If you were pregnant with number three at 39 or older, physically, how was it??

[Babyquestion99]

I started another thread about how I’m on the fence about DC number 3 and whether or not to go for it. I’m 39 and my biggest worry is how it will affect my health and my body. I didn’t find pregnancy easy before, or the postpartum recovery.

So what I’m interested in is (and I know we’re all so different), how tough was pregnancy /birth recovery for number 3 if you were 39 or older when you had third DC?

I was 40 when I had dc3 and pregnancy and birth were not much different than the first two, in fact birth was easier and I felt better afterwards. I was 37 when I had the first though.

I was 39 and same as AliBingo pregnancy much the same, birth easier. DS was a very difficult teen though which I found tiring in my 50s

Pg with an unexpected DC3 after a big gap. Found it tiring but no worse than the other two.
Agree with poster above that the difficulties came later on - working F/T with two then teens and a toddler was a challenge, and still doing the school run at 54 is a pain in the arse!

I think it depends how old you were when you had dc1. If in early 20s it would feel a lot harder, late 30s not such a difference.

The pregnancy itself was okay, I had more aches and pains, but generally fine. But being heavily pregnant whilst looking after a 5 and 3 year old was such hard work. They don’t nap so I was on the go all the time. I was so relieved when DD was born. A newborn was a breeze compared to being pregnant!

First two in late twenties, third in late thirties, third I was more tired, but coped okay. He was my only c section due to positioning but the labour just as tough.

Was pregnant with number 3 at 39 and it was completely fine, even easier than with my third. Labour was longer, which I was surprised about, but not harder or more painful. Post-partum recovery was by far the quickest! I was still having some issues from my second labour (scar being a little painful during sex, sorry if TMI), and it's as if my third labour cured that completely.

I'm 40 and currently 38 weeks pregnant with my 3rd. Had my first 2 in late twenties. All my pregnancies have been hard but this one feels the longest for some reason and I definitely have more aches and low level gripes this time around!

I'll have to let you know about the labour bit. I said to someone yesterday - I didn't plan this very well, I'm going to have 2 teens and a toddler! Her response "oh and you'll be coping with the menopause!"

🙄 I'm only 40!!

For me I found my third pregnancy at 38/39 the hardest, I got spd and had a few scares, physically the birth was a lot harder too but DC3 was a lot bigger birth weight than my older two.

Thank you for your responses so far! If I were two or three years younger, I wouldn’t hestitate. So tricky!

I’m 14 weeks pregnant with DC3, I’m 39 and I’ve felt rough for the last two months. It’s getting me down if I’m being honest although this baby was planned. My two DC are 3 and 4 and hard work at the moment. I feel sick and crappy every day at the and with the first two it had worn off by week 12. I just hope it eases soon and I know it’s not forever but am feeling sorry for myself! I just keep thinking about the lovely trio we will have at the end of it :-)

39 when pregnant with DS3, just turned 40 at the birth. 7 and 5 year age gap and I did feel more tired, I suppose it was looking after the other two. Pregnancy was much the same, birth actually easier (longer than DC2 but still only gas and air) but I was certainly exhausted afterwards.
He's 6 now and it's not that bad with the age gap, DSs 14 and 12 adore him/ can't stand him in equal measure ( just like they feel about each other) so makes little difference!
Both my sisters were 44 with their last, go for it!

DC3 at 41 after 3 years of fertility treatment and TTC. (Pregnant with dc1 1st month ttc and ds2 2nd month ttc) 3 rd was the easiest pregnancy and easiest as a baby as the other 2 were at school by thenso it was just me and her. Third c section was tricky because of adhesions and I had a Harmony test and early delivery because of ‘advanced age’

I'm on baby number 2 with a huge age gap. Had my first at 18 and now 40 and 38 weeks pregnant. Pregnancy has been totally straightforward and other than feeling huge, I can only really moan about having carpal tunnel syndrome.

I am having an ELCS due to a medical condition which created a rather traumatic labour with my first although I'm half hoping to go into labour early to avoid the section as I'm scared of the recovery.

My biggest fear about being 40 with a newborn is how hard I'll find lack of sleep. The rest, I think I'll find much easier than I did as an only just 18 year old.

I was 39. It was basically easy--slightly easier than my first pregnancy at 30.

Pregnancies may on average get slightly harder as women get older but individual variation is going to be enormous. Every woman is different, every pregnancy is different.

The big influencing factor, IME, is whether or not you have small children around during a second pregnancy! If you have a big gap following the last birth or if it is a first pregnancy, like I did, it is likely to be far easier. On the other hand, older primipara definitely do tend to have more difficult births.

I had my third at 38. It was pretty easy actually. I was seriouslty focussed on taking care of myself in pregancy though. Healthy eating, working out, stretching, no slobbing on the sofa eating for two princess crap.

It was harder to get my body back but that could just have been having 3 under 6's rather than my age.

I was 39 when pregnant with my 4th. I’d had 3 straightforward pregnancies with 3 fairly straightforward deliveries, each labour shorter than the previous one.

The 4th pregnancy was still mostly straightforward but I got sickness for the first time, and was so tired. Baby came 3 weeks early and labour was faster than all the others again. I was lucky in that there’d been a 7 year gap between nos 3 and 4, so the bigger dc were more independent and able (and willing) to help out.

DD is 6 weeks old and I am 39. I was 29 when I had DS1 and 33 when I had DS2. This pregnancy was hard. I had morning sickness for the first time, the end of pregnancy was exhausting, labour was the same as the others but the recovery has been a lot longer. I’m just happy the boys are older and at school so i’ve been able to rest more. It could be that she’s a girl this time though.
But don’t let this put you off, she’s adorable and i’m so happy we went for a third!

Had my first two in my early twenties, and number 3 was born just before I was 43. It was not planned, and I taught full time during the pregnancy, had three months leave and returned to full time teaching seven weeks after the birth. As I had no option I just got on with it. DH had lost his job, so looked after DC.
It got harder after I was 50, tbh, with a child still in Primary school and still teaching full time.