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Original poster

If you had your first child at 38+

47 replies

KnobwithaK · 05/05/2020 18:08

.. how was the birth?

Pregnant with my first and will be an "older" first time mum. Obviously I'm doing "proper" research too but interested to hear others' experience.

OP posts:
Original poster
KnobwithaK · 05/05/2020 18:48

Gentle bump..

OP posts:
lachy · 05/05/2020 18:49

I was 41. Pregnancy was fine, I was consultant led as I'm diabetic, so I had more scans and more monitoring than others but it wasn't an issue.

Birth was also fine, I was induced at 38 weeks and my labour and delivery were great.

Congratulations x

Tigertrees · 05/05/2020 18:49

Mine was a peaceful elcs, though that was not really age related.

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Original poster
KnobwithaK · 05/05/2020 19:09

Thanks both - glad to hear they went well!

OP posts:
MrsWooster · 05/05/2020 19:10

First was bloody awful but that was back to back, not age related. Second was a breeze at 46

devildeepbluesea · 05/05/2020 19:12

Pregnancy was a breeze, birth was terrible, although completely unrelated to my age. Apparently I have ludicrously narrow hips (wish my arse bore that out) and DD got corkscrewed up and wouldn't put any pressure on my cervix. Ended up with failed epidural, failed induction and EMCS.

Buzzer3555 · 05/05/2020 19:13

I was 38 with my first and 42 with my second. Both fit and well .

Proudpeacock · 05/05/2020 19:13

Had an ELCS due to placenta praevia so not age related. Really good experience and recovery.

hoorayforharoldlloyd · 05/05/2020 19:26

Found pregnancy exhausting but that could be any age. And was v grumpy. Baby was premature but not age related and had emergency c section but was fine, not traumatic, healed very well.

Having a baby very tiring but a big element of that is because he's not a sleeper and have no family nearby. Not sure how much age is affecting that as nothing to compare it to!

Yellredder · 05/05/2020 19:42

42 with mine - I was consultant led also due to Diabetes. Ended up with a CS as baby was waaaay too comfy in there. I found the whole experience positive.

CrimeAndMumishment · 05/05/2020 19:43

Pregnancy was quite difficult as I was tired all the time, I would give up work earlier if I was having another.

Birth was pretty awful but nothing to do with age I don't think.

Babymamamama · 05/05/2020 19:45

Emergency c section due to being overdue and DC getting kind of stuck. But I don't think those issues related to my age. No issues since then but I did draw the line at one DC as wouldn't have wanted to have more as a slightly older first time mother.

Pinklynx · 05/05/2020 20:04

Mine two births at 38 and 41 weren't great but nothing to do with age. I didn't have any problems actually giving birth and I've got away without any issues post-birth that many women unfortunately suffer. It was just pretty painful for me and I wish I'd had the epidural a bit earlier and organised some more help post-birth. I tried to manage it without any help and it caught up with me in the end. Good luck and I'm sure all will go well Flowers

Pinklynx · 05/05/2020 20:04

*My

Genderwitched · 05/05/2020 20:11

39 with first, she was two weeks late and back to front. I was induced and after a thirty six hour labour had a failed ventouse and then a forceps delivery. I had an epidural.

45 with second, compared to first was an absolute breeze. Again he was two weeks overdue and I had to be induced, but otherwise no problems.

I don't think any of the problems were due to age.

Genderwitched · 05/05/2020 20:12

Oh, and with both I had raised blood pressure which was due to age I would think.

Original poster
KnobwithaK · 05/05/2020 20:46

Thanks all! A mixed bag really.. sorry to hear that some pps had a hard time.

@MrsWooster and @Genderwitched - did you have any idea your babies were back to back before you started giving birth? My hospital does a 36 week scan as standard but I have no idea how likely it is that the baby changes position after that.. Confused

OP posts:
OnlyJudyCanJudgeMe · 05/05/2020 20:54

I was 37. Had major BP issues, preeclampsia, GAEMC at 30 weeks.
Desperate for number 2 at 42 now.

JellicleCat · 05/05/2020 21:14
  1. Trouble free pregnancy other than raised blood pressure but that was due to very stressful work situation rather than the pregnancy. Induced when two weeks overdue. Pretty horrendous birth ending in successful forceps delivery, but that was due to baby's massive head rather than age. DH also had a large head which I hadn't taken into consideration when pregnant Shock. Good luck with your pregnancy.
Prokupatuscrakedatus · 05/05/2020 21:36

Well, I had two after 38.
Both in a 'birthing house' i. e lika a homebirth but more comfortable.
DD - 10 hours and then we had a take away from the Indian place vis a vis and we went home
DS - 1 hour and after that we went and collected DD from her childminder and home - to my own bed and bathroom.
It was painful and I made a lot of noise but without complications.

ichoosewinetoomuch · 05/05/2020 22:14

Wow I just turned 40 and thought I was way too late for a second but these stories give me hope!

SoMuchToBits · 05/05/2020 22:20

I was 39 (just). Pregnancy I felt tired and felt sick for the whole 9 months!

Birth was ok, had an epidural (planned) and a ventouse delivery. Ds is now 19, healthy and totally lovely!

Cressless · 05/05/2020 22:21

I had DS two months before turning 40. Perfectly fine pregnancy, and ended up having an ELCS for non-age-related reasons (he’d got very tangled up in the umbilical cord).

Good luck, OP.

FriedasCarLoad · 05/05/2020 22:25

Had my first at 38.

Painful, but medically smooth home birth in a birthing pool, with G&A. Slight tear but not even enough for stitches.

Plus I wasn't only "geriatric", but also unfit and obese 😳. I got away with it though Grin

Alicesweewonders · 05/05/2020 22:59

Except for some nausea, pregnancy was a breeze, birth was a very calm & lovely c section.

Best of luck