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Original poster

Pregnant in 40's....is it possible

50 replies

autumnleaves17 · 04/09/2022 10:23

Just turned 44, TTC number 2...been trying for 6 months now..

Feel like I've missed the boat 😖
I don't know anyone older than 38 having babies!
I had my first at 40.
Pandemic and other things made us wait a bit longer...now feel I've left it too late.

Took 4 months to conceive DD1

Any older mums any advice?
I'm going to my GP to ask for bloods and pelvic ultrasound...dreading it!!!

OP posts:
2boysand1princess · 04/09/2022 10:40

autumnleaves17 · 04/09/2022 10:23

Just turned 44, TTC number 2...been trying for 6 months now..

Feel like I've missed the boat 😖
I don't know anyone older than 38 having babies!
I had my first at 40.
Pandemic and other things made us wait a bit longer...now feel I've left it too late.

Took 4 months to conceive DD1

Any older mums any advice?
I'm going to my GP to ask for bloods and pelvic ultrasound...dreading it!!!

I was 41 when I had my DD. Unplanned though. Best thing that ever happened as I really really wanted a sister for my 2 boys. My Dsis decided to try after I had my dd as she too wanted another but thought it was impossible after 40. Anyway, her perfect little boy was born 2 days after her 43rd birthday! No issues during pregnancy for her, though it took her 6 months to conceive

Good luck!

Original poster
autumnleaves17 · 04/09/2022 10:53

@2boysand1princess thank you!
Giving me hope here!

OP posts:
FrodisCapering · 04/09/2022 10:54

First at 41, second at 43 and am currently very late with my period at 45! (Not actively trying for a third though!!).
Good luck to you!

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GlorianaCervixia · 04/09/2022 10:56

I had my second at 40 and my third (unplanned but welcome) at 43. Third pregnancy was my easiest and my most settled baby.

Original poster
autumnleaves17 · 04/09/2022 12:56

@FrodisCapering oh gosh! Do you think you're pregnant?!!

@GlorianaCervixia thank you that gives me hope too

OP posts:
FrodisCapering · 04/09/2022 16:27

I hope not because a 3 year old and a 2 year old are quite enough to deal with!!
If we had any help from family members then we would've liked four I think but two is enough!
I really wish you the best.
I forgot to say, I used the Ovia app (free) when trying for my second and it was fab. I got to know my body really well and I knew when I was ovulating. Boom! Number two conceived exactly when we tried. It's worth a go!

OldTinHat · 04/09/2022 16:32

I was 27 when I had my first and the FTMs I met at antenatal classes and then baby groups were all in their early to mid 40s. They all went on to have 2nd children.

Seashanty3 · 04/09/2022 16:35

Had my first at 38 and second at 42 - It took 18 months to get pregnant with my second daughter and I have to admit I nearly lost hope! I used a fertility monitor.
It may be worth your partner having a check as well - sometimes it's not just and only the mother's fertility that declines!

Daisypod · 04/09/2022 16:55

I had my fifth at 44 (after a gap of 10 years) currently 46 and just found out I'm expecting again 😳

Galadali · 04/09/2022 17:04

I had my first at 39 and second at 45. Totally doable (although obvs it took us a while), but went straight into menopause after my second, and juggling a new baby with that wasn't easy!

Harrriet · 04/09/2022 17:06

45 when I had my last baby.

Newusernameaug · 04/09/2022 17:08

Sounds a bit far fetched but I now know of two ladies who have fallen pregnant after Accupucture. One has tried for 18 months the other 4 years.
obviously could be coincidental but it gave me hope!

RunningSME · 04/09/2022 17:09

Newusernameaug · 04/09/2022 17:08

Sounds a bit far fetched but I now know of two ladies who have fallen pregnant after Accupucture. One has tried for 18 months the other 4 years.
obviously could be coincidental but it gave me hope!

I had acupuncture along with Ivf if nothing else it makes you lie still and close your eyes for half an hour which most people find beneficial under all circumstances

Norachance · 04/09/2022 17:14

My grandma had twins at 45 and my mum had me at 46. One of my in-laws had a baby completely by surprise after years of infertility. She was also 45 and an alcoholic. Her very intelligent lawyer daughter is now an adult.

Creepymanonagoatfarm · 04/09/2022 17:21

I had a dc at 43.2.
Third cycle of ttc.
A year later although blood work was OK I had 3 chemicals and a mmc at 8 weeks. 4 days off 45 th birthday.
I gave up.
Tips ime were :
Gave up tea and coffee
Gave up fizzy drinks
Ate lots of greens and fresh food
Didn't eat red meat anyway.

Original poster
autumnleaves17 · 05/09/2022 03:14

Goodness! Thank you for all the replies,
so many different stories but main message being there are a lot more women having babies in mid 40's than I thought!!

Thank you for the tips.
Currently taking a pre natal vitamin, Blackmores Conceive Well.
Also using Ovia and Flo app
OPKs Clearblue and First Response

I may have to get my DH to have himself checked..

Im also thinking we have been missing ovulation a few months as a few months we only DTD two or three times!!
Trying the DTD every other day approach from day 8. I have a regular 25 day cycle.

OP posts:
scooble · 05/09/2022 03:21

Of course it’s possible if you haven’t gone through menopause, surely you know this?

SingularityCat · 05/09/2022 03:30

autumnleaves17 · 05/09/2022 03:14

Goodness! Thank you for all the replies,
so many different stories but main message being there are a lot more women having babies in mid 40's than I thought!!

Thank you for the tips.
Currently taking a pre natal vitamin, Blackmores Conceive Well.
Also using Ovia and Flo app
OPKs Clearblue and First Response

I may have to get my DH to have himself checked..

Im also thinking we have been missing ovulation a few months as a few months we only DTD two or three times!!
Trying the DTD every other day approach from day 8. I have a regular 25 day cycle.

If there's months when you haven't managed to have sex around ovulation then you haven't really been trying for six months. Even in young women it can take a few months so yes, you need to be having more sex at the relevant time. Every other day from day 8 until you're sure you've ovulated is good to aim for.

ChickpeaFlour · 05/09/2022 03:41

I had infertility and pcos but had a baby at 43. I’d been eating very well and really believe in good nutrition as even if you get pregnant there can be a higher risk of miscarriage when older and it can be helpful I reckon - it’s a great start you’re taking vitamins I’m sure . I watched videos on YouTube by ‘Nourish by Melanie‘

thejadefish · 25/09/2022 23:50

Had my first at 39 (met DH relatively late in life). DH wasn't ready for another for a couple of years or so so didn't really start trying again until I was 42. By age 44 having had no luck and feeling increasingly despairing (thank you stats on Google) got a fertility check up done (blood tests and ultrasound, all of which came back as normal). Dr said that I had a 1-2% chance of conceiving and a 50% chance of miscarriage regardless of whether I tried naturally or went down the IVF route (with own eggs that is - had we gone for a donor egg chances of conception were higher). I felt hopeless, stopped taking the supplements that I had read about in "it starts with the egg" that I had been taking for the past year. 4 months later to my shock and delight discovered that I was pregnant and delivered my beautiful baby 10 weeks ago at age 45. After what the Dr told me I felt that my chances were effectively zero, however DH said lets keep trying. So glad that we didn't give up! Statistics might not be on your/our side but it's definitely possible, SOMEONE has to fall into that 1-2% bracket and besides, who knows where these stats come from anyway - keep trying don't give up hope xx

BurnDownTheDiscoHangTheDJ · 26/09/2022 00:03

Newusernameaug · 04/09/2022 17:08

Sounds a bit far fetched but I now know of two ladies who have fallen pregnant after Accupucture. One has tried for 18 months the other 4 years.
obviously could be coincidental but it gave me hope!

This worked for me (I think!) After nearly a year of trying for my eldest I had acupuncture in month 11 and got pregnant that month.

caringcarer · 26/09/2022 00:04

Years ago one of my friends got pregnant at 42, completely unplanned. Thought it was menopause so did not even get pregnancy test until 17 weeks when she felt a kick. Her other children were 15 and 12.

Luredbyapomegranate · 26/09/2022 00:12

Realistically, it isn’t likely but you never know - so don’t delay getting all tests and help.

i have a friend who had two ( planned ) at 40 and 44, and one who had a surprise at 47, so it can happen

whythou111 · 26/09/2022 00:14

@autumnleaves17 Pregnant at 41, took ages at first then I got a Mira electronic ovulation tracker, worked within 3 months. Get to a gynae asap as well, see what your egg reserve is like. Lots of women have babies in their fourties’ and always have, what’s slightly unusual is now people have their first babies in their 40s, but for many women they won’t hit menopause until late 40s, early 50s so it’s still a possibility for most.

Wish44 · 26/09/2022 00:41

Had my third DC when I was 44. Pregnancy was awful. Had lots of miscarriages but got there in the end; absolutely loving being an older mum!

Good luck OP