Chances of a healthy baby at 40?

[babyat40]

I'm 39 this year. I have 2 children but wouldn't rule out a 3rd as I still have that nagging feeling that I'm not quite "done" yet.

My question is... what are my chances of conceiving a healthy baby at 39/40? Anyone got experience of this, or older? Any positive or negatives equally welcome!

Thank you.

The statistics would be on her side, though. Statistically, most babies born to 40-year-old mothers are perfectly healthy.

A 40-year-old mother is more likely to have a baby with health problems than a 20 or 30-year-old is, but is still far more likely to have a healthy baby than an unhealthy one.

I conceived my first baby straight away after coming off the pill after 15 years, never even got the chance to properly try for it! I assumed it would be the same for the second and it wasn't - it took six months to conceive the baby I miscarried and another five months after that to conceive my rainbow baby. The whole time I was trying to conceive I was looking at the calendar and watching my biological clock tick away, it was very stressful. But I'm glad I did it and have no regrets.

DD1, conceived first month of trying at 36. Born at term and healthy.
DD2, conceived first month of trying at 37. Born at term and healthy.
DS, conceived first month of trying at 41. Born at 36 weeks, has multiple atopic diseases (eczema, asthma, allergies). They are all well controlled and there's a family history so not related to DH and my age.
But, I'm now 53 and have not gone through the menopause yet (my Mum had a late menopause and our gynaecological history has been very similar) and had no signs of peri before my 50s. So you might not be as lucky.

Dc2 turned up 6 weeks before my 41st birthday. She was conceived the first month I tracked my cycle (month 4 of unprotected sex).

She's fabulous and I'm glad we decided to try for another child after the disaster which was dc1's arrival. He's also fabulous but his entry to the world rather put me off for a while.

I've had two over 40 with no issues.

I had my 3rd baby at 44 (wasn’t far off 45) - pregnancy wise I had GD and high blood pressure like with my previous two but the baby is healthy and gorgeous. It was a surprise pregnancy- I’d had a miscarriage at 42 which I thought was my final go and I’d totally accepted that we would be a family of 4 and we weren’t actively looking to conceive. I had my previous 2 at 37 and 39 so quite late but not unusual for my cohort. I am the oldest of my friends to have had a baby with the third one though.

I had my first a few months before I turned 40 and my second at age 45. Took a while to conceive in both cases but both perfectly healthy. I think it can be a bit of a roll of the dice whatever age you are. Good luck!

I don't want to put a dampner on but I had my son at 31. He is severely autistic (I know people hate that phrase but it tells it as it is quickly!) and because of this I will never have another child. It wouldn't be fair. I know it is unlikely you'll have a child with a disability but it does make life harder and more complex.

I had DD at 41 and had an easy pregnancy with all tests normal etc. she is a healthy thriving toddler now. The only challenge I had was that at 36w scan they noticed her stomach was reducing in size so had to have emergency c section. Not sure if my age had anything to do with placenta not working so well anymore.

I am 40 my son is almost 3 months old and utterly perfect. Good pregnancy. Was like you, worried about my age, however he is actually my first so I was worried I might have 'missed the boat' altogether! We were pregnant within 3months of trying by closely following my ovulation pattern and both myself and my partner taking pre-conceive vitamins. (I'm now wondering if I should be squeezing in a brother or sister for him but that's a concern for another day!) Good luck ! x

Fairly good I would think! It's not massively old. Would be my deadline though personally.

I'm 39 and pregnant with a surprise baby, almost 14 years after my last! All tests have been good so far. 15 weeks in I'm starting to get a little bump and feel cautiously excited. I was worried about my age but my midwife was very reassuring about everything, saying it's very normal now to have a baby at my age.

Statistically, lower than at 30. But also, the largest number of downs syndrome babies are born to under 30s because they are not screened. I had my 3rd at 40, conceived immediately, no issues. Two hours from arrival at hospital to back home with baby.

Obviously there’s more chance of issues than if you were 10 years younger, but plenty of healthy babies are born to 40 year olds. If you want another one I’d get on with it though, time isn’t really on your side.

I had DC2 at 37 and DC3 at 40. Both very healthy.

I had a baby at 40. I had all my tests done privately including nipt testing up till 16 weeks. There was no point getting the combined tests at 40. The results would been high. For a few hundred quid I could get far more accurate bloods and scans. I saw a private nhs Dr. Well worth it. The nhs was surprised when I booked in at 16 weeks. It was my fourth so I was quite comfortable with my choices.

I couldn't go to term, consultant lead, fragmin injections after birth do its a bit different. But it went as smoothly if not more so than my birth in my late twenties and 30's

I had my second child at 43 last year. He's healthy and I had a straight forward pregnancy, although I did have an ELCS as I read there's more likely to be complications in labour when you're older. It took us a while to conceive and I read a book called "it starts with the egg". It recommends supplements you can take to improve the quality of your eggs as that's the main problem as you get older - the eggs lose quality.

I conceived a baby at 40, had a NIPT which was positive for trisomy 18 and I had TFMR. I conceived again aged 41 and had a healthy baby by elcs. No miscarriages.

My Best friends step mother was 41 with first baby - 43 with 2nd and 45 with 3rd. No health issues no problems. Natural conception and births. She got married at 40 and had no previous marriages / children. Just an average lady no major health issues but not into fitness etc.

My Dads Mum jad kids until Menopause. dad is 1 of 14. no health issues no complications. All home births all uncles and aunts alive and well and healthy. This was the case for grand aunts and unclea. Large families conceived into later years with no issues.
It is interesting how things were sifferent back then..... Makes you wonder if egg / sperm quality is affected by modern day life/diet/environments and lifestyles

I don’t think I’d risk it. Sounds like you have a lovely big family already I wouldn’t risk the chance of a 5th baby with potential health problems. How would you manage that with 4 others? Wouldn’t be for me but something to think about.

Had mine at 39 and 40. Conceived easily. Textbook pregnancies. 2 strapping healthy boys 😊 Know a good number of similar cases. Good luck with your decision.

I am surprised at so little reference to the increased risk of Down Syndrome. I know you would be screened and would then be able to decide if to continue a pregnancy if deemed high risk. My friend whose daughter was born with DS when she was 38. She loves her to bits but does worry about what will happen to her, if she outlives her parents. (My friend did not abort for religious reasons, which I totally support).

I only have 2 children at the moment. I want a 3rd, not a 5th!

Thanks all for your comments and positive stories. I have 2 girls and my hope is that I'd be able to have a boy next time, but obviously I know I could end up with 3 girls. Which would also be lovely of course, I adore my girls. But I do feel a sense of sadness to think I'll potentially never know what it's like to be a mum to a little boy.

Apologies. I think I’ve muddled your thread with another. Thought you had two, your partner had one (you were both widowed) and then you had one together and wanted a second together.

sorry