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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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:
Sugarfree23 · 16/02/2023 11:44

I don't think anyone is confused.

We all know the odds of getting pregnant naturally 49 is low, and even lower to actually carry the baby to term.

But that doesn't mean the Op isn't the 1 in 100 or whatever the odds are that might actually be pregnant

TheOriginalEmu · 16/02/2023 11:52

My 47 year old grandmother was definitely my uncles mother, she was having an affair and it was a huge scandal. Her daughters were aged 25 and 9 when this baby was born. One old enough (and married with 2 kids already) to not need it to be passed off as a sibling and the other too young to be the mother.
that 9 year old went on to also have a baby at 47, again she was definitely her mother, her 23 year old daughter was also pregnant at the same time and her 30 year old daughter already had children.

it is unusual, but it does happen.

vivainsomnia · 16/02/2023 12:01

There have been a number of posts about people getting pregnant in late 40s and early 50s with IVF when it is almost certain that this was with donor eggs.

If you read my last paragraph, I didn't say it couldn't the case for OP, just exceptionally rare

It’s exceptionally rare for patients to get pregnant naturally at 50 or over 45. They make history,” said Dr. David Keefe, an obstetrician-gynecologist and fertility researcher at New York University

SVRT19674 · 16/02/2023 12:05

My gynae was telling me of a patient he had who fell pregnant naturally at 49. It does happen. So to anyone out there, if you are ovulating, it is possible, not probable, but possible yes. Someone down the thread was taking contraception 5 years after period stopped...well, unnecessary taking any contraception if you do not ovulate. Don´t do that to your body. Waste of money, too.

Thewheelweavesasthewheelwills · 16/02/2023 16:41

How have you not exploded with wanting to know!

Maireas · 16/02/2023 16:47

Well, to be fair, her period isn't even due for a few days, so maybe she's waiting until it's late?

MaggieFS · 16/02/2023 16:52

Another anecdote... colleague of mine ended up with twins at 48.

Hope the result is what you want!

lornmower · 16/02/2023 16:54

I know of completely natural pregnancies over 50

OutofEverything · 16/02/2023 16:56

Twins are more common in older pregnancies.

OutofEverything · 16/02/2023 17:00

@lornmower There are an average of nearly 300 births a year to women over 50 in Britain. Many of those will be through IVF although some will be natural. So it happens, but it is not common.
There were 624,828 births in just England and Wales.

Maireas · 16/02/2023 17:02

Indeed. In spite of what you may read on this thread, it's rare.

VirtualRealitee · 16/02/2023 17:06

Holyguacamollie · 16/02/2023 08:22

No update yet - I couldn't get to town yesterday. Elderly parents needed me to dash to theirs. DH picking test up today and it will be waiting at home for me, I should be back tomorrow or Saturday.

I will definitely let you all know when I've done the test.

Sorry for annoying no news update

Sorry for annoying no news update

No need to apologise. It's quite common on these threads to keep 'em hanging.

herecomesthsun · 16/02/2023 17:54

vivainsomnia · 16/02/2023 12:01

There have been a number of posts about people getting pregnant in late 40s and early 50s with IVF when it is almost certain that this was with donor eggs.

If you read my last paragraph, I didn't say it couldn't the case for OP, just exceptionally rare

It’s exceptionally rare for patients to get pregnant naturally at 50 or over 45. They make history,” said Dr. David Keefe, an obstetrician-gynecologist and fertility researcher at New York University

No, it isn't making medical history if you get pregnant at 45 or even 50, naturally. Everyone knows it can happen! It is just rather unusual. No need for melodrama.

And I know for sure that when I had my DC at nearly 48 it wasn't with donor eggs, for exaample.

vivainsomnia · 16/02/2023 18:03

Everyone knows it can happen! It is just rather unusual. No need for melodrama
Silly me, of course you'd know better than the quoted expert!

vivainsomnia · 16/02/2023 18:07

And the I know someone, that is knowing for certain that its not egg donation because thats not information people share willingly, is also better than actual statistics!

Of course it's possible OP is, it's just less likely than starting to experience perimenopausal symptoms that can be very similar to pregnancy.

Sugarfree23 · 16/02/2023 18:13

Remember IVF and donor eggs has probably only been a thing in the last 30 years.
I don't even think ethically many clinics would treat women over 48.
And there can't be that many women who really want babies when they are pushing 50 and thinking of retirement in the next 15 or so years.

herecomesthsun · 16/02/2023 18:16

vivainsomnia · 16/02/2023 18:03

Everyone knows it can happen! It is just rather unusual. No need for melodrama
Silly me, of course you'd know better than the quoted expert!

Happen I do.

herecomesthsun · 16/02/2023 18:17

vivainsomnia · 16/02/2023 18:07

And the I know someone, that is knowing for certain that its not egg donation because thats not information people share willingly, is also better than actual statistics!

Of course it's possible OP is, it's just less likely than starting to experience perimenopausal symptoms that can be very similar to pregnancy.

I had the baby. Pretty sure the eggs were my own.

Name999999 · 16/02/2023 18:28

Not sure I could wait that long OP

TheOriginalEmu · 17/02/2023 11:22

vivainsomnia · 16/02/2023 18:03

Everyone knows it can happen! It is just rather unusual. No need for melodrama
Silly me, of course you'd know better than the quoted expert!

Well I know that neither my grandmother or my auntie were written up as ‘medical history’ when they had their babies at 47. And I know that neither were ivf babies.

mamatoTails · 17/02/2023 14:41

Hope you soon get your answer OP

WheelsUpIn20 · 17/02/2023 15:42

Yep, OP isn’t coming back 🙄

CecilyP · 17/02/2023 15:46

vivainsomnia · 16/02/2023 18:03

Everyone knows it can happen! It is just rather unusual. No need for melodrama
Silly me, of course you'd know better than the quoted expert!

He may be an expert in Gynae/Obs but he is no better than the rest of us in his ability to understand statistics. I would say, worse, in fact!

CecilyP · 17/02/2023 15:50

The number of women aged 45 and over giving birth is at the highest level since records began 80 years ago, figures show.

The number of live births in this age group rose from 1,619 a decade ago to 2,366 in 2018. In 1938, when records began, there were 2,085 births to women over 45, according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

Here are the stats for the UK a pp quoted earlier. Fairly rare, but hardly history-making!

TaraMock · 17/02/2023 15:50

That's not fair. The OP has already said she had to go help a sick parent and would be away until the weekend. I'm sure she wants to do this in the comfort of her own home with her DH's support, especially if it's unwanted news.

The OP's life is not a soap opera with an update 3 times a week, just to keep you entertained.

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