and what you thought your life would look like. Conceiving has been the hardest part of my life by quite a long way. I never realised it would be like this. I think I put too much pressure on myself.

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Onechild · 17/07/2026 19:48

newmumcrazytired · 17/07/2026 19:08

My daughter is 3 in August. I had her at 38. I always knew I wanted 2, but my husband is so slow coming round to the idea. It is so hard. The hope and despair each month is agonising. My job is ok, really. Not perfect and stressful at times but probably not worth giving up as I think I’d become completely obsessed and drive myself mad with TTC. Do you take any supplements? I take the Seven Seas prenatal and the consultant recommended the co-enzyme C10 200mg yesterday so I took that today. It is agonising, isn’t it? Thank you for the solidarity 😊

Show quote history

Your AMH and very low IVF success rate is normal for your age and unfortunately that means diminished reserve. I think it’s selfish that your husband waited until your late 30s to get you pregnant knowing you wanted more than one. He will have known fertility decreases dramatically by your late 30s and even more in your 40s.

I know a couple of women who had children in their early 40s but also know lots who don’t have children. I’m a lot younger than you and have one child. Sometimes it makes me sad I won’t be able to do this again but I really love having one child! There are lots of positives of having an only.

Original poster

newmumcrazytired · 17/07/2026 19:45

theotherfossilsister · 17/07/2026 18:47

I’m 41 and had a horrible miscarriage in April just before my birthday, ironically we were preventing when we conceived that one but it made us both realise how much we what a second one. Cycle four of trying and it’s so hard. Solidarity, my son is almost same age as your daughter. Did you say she’s four? I definitely wouldn’t give up work for this unless you hate your job and want to find someone else

who did you see? Six follicles is ok.

@Spanglishmummy3 what are these make fertility sachets please?

It’s good to know 6 follicles is ok. Tbh, I’m not certain the reading was very accurate as she struggled to see the left ovary. She said there were 3 in each ovary in the end but it didn’t feel like an exact science. They said AMH is a better marker, which was really low. Gutted.

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Original poster

newmumcrazytired · 17/07/2026 19:42

IdaGlossop · 17/07/2026 19:35

From observing a close relation and a friend, IVF looks like a tremendous ordeal. I can't see that it makes any difference which line ovarian reserve runs down. Ovaries are ovaries.

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Thank you. I think if there was a good chance IVF would be successful - even a 20% chance - we’d have jumped at it. But he said 5% because of the low AMH and so low ovarian reserve. He said I’d probably tolerate it well physically but I think it’s because there is such a low chance of retrieving a viable egg. Gutted. But will continue to try naturally. It’s hard to hope but not expect it to happen.

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IdaGlossop · 17/07/2026 19:35

newmumcrazytired · 17/07/2026 19:26

I only had the one consultation as it was for IVF and it was recommended not to go down that route but to continue trying naturally. According to AI, ovarian reserve can run down the female line but perhaps I’m clutching at straws!

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From observing a close relation and a friend, IVF looks like a tremendous ordeal. I can't see that it makes any difference which line ovarian reserve runs down. Ovaries are ovaries.

Original poster

newmumcrazytired · 17/07/2026 19:32

theotherfossilsister · 17/07/2026 18:47

I’m 41 and had a horrible miscarriage in April just before my birthday, ironically we were preventing when we conceived that one but it made us both realise how much we what a second one. Cycle four of trying and it’s so hard. Solidarity, my son is almost same age as your daughter. Did you say she’s four? I definitely wouldn’t give up work for this unless you hate your job and want to find someone else

who did you see? Six follicles is ok.

@Spanglishmummy3 what are these make fertility sachets please?

We went to FTP Oxford, btw. But saw a consultant in Worcester. I thought they’d be throwing themselves at us to do IVF as we’ve conceived naturally before and you know for the money! But no, said we’d have roughly the same chance with IVF as trying to conceive naturally. 5% chance. I was shocked. I thought all women who got pregnant in their 40s used IVF. Little did I know. So little 😢

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Original poster

newmumcrazytired · 17/07/2026 19:26

IdaGlossop · 17/07/2026 19:20

I don't have any genetic knowledge at all, I'm afraid, other than the 50:50 principle. Worth asking your consultant?

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I only had the one consultation as it was for IVF and it was recommended not to go down that route but to continue trying naturally. According to AI, ovarian reserve can run down the female line but perhaps I’m clutching at straws!

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IdaGlossop · 17/07/2026 19:20

newmumcrazytired · 17/07/2026 19:03

Yes, my mum had my sister at 40 and my brother at 43. Because of that, I had always assumed my fertility would be good at this point, which was why I was so surprised in my consultation with the IVF consultant this week that my AMH was so low and indicates such low ovarian reserve. I’m devastated to be honest and beginning to think my mum was just very lucky and offered a lot of false hope. The women in my father’s line had children relatively young. My mum has a bicoruate uterus, as did her mum, her sister and my sister inherited too. To my surprise, I have a normal shaped uterus, which makes me think that my inner workings and fertility may have been inherited from my father’s line. Do you know if that is possible? I’m so worried about it all.

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I don't have any genetic knowledge at all, I'm afraid, other than the 50:50 principle. Worth asking your consultant?