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.

My babies (last one at 42) are now healthy teenagers (well if spending hours in their room occasionally emerging for food is healthy!) I guess you can never know. Another mother I know had a child in her 40s with lots of very significant health problems. I never regretted being an older mum. I did have extra checks in pregnancy with my younger child as I wanted to be prepared if there were problems.

I had my one and only at 43. She's perfect even though she wasn't planned so no folic acid etc. Although risks go up with age, most babies with Downs are born to mothers 35 and younger for example.

I’m 40 and 9 months preg with number three. Exhausted.

Looking up statistics from medical sites online: 20-30% chance of a healthy egg fertilized at age 40.

I had mine at 35, 37 and 40. Am now 42 and on HRT so clearly was lucky to have dodged the proverbial fertility cliff. I have 3 DDs and I can relate to your sadness at not having a son - I did have a pang at the scan when I found out but I wouldn’t change her for the world and I had 3 DC because I genuinely wanted 3 not because I was trying for a boy. I had no issues conceiving, my third pregnancy was the toughest but her birth was the easiest and quickest and no concerns with her health or development.

Had my last child aged 40. Perfect pregnancy (bar SPD but that can happen at any age), and bad a very healthy, almost 10lber I've had three babies and he was not the most difficult pregnancy or birth. Also conceived first month of trying.

I had my first at 41. Straightforward pregnancy, slight high blood pressure during birth. He got ‘stuck’ and had to have C Section.
My second at 43 was completely uneventful, quick natural birth.
Both conceived easily. We weren’t actively trying.
I was well during both pregnancies. No pregnancy related time off for either. I was lucky, several colleagues who were only slightly over half my age suffered much worse.

Obviously LOTS of women have healthy pregnancies and babies after 40, I did. But there’s no getting away from the fact that the risks are increased and, personally, if I already had 2 healthy children I wouldn’t take those risks for a 3rd. Only you can know if it’s worth it for you and your family.

I had one at 37 and the second at 40.
Both conceived within a month, both labours under 3 hours. Hyperemesis in both pregnancies but otherwise all went well. Both grown up now.

4 healthy children conceived naturally at 39, 40, 43 and 46. I know I'm an outlier. Do your research - there is evidence that although chromosomal abnormalities are more common, so is spontaneous miscarriage, so the risk of having a disabled baby isn't actually much higher than for younger women. I'd also recommended NIPT at 10 weeks' gestation too. Good luck!

I became pregnant three months after my 40th birthday after 4 years unsuccessful TTC. I actually 'gave up' in my head after turning 40.

DD was about 5 weeks old on my 41st birthday. She is the joy of my life 🥰

Mine was conceived quickly, normal low risk pregnancy, easy birth. Healthy, happy, and a total joy.

She does have Down syndrome though, so possibly not the positive story you’re after but bloody hell she’s brilliant (and in my eyes a very positive story).

I’m also a bit younger than you!

I had mine late - 36 and 39, but two early miscarriages between them. They are both very healthy though and very easy pregnancies and births and no health issues. I had a slightly higher risk for Downs but we didn't want the 1% risk of miscarriage with the amniocentesis so didn't have that (we'd have loved them just the same though, Downs or not).

Dd, my only born when I was 41, very healthy, easy pregnancy, easy baby now bright happy child, happy parents. Loving every minute of her now And dh and I in our 40s. Dd is at school and honestly its a dream...I can't believe how lucky we are. She natural. After years of no luck we got lucky in our 40s.

I have two DDs, eldest is 4 and youngest is 4 months. Conceived just after I turned 39. I found my second pregnancy slightly more challenging than my first, I had a lot more fatigue and pelvic girdle pain which I didn't get the first time. But not sure if that was age related or just due to having a toddler to chase around after which I didn't the first time! I was also a lot more anxious and hyper-aware of movements second time around. But all that aside I had no major complications. I had a c section delivery as she was breech but that can happen at any age. She is an absolute delight and I wouldn't change a thing She took 6 months to conceive but that was without actively trying - we just decided I would stop taking the pill and see what happened.
Having said all that, I am definitely done now - our family is complete!

I'm in my 40s with two teenagers and two in primary school and it doesn't get any easier dealing with teenagers at this age. It's just tough raising teenagers regardless of our ages😫

I had mine late, had a healthy pg and healthy baby when I was 43. Conceived first try, I am fit and healthy, just got on with it. Wasn’t especially tired beyond what you would expect from having a non sleeping baby.

We did opt for amino after they found ‘echogenic loccii’ on the 20 week scan, which turned out to be completely normal temporary calcium or something.

As far as I know the issues as you get later in your childbearing years (which include your 40s , people seem to forget this) are harder to conceive (down to your individual body, you may or may not find it harder, I didn’t) , higher risk of miscarriage (again, individual pg, individual body) and a higher incidence of chromosomal condition. Which can be tested for.

I had 3 textbook pregnancies in my 20s. Then a miscarriage aged 41 followed by a termination for Down syndrome at 42. So it wasn’t great for me and I wasn’t able to conceive after that. 43 now and I don’t think it’s worth it.

I have worked in SEN schools and I can tell you that a LOT of the parents were older than average. Autism particularly is much more common in children with older mothers. Down’s syndrome is a higher risk too. Most of the kids are amazing young people with a lot of joy in their life despite their difficulties. However many of them are also going to be dependent on others to live for their whole lives.

My Mum had me at nearly 41, I was a surprise. She wasn't the only older Mum about. I miscarried at 40 and never got pregnant again. The risk of stillborn is higher. Amanda Holden and Gary Barlow's wife both had stillborn babies around 40, it crosses all income groups.

@Stayanotherway "Autism particularly is much more common in children with older mothers"
Research has found that it's more common with older fathers.

Personally I would make sure you do all the screening tests and ask your self the question what happens if a scan turns up a problem. I had a third pregnancy at the age of 35 and ended up at 17 weeks with a diagnosis of Edwards Syndrome and unlikely to survive the birth due to the heart issues. We took the decision to terminate the pregnancy. We did go on a year later to have another child but I had all the screening tests and had to have an amnio an await the result which is quite a wait and very stressing. The loss of the third baby was very traumatic as by that stage I had to go through labour. I dont wish to sound negative but to pose the other side of when things do go wrong and think about how you would deal with it.

DC2 was born a month before my 40th.

So mine;
23 ds 1
25 dd
30 ds2
39 ds3

i am 41 now. All happy healthy ( cheeky ) children. But if you want the truth; the first two pure ease, I can’t believe how much energy I had with a toddler and baby. number 3 was harder but I was a bit over weight whilst number 4 ( surprise !) I was my slimmest and fittest and far better birth. However I am a far more tired now, and sometimes regret that but you may be less tired then myself in general.
it’s never perfect having a baby and you don’t know how the baby will sleep.
my cousin turned 40 having her 2nd and the downs risk shot up, mine was quite high too.
id let nature decide?

There is always a risk either way having a baby in your teens 20s 30s 40s 50s there is always a risk.
I read a post on here that said if you have children young there is a high risk of health problems with the baby then read another post that said high risk are more for older mums.
I dont think it matters what age you are things will happen.
I had mine when i was young with no health problems with them or me.