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Original poster

To not know if I can get pregnant at 49?

495 replies

Holyguacamollie · 14/02/2023 13:57

I stopped using contraception a few months ago because quite frankly I'm sick of it and when I googled getting pregnant at 49.6 it said it was 0-1% chance.

It felt like v good odds.

However. I now 'feel' pregnant and I'm a bit panicked. Period due in a few days.

Surely I couldn't be could I?

OP posts:
Stravaig · 14/02/2023 21:04

I'm early 50's and I'll be using contraception until my periods have stopped completely, and for at least a year consecutively. They stopped for 3 months last year, and I thought that was it, but now back to regular as clockwork again. I can still feel ovulation on one side too, though the other ovary is either more chilled or packed up a while ago 🤣

TheOriginalEmu · 14/02/2023 21:06

My gran had my uncle when she was 47 and my auntie had my cousin at the same age.

Fifi00 · 14/02/2023 21:09

TheShellBeach · 14/02/2023 20:09

I couldn't tell you exactly but it would be fewer than ten, I think. In a career which spanned about twenty years, and not always in the labour ward. There would have been other women with whom I did not come into contact. My personal caseload as a community midwife had four (in five years).

I was just remembering another woman who was 42 who conceived twins (naturally) and they were born prematurely, but they survived.

Show quote history

Thank you that's what I kind of thought it's very rare then.

Needathickskin · 14/02/2023 21:12

I was 42 when my first was born in 2017 and 44 when #2 born in 2019.
I'm now 47, perimenopausal and exhausted!

StillWantingADog · 14/02/2023 21:12

Of course you can! do take a test

thejadefish · 14/02/2023 21:16

I had a healthy baby at age 45 having been told by the Dr that I had a 1-2% chance of conceiving (I wanted a baby though, hence going to the Dr - met DH relatively late in life). As PP's have said SOMEONE has to fall into that 1% so whilst unlikely, it is possible. Fingers crossed you get the result that you want/its just a scare.

3luckystars · 14/02/2023 21:22

Tomorrow!!!!

RogersOrganismicProcess · 14/02/2023 21:30

Ooh op I’m keeping everything crossed you get the all clear!

Mossstitch · 14/02/2023 21:32

Sorry to add to it but I know someone at work who had a baby naturally at 52! 😳
On the other hand there are an awful lot of young colleagues who have needed IVF so I'm sure it is very rare but nature likes to surprise you sometimes🤔

StrawHatOnTheParcelShelf · 14/02/2023 21:39

I was about 48 when I decided the risks of continuing with birth control were greater than tiny risk of pregnancy. (Those risks being specific to my partner and me due to other health factors, it's not the case for all.)

Now 51 and having very long gaps between periods so I occasionally test just to be sure! But peri PMS does throw up all sorts of symptoms that are similar to early pregnancy.

Fingers crossed for you, OP.

nurserypolitics · 14/02/2023 21:39

I think it becomes more and more rare with every extra year as you get further into your 40s. Do you have any family members who conceived late? My grandmother had her children at 35 and 41, her sister had hers at 40, 42 and 45 (this was in the 1940s/50s so obviously before any intervention) then I have cousins who've conceived at 42 and 45, and 41 and 46 respectively. My 46 year old cousin is the oldest woman I've known to give birth, my husband did have a family member who had a surprise 'menopause' baby at 47.

I think the reason there are so many anecdotes though is stories like this stick with you because they're outliers. So, the 'menopause' baby in question is probably a teenager but I remember hearing about it as the woman had started doing lots of exercise as she couldn't figure out why she was putting on weight, her other children were late teens so she didn't find out late. But I'm sure I've been told thousands of other stories about people's friends/family members/cousins/neighbours having babies. Its definitely v v rate and unlikely, but not impossible.

StrawHatOnTheParcelShelf · 14/02/2023 21:47

I think it becomes more and more rare with every extra year as you get further into your 40s.

Absolutely, the decline is very steep year on year. There's just no comparison with early 40s or even 46, and 49 like the OP.

StrawHatOnTheParcelShelf · 14/02/2023 21:48

Sorry I meant to bold your quote there @nurserypolitics

Supergirl1958 · 14/02/2023 21:48

Holyguacamollie · 14/02/2023 17:44

I'm going to town tomorrow so will get a test. What's a frer? My last pregnancy test was over 25 years ago! Is there a good type to buy these days?

Thank you. Feel pretty stressed at the thought.

@Holyguacamollie first response early result. Make sure you save your first wee in a disposable container. First wee is the best for detecting.

please don’t be stressed, and for a bit of fun, watch father of the bride part 2! One of my favourite films!!

ZenNudist · 14/02/2023 22:03

By the time that baby would be an adult you would be ready for the retirement home! Or worse!!!!

AngelDelightUK · 14/02/2023 22:08

Not all cases of pregnancy in over 50s is on the wiki page!

good luck OP, hope the rest is the result you want

Saffie2 · 14/02/2023 22:08

DH and I have been having unprotected sex for a few years. I'm about your age. I'm not bothered about the risk. The chances are so small of the egg being viable. I'm on HRT too. We have also agreed on what would happen if I happened to become pregnant.

I know on here we always hear stories of women who have become pregnant, but this is MUMSNET after all, clue is in the name :D

DragonflyLady · 14/02/2023 22:16

TheShellBeach · 14/02/2023 20:02

Well, when I was working as a midwife I encountered a woman who was 43, who became pregnant naturally with triplets.

She already had three adult children and she was horrified but the babies were all okay (which is not a given with triplets anyway).

Seriously, can you imagine having three babies to look after when you're 43?

I miscarried triplets at 39. I’d have coped with triplets at 43!

LatetotheParties · 14/02/2023 22:20

Ignore all the anecdotal posts.

Medical advice is that women under 50 use contraception for 2 years after their last period.

Women over 50, for a year.

Drs aren't advising this for no reason, are they?

JenniferBooth · 14/02/2023 22:22

@LatetotheParties Trouble with that is i dont know whether my last period has already happened or has yet to happen......because the mini pill has stopped them anyway or perhaps it is the menopause...............you see i have no way of knowing whether its the menopause or the mini pill

Rollingaroundinmud · 14/02/2023 22:25

JenniferBooth contraception masks a lot of what’s going on with your body.

JenniferBooth · 14/02/2023 22:28

YY @Rollingaroundinmud If they had sterilised me when i asked i would know where i am because i wouldnt be on the mini pill

lalalalalala123 · 14/02/2023 22:29

Sorry I should've said the 54 year old was ivf and no she probably shouldn't have told me!

StrawHatOnTheParcelShelf · 14/02/2023 22:30

LatetotheParties · 14/02/2023 22:20

Ignore all the anecdotal posts.

Medical advice is that women under 50 use contraception for 2 years after their last period.

Women over 50, for a year.

Drs aren't advising this for no reason, are they?

Many women in late stages of peri are having so many issues with their hormones, it's understandable that they weigh up the ball ache of contraception and its side effects/risks against the benefits, when the risk of pregnancy is already very low.

SpringIntoChaos · 14/02/2023 22:42

Oh goodness OP! I hope you get the result that you want tomorrow 🤞