Calling all over-40s - good or bad experiences with your health professionals?

[PlinkertyPlonk]

Just wondering how all you 40+ year olds are getting on with your health professionals, in regards to your age?

Personally I've found the midwifes and GPs very supportive whilst being very clear about the risks associated with being pregnant when over-40.

However I visited the consultant (actually his registrar?, no sign of the consultant) who said as I'm over 40 they would 'induce me a week early (before due date?), was that ok'? Er, no, not without a good reason thank you! I was a bit

When I asked why, she said there is a slightly increased risk of placenta failing/still birth in older mothers. And then in the next breath 'but you're healthier than most 20 year olds' before writing 'induce early if patient happy' on my notes.

I'm not happy! There maybe an increased risk (though I can't find the research that supports this) but regardless, I thought she handled the topic in a really clumsy way.

Is this normal practice? And how have you found your midwives, GPs and consultant?

I've only been to my GP so far so can't advise (she was great) but I've been reading a lot online and I've heard that about the placenta in older mothers alright.

I'd prefer to go early myself if I can....the less time pregnant the better !

I'm 40 and also saw the registrar who told me they would induce me on my due date. When I asked why she explained that there was a higher risk of still births in older mothers - same as the registrar you saw. This just explained the risks to me - I wasn't bothered that she was so direct about it, I'm not sure how else she could have explained it.

When I later had an appointment with my GP I asked if it was a case of I "could" be induced on my due date if I wanted, or I "would" be induced on my due date. My GP was great and explained that they couldn't force me to be induced and that the maternity unit would monitor me quite closely from my due date and, although they wouldn't force me to have an induction, she said most women would want to be induced if the monitoring indicates that the health of their baby was at risk.

Apart from at that one meeting with the registrar, my age hasn't been mentioned and I'm happy with the all the health professionals I've met.

I'm 43 and DD2 is 9 months old. No issue at all was made of my 'advanced age' at any point during my pregnancy. In fact my lovely MW thought I could easily pass for 10 years younger! I was under consultant care (you are automatically I understand by that age and I was at 37 too) but that simply meant having very short appointments with the consultant after some MW appointments (but not all). It was never suggested that I be induced early/on time and I was eventually induced at +12 as that was the hospital's normal cut off date. Tbh by then I was pretty fed up and keen to get DD out.

Thanks for your replies, it's really good to hear you've all had positive experiences. It was one of the things I was worried about when I was told I was above the cut-off age (40 in my area), so an 'elderly primigravida' . I'd heard stories of (otherwise low risk) women in their 40s being told they would need a hospital birth, that the birthing centre was for low risk only (the two are co-located).

The registrar had spent 5 minutes telling me how great my blood results were, that there was nothing in my records that gave her any concern and then out of the blue announced 'we would want to induce you early'. Hence the shock! Direct information is great, but I would have been more receptive if she had set some context first eg 'we would normally induce by 42 weeks because of the risk of placental failure and this risk is increased as you get older, so we would want to induce you earlier'.

Interesting to hear though, mejon, that you weren't induced early. The registrar has booked me in for additional scans, which is reassuring, so I guess I wait and see how things progress.

I'm 41 and 33 weeks with dc4.

I have really bad spd (on crutches for about 10wks now) and saw the consultant due to this. He said that I could be induced on my due date, but purely for my own comfort. No medical reason. He also sent me for a GTT as I was measuring 3 wks ahead at that point, but that was negative and the measurements are on track now. So a growth spurt.

Speaking to my mw's, the induction is purely for my comfort and there's no other reason at all. So I won't be being induced unless there are any other reasons to be, and I'm down for a home birth at the moment. Also, my due date is 22nd Dec..... I really don't fancy being in hospital for Christmas unless it's necessary iykwim.

Had DS1 at 38 and DS2 at 40, and didn't feel as if I was treated any different than I would have been if I'd been 10 or 15 years younger. No mention of induction except standard procedure when I went up to the hospital with DS1 when waters broke. Fortunately he arrived 12 hours later.

Luckily I had every easy pregnancies and uncomplicated births.

I was 39 in my first pregnancy and now at 42 still haven't heard a single thing regarding my age.

First pregnancy was very easy, now at 24 weeks have a bit of SPD but guess there's always something...

Sorry to hear about the SPD, Harassed. I hadn't realised it could get so bad as to need crutches; please excuse my tactless comment about older mothers on crutches. It sounds miserable.

That's good that you have been given the option/support of a home birth. I need to check into this more; I've think (need to confirm) they've plonked me in the 'hospital birth only' bucket because of being over-40. I can't believe there is such a difference in approach across the country.

In my preg brain fog I hadn't even absorbed your comment . Brain is totally shot I think!! Having hell at work, but mw advised last night that I need to give up now so have gp's later who'll hopefully sign me off for the next two weeks as I'm 34 wks today.

Mw's have all been really supportive of my homebirth, it's just the consultant who's a bit anti older mums. One mw said he didn't approve of women over 35 having sex . Anyway, mw is booked to come to at home in two weeks and bring me a birthing box. Dying to know what's in it, lots of g & a I hope!

Stick to your guns if there's really no relevant medical reason not to have a homebirth. Although I'll be the first into hospital if there's a problem. I think it's a case of being realistic and flexible.

I am 42 and on 2nd pregnancy. Had my DD at 39. At no time during that preganancy was my age mentioned in anyway. So far this time round when I saw MW for booking appointment she again made no mention of it. I did more because I am so worried re potential complications. However she didn't take the bait and say yes as you are old we need to be careful as the risks are high. She actually talked at length about VBAC for me as I had e/cs last time. Guessing she would not have done that if she thought I was too old. Consultant care not even mentioned. It just seems so shocking for there to be such a disparity in attitude approach across the NHS.

I will be just 42 at term. My consultant has also talked about inducing early. He is quite big on this whole placenta-deriorating thing and I would rather not take any risks, plus I've been induced with previous babies and it all went OK. But when I was 35 he didn't mention my placenta and I was induced on my due date (own choice), so there is definitely a difference now I'm older.

Oh, also the risk of bleeding afterwards. But I think that's because I'm on DC5.

Very positive attitude though. He says '42 is nothing these days'. :)