Giving birth over 40, care to share stories?

[christie1]

I gave birth at 42 and in my thirties. The one in my 40's went badly (emergency c-section and infection etc.). I am doing it again in a few months at 44 (long story, another thread) but very anxious. How was it for those who had babies so late? Anything I should be worried about (that I haven't already obsessed over already).

Hi christie1, I had ds3 at 44 and it was by far the easiest and best. A water birth in hospital, had gas and air, probably about 4 hours long in total, and spent the last 2 hours in the pool. A quick recovery also, we were home a few hours later. I felt much calmer and in control of things than with my previous 2. So all positive really. Good luck

Thanks for that. Glad to hear your body was fine at 44. I have this nightmare of having a heart attack while in labour (I have no heart problem) just crazy thoughts. I hope mine goes as well as yours!

Hi Christie - I had dd1 at 41 and had loads of problems but none of them seemed to be age related - just bad luck. Had huge bleeds, SPD AND hind water leak from 26 weeks! But got to 34 weeks and had emerg c-section. DD1 was fine.

16 months later (now 42) and preggie again I'm due for elec c-section on 30 may....although consultant reckons if I go into labour earlier and everything looks ok - then it's my choice if I want to go for a vbac. This pregnancy is nothing like the first - so easy and relaxed.....maybe the birth will be better *crosses fingers.

I'm not expert but I reckon all pregnancies are so different for many people - whatever the age. I'm sure you'll be fine...44 may be the new 22 ....

Woo Hoo! I just knew that you would be blessed with another. I am so pleased. I hope that everything goes beautifully and that you are holding your new bundle before you know it. Sorry that you are stressed and worried though...

Are you at the same hospital as with dd2? Did you find a nicer ObGyn? Will you try for a VBaC? Do you want to play 20 questions?

You are much younger than your chronological age. I would never have known that you were older than me if you had not told me! Don't even dream of having a heart attack in labour.

I had DS1 at 30, DS2 at 34 and DD at 41.

DD was by far the fastest of all of my very quick births but she was no more problematic than the other two. Straightforward, no pain relief and similar recovery, in fact probably quicker recovery- I went home at 7.00pm having given birth at 3.30pm. And was collecting walking DS1 to and from school the next day.
And parenting this time is so so so much easier.

(sadly my arse has relocated a tad south but this may just be the passing years rather than the birth. So hard to work out the proximate cause)