AF a week late! a little worried!

[kaylasmum]

Hi, I am a 44 yo mother of 5, ages ranging rom 26 down to 3. my last period was the 22nd of september and i'm now a week late. I'm usually pretty regular, around 30 days, give or take a day. The only symptoms i could say that i have is that my nipples feel sore and extra sensitive. I'm still feeding my 3yo so it could down to that. I'm also getting quite frequent indigestion.

My dp and i use condoms for contraception as i can't take the pill. When i had my last child it was classed as a high risk pregnancy because i'd already had 4 kids and also my age was a factor. We had no intentions of having any more so i'm in a bit of a predicament. If i was younger it would'nt really be an issue. i'd love more kids. I know i should test but i'm too scared, there's also a tiny part of me that feels excited at the thought of it! mad , i know. Don't really know why i'm posting here but don't have anyone to speak to, my dp just says "it'll be ok"!

Anyway, think i'll hold on for a few more days and see if AF comes. Is there any other older mums out there with large families? Just out of interest!

Hi! I've only joined today. I've got 3 kids with first dh. None with second . Been trying to give my dh a baby as he doesn't have any kids of his own - with 'no' success. Had all my kids with c sections. Started a separate thread here in relation to that. I'm 43, don't know whether the sections or my age are preventing me from getting pregnant. Have all your kids been naturally delivered? Wish I was as fertile as you!

hi dipsy3, yeah all my kids have been naturally delivered and without any problems. I have been lucky in that i do fall pg quite easily, though it did take about 9 months with my last dc. How long have you been ttc?

I am an older mum with just 2 dcs, but have a friend who has 5 dcs, three from her first marriage, and two more twenty years later, with her second h.

Why on earth would pregnancy no 5 be classed as high risk? I remember a midwife advising my friend that no 6 onwards can be tricky as the body choses the best spot for the placenta each time, so the first baby gets the most convenient spot and so on, but it sounds to me as if your consultant was being rather conservative. 41 isn't old for your 4th child. 44 is not unusual in the area I live in - a city with a large university where many professional women start families later in life. At 38 with my first child, I found myself the average age at all of the groups I attended. Poor 16 year olds soon fled in horror!

There is a great website called mothers35plus which was started when Leo Blair was born to Cheri, to support older mums. I found a lot of support there when trying for ds2 at 41 - and found myself feeling quite young too!

hi notquitegrownup, thanks for your reply. It was my midwife that mentioned it to me when she did my booking in visit, o worried through the rest of the pregnancy. She told me that there is a higher risk of haemorraghing after delivery with your 5th child. I also had to go to have my 5th at a hospital 20 miles away instead of the one in my town due to the higher "risks". Don't know what to think. I also have a 4yo grandson who i'm looking after at the moment due to his mums mental health problems and another grandchild on the way. If it does turn out that i'm pg i really don't think i can face a termination.

Kaylasmum: been trying for a year. Been married for two.
Notquitegrownup: I'm in Oxford. So lots of older mums with careers. Not unusual for women in late thirties, early forties to be pushing prams. I thought I would be ok, as periods very regular, definitely ovulate regularly too. Both dh and I are very healthy, active and 'no' underlying health problems. However, it's just not happening this time round. Read somewhere on the Internet that previous c section scars can sometimes be a factor inpreventing pregnancy, so now terrified that I may never be able to give dh the baby I so want with him.

dipsy3, have you been to your gp for some advice? I know how hard it is when every month your hoping to become pg and it does'nt happen, its awful! I hope things work out ok for you.

Yes. Had all the basic tests for fertility and they came back fine. Didn't have a scan of the ovaries though to rule out scar tissue obstructing implantation. Thinking of going ahead and making an appointment to discuss that. As I already have kids, ivf not an option on nhs. Just feeling is so unfair on dh. Thanks for your kind words kaylasmum Xxx

well panic over! looks like Af is starting. Have to admit to feeling a little disappointed but i know its just aswell. Still would love another child though!

Dipsy3, i hope everything works out ok for you and your dh. Don't give up hope! xx