Marcia cross and TTC over 40 - what do you think?

[CantwaittillSpring]

Reading Marcia Cross's comments in Easy Living mag with interest. We've been TTC since December (my period started today and I was at my GP's last week - who told me I was risking complications by getting pregnant at 41 (my DD is three). I went away thinking, but now still want to TTC and wondering how many months we should wait, and whether GP was scaring me. Is it that bad to want to TTC at 41.

I read the same magazine but was interested to see Sarah Brown had both her boys over the age of 40. The article was about books but I am always keen to see what age other women were when they had their kids. Obviously it didn't go into the hows, whats etc for Mrs Brown but as no spring chicken myself I clung to the positives I saw there.

Haven't read the article but you can't change how you feel. You are more likely to take longer to conceive and have an mc than younger women but that mainly affects you. You may also have an extremely healthy lovely pg and baby and good luck to you. Unfortunately it's a lottery but all of the negative things associated with pg in older women can happen to younger women, especially if they are not very healthy. Look after yourself and go for it.

I'm trying at 40 (my DS is about to turn 2)... And anyway - you had a healthy pg at 37/38 so who's to say you can't again?

Thanks beangrower and Sweetie I have got a couple of friends who had healthy pregnancies after age of 40, and my cousin had a baby at 42 and 44. However I also know 4 friends who had to have IVF to have their babies after 40.
I didn't realise that about Sarah Brown. Also Annette Benning -didn't she have three LOs and two of them in her 40s.

I am considering giving up caffeine (gulp) this coming cycle though. It's my only unhealthy habit!

Oh I'm stupidly healthy because of TTC. No caffeine, no alcohol, minimal dairy and wheat, a number of supplements, wheatgrass, brazil nuts, grapefruit, pineapple. Yoga every other day. Even tried cough medicine mid month to improve the snail trail for the swimmers... After a year of all that we have just found out that we have male fertility issues. Gah. Still at least I'm as fit and slim as I was in my 20s!

Caffeine in moderation is unlikely to cause a problem.

I know a bunch of women who've had babies in their 40s. Keep up the positive attitude.

I had my first baby at 42, in April last year. Got pregnant third month of trying and had normal pregnancy. She is really the best thing I ever did and my doctor made no issue of my age. Just told me he'd recently looked after someone who was pregnant naturally and delivered safely at 48. Someone else I know has just had her first baby naturally at 50. She did have some issues towards the end of her pregnancy and the baby had to be delivered a month early but both are fine now.

i've not read it yet but your GP sounds overly cautious- unless you have any underlying health problems which will just be harder on you as you are older. My MW said there were many women over 40 in my local area. I know of a woman who had her first at 40, second at 43, pregnancies fine and babies both fine. Many older women on these threads say their MW didn't blink an eye at their age. Main risk is a MC or baby with chromosomal abnormalities. I'm 43, just had MC but hoping to try again very soon.

The average age for first time mothers at St mary's Paddington and Chelsea and Westminster is 37 apparently so go for it!

That's interesting Far - hadn't heard that one! Brings us all further hope!

Sorry about MC blackcat - hope you get a sticky one soon.

I'd like to say it's given me hope, but after a year of ttc and still no joy (apart from two early mmcs), I need a bit more convincing really :(

Farthat's interesting to know - right am day 3 my P started on Tuesday and beangrower I've been on detoxes before but only as health kicks when a lot younger. I've been a bit run down so the caffeine free thing will help - I've bought decaff tea bags (tea is my downfall) I'm hoping I can stick to it!
But all your comments have bouyed me up -feeling lots better. x