Big gap between births

[Frank83]

Hi
I am 30 weeks pregnant on my second child, my son is now 12 years old. My community midwife has said I'll be treated as a first time mother as the gap is greater than ten years, I'm not sure in which way she means. In my notes it has been put in the additional risk factor section, I've looked online and there doesn't seem to be much in the way of information on large age gaps and why it's being logged as a risk factor.
Labour with my son was very straightforward and fairly quick compared to some stories I've read. Does anyone have any experience of having a large age gap and whether it seemed to impact the birth?
I am more anxious than I was 12 years ago but I think that's down to the fact that there is so much more information available to us now as expectant mothers.
Thanks

I had my last dd 13 years ago, she was my 3rd. My midwife is treating this pregnancy as my 4th which it is. I had 3 straight forward births and I’d be annoyed if someone decided that just because of the age gap this one would be anything different. Obviously if there was other issues I would understand being classed as higher risk but it seems silly if that’s the only reason. That been said she does only have you and your baby’s best interests at heart.

I think a ten year plus gap increases the risk of pre-eclampsia (puts you at a similar risk level to a first time mum, so higher risk than a second baby after a shorter gap but not dramatically or scarily high or anything). Might that be all they meant? So perhaps the same number of mw appointments as a first time rather than the slightly reduced number that you get subsequently (10 instead of 7 or something) so they can keep a slightly closer eye on your blood pressure etc?

Thanks for taking the time to reply. I agree. I have an appointment next week so I'll ask her about it, I am 36 now so I don't know if that has anything to do with it. My husband told me not to worry as if it means more monitoring then that can only be a good thing, I guess I'm just curious as to why it is being mentioned as an additional risk.

My age gaps the same and I'm 39 wks pregnant. I'm roughly your age.
All. Mine said was you get the extra mw appointments.ike a first time mum.
And that because so much has changed over the years. Nothing to worry about x

I had a 13 year age gap between my current baby and dd and the midwife told me my body would react to this baby like a first birth.

An interval of greater than 10 years can be a risk factor for preeclampsia but it shouldn’t really make any significant difference to the care you receive. Some areas offer a reduced schedule of midwife appointments for second time mums but this wouldn’t be the case if there was a large gap, that’s all.

In terms of the birth itself it shouldn’t make any difference at all. I have 16 years between my children and my body still remembered what to do!

My only dd is due to turn 13 years old, 3 days after my due date.
Currently 37 weeks and I will turn 35 few days before my due date.
Midwife hasn’t said anything to me about age gap at all or it contributing to risk factor, she actually said it reduced my risk of scar rupturing as have opted for VBAC
I am high risk as had previous section and previous blood clot so been having to inject myself daily since 28 weeks and will do so for 6 weeks postnatally.
I would say I have had possibly 2 more appointments with a consultant than with a normal low risk birth so I doubt you will have any extra monitoring.
I’ve had no extra midwife appointments or scans despite my high risk due to other reasons either .
Think things vary from are to area though.