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Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Over 35 and pregnant? - "Mature" ladies walk this way...

176 replies

Juicylucythe2nd · 13/10/2006 10:28

Thought I would start a little thread for us over here on the pregnancy side so we can support each other though this

Here are my stats to start us off
Me 39
DH 45
No Kiddies
7+3 weeks (second pg, first ended in missed mc in May)
Due date 29.05.06

OP posts:
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Gingerbear · 16/10/2006 22:28

At last! A club I feel comfortable with.
I am 43 and pregnant with second child. Due May 2007. DD is 4 and I had her when I was 38, it was an easy trip first time round, this time it took us almost 2 years and a helping hand from clomid to get there. DH is 45, and we have everything crossed that things will go just fine this time.
I did not have an amnio with DD, and even though the statistics are even more against me this time, I will not have one this time around either.

Gingerbear · 16/10/2006 22:29

So sorry muckers, I cross posted with you, did not mean to be insensitive.

muckers · 16/10/2006 22:33

No problems gingerbear, didn't find your message insensitive, I dont think I would have an amnio either if and when I manage to get that far.
Muckers

chubley · 16/10/2006 22:51

Hi

Great to see so many 'older' mums on here. Though now it's becoming the norm, we're not really older any more, IYSWIM. My mum was 34 when she had me, her first, nearly the same age as I was when I had my first, and it was considered ancient in those days!

Me 39
DH 38
DS 4
DD 19 months
Am 37 wks pg, due on 3 Nov.

We reckon 3 is the number for us, so this is likely to be the last baby.... Yes, more tired this time, but I do have 2 LOs to look after (but not working outside the home)!

Sending lots of babyglue to those in the early weeks of pregnancy.

chubley · 16/10/2006 22:55

Forgot to mention, had the nuchal scan at 12 weeks in pg no 2 and 3, and as the results were favourable I found it v reassuring. I wanted to avoid an amnio if I could.

elkiedee · 17/10/2006 00:05

Good to see some other older ones, especially to see some other first timers.

Me 37
dp 43
No kids, due in April 2007

I'm waiting for test results, had my scan on Thursday and it was such a relief to know it was real, as I'd had nothing that could give me that independent confirmation - other than feeling tired and achy and sick since early September - since my positive home pregnancy test result. Have finally told my manager, not others at work yet though it seems everyone my boyfriend works with or comes into contact there already knows (I met quite a lot of them before he did when I worked for his employer 9/10 years ago (2 short term jobs).

Still not feeling very good, sick feeling seems to be getting worse...

Luci

bizzywizzy · 17/10/2006 00:51

me 44 (just)
DP 36 (hee hee hee!)
DS 1 = 21 months
DS 2 = 5 months

Had m/c at 40 just as we were giving up hope of ever having babies. Had nuchal scan with both as I couldn't face worrying till 20 weeks via amnio route, and both babies perfect!
And all I can say about late motherhood is.... knackered knackered knackered.

Baconbaps · 17/10/2006 05:29

Hello all. I recognise a few names on here!

Me - 36

DD1 - 15
DD2 - 13
D? - due 14/12/06

mum26plus · 17/10/2006 08:38

Hi everyone, nice to see lot's of "mature aged"mums.

Me 39
DP 41
DS1 16
DD1 15
DS2 12
DD2 10
DS3 7
DD3 2

23 +3
Due date 15. 02.07
I do wish someone could educate me as to how to use this site properly lol

foxinbubblesletsmaketrouble · 17/10/2006 09:05

Hi everyone - Ginger we are the same age

Do you have ginger hair as well (I do) ?

Well done Bizzywizzy on your two LO's

Greengirlforever · 17/10/2006 09:46

Muckers - I am another one who had a missed miscarriage at 40 - I just started bleeding at 9 weeks and by the time they scanned it was an empty sac which I ended up passing naturally 2 weeks later. I'm now 41 and due in April so fingers crossed (WHY isn't there a fingers crossed emoticon???!!).

Elkiedee - Are you on the April antenatal thread? It is huge, but I'm not sure if I've seen you? Come and say hello! Me and Bugmum are the oldies and there's a few others definitely your age (sorry I don't think of 37 as "mature")! What test results are you waiting for? I had a v high risk nuchal for the first time ever (1/33) so had CVS which came back fine.

Rosyspookily · 17/10/2006 10:11

I had my first baby at 24 and I had SO much energy then, now nearly 40 and about to have 3 wee ones under 4 -knackered doesn't describe it!

My parents are both 70ish and full of energy doing all sorts so I am hoping to eventually have as much energy as they do!!!

skippy2 · 17/10/2006 10:35

Hi all

I'm new here and thought I should introduce myself.

I am 38 years old and 10 weeks pregnant with a surprise/shock baby. I have 4 children already: DS1 (19), DS2 (18) and boy/girl twins who are nearly 2. Dh is 29 and delighted with the news, I'm currently finding it very hard to deal with the extreme tiredness and 2 year old twins!

Hope you're all well

foxinbubblesletsmaketrouble · 17/10/2006 12:47

Skippy contrats!

I'm exhausted too - much more than with the first two - I look back with fondness on the days when I was PG with DS, first baby at 36, and able to lie down after work and put my feet up

By the way, never had an amnio; couldn't face the "risk of MC" factor. Had mega nuchal at the Fetal Medicine Centre though where they measured practically everything + did some bloods, so that was very reassuring.

Has anyone else been feeling really emotional?

I'm much more teary this time round, nut think there is a link between the tiredness and the tearfulness maybe?

PizPizPiz · 17/10/2006 13:00

A question for you: at our ancient age (I'm 36) is a nuchal scan automatically part of the package? Or do I have to ask for it specifically? I'm terrified at the thought of an amnio

foxinbubblesletsmaketrouble · 17/10/2006 13:03

Piz - depends which health area you are in. In some its offered at age 35 & above, in others its 37 and above - you need to ask what their policy is. Usually they'll offer you the choice of either a nuchal or the blood tests but not both. I think the nuchal is more reliable as other factors can affect the bloods results.

twocatsonthebed · 17/10/2006 13:03

Depends where you are - I would have qualified automatically in London (but miscarried), now in Somerset and only get 20 week scan. But like Foxinbubbles, I went to the Fetal Medicine Centre and got a very thorough nuchal scan, which was well worth the money.

PizPizPiz · 17/10/2006 13:07

Thanks for the replies. Can I wait until my 1st midwife appt at 9 weeks or should I act now ?

twocatsonthebed · 17/10/2006 13:12

I think you can probably wait until then - I only booked mine a couple of weeks in advance. But if you ring your local health authority, or just ask your GP, they should be able to tell you.

And here is the FMC website, which should tell you a bit more.

Daisybump · 17/10/2006 13:48

Me 38 (39 by due date)
DH 39
DS 4 1/2

2 m/c since Nov last year.

Feeling a bit old and cranky and wondering whether or not we're doing the right thing. It was bad enough when I was 33....how will I cope with the sleep deprivation. DS was a great sleeper so I'm sure this one will be just the opposite. Feeling more positive about the pregnancy on a daily basis, althoough it's still early days. Fingers crossed this one will be a keeper.
Nice to know there are lots of 'geriatric' mums out there (isn't that such a quaint turn of phrase....NOT
Hadn't really thought much about possibility of Down's till reading this thread...how big are the risks?

Greengirlforever · 17/10/2006 15:04

Hi Daisybump and welcome to the geriatric thread....

When are you due?

With regard to Downs there are fixed age-related risks which they combine with test results to give you an individual risk. Last time (I was 37) I had a risk of around 1/1000, this time (41) 1/33(!) but I had a CVS and all was ok.

Depending on how you feel about these things, the most common thing people seem to do is get a screening risk factor from eg. bloods and the nuchal scan and then make their decision for further diagnostic testing based on that. Where the cut-off point is is a completely individual decision. I think we would have been in a dilemma up to about 1/300, but as it was 1/33 that made the decision pretty straightforward for us!

Good luck with the pgcy!

lemonstartree · 17/10/2006 16:36

OK so things not so great here.

I have beeen for a scan which showed precisely zilch. ( had a little bit of spotting and cant be exactly certain of LMP) Then had an HCG level which was 'very low'

However I still feel pregnant, sore boobs, waves of nausea etc, and had a pos preg test this afternoon.bleeding has completely stopped

according to the web, if I were only 4 weeks pregnant the HCG level might be very low........? and this is too early to see an gestational sac. ? Is there any chance this pregnancy might be ok ?

Guess I will have to wait and see.....

EliBoo · 17/10/2006 16:40

Wow, Skippy, congrats! All the twin-Mums I know are knackered until their LOs are 3ish or more...whatever age they are...hopefully by the time your babe arrives things will be easier

Fox, are you the same fox as foxy I chatted with on the Health section? Either way, congrats and hi and yes I think teariness and tiredness are definitely connected! I bounced through pg at 43 because I stopped working half way through, didn't have a toddler to run after, and could nap a lot and get up late...made all the difference, hardly got teary at all. This time, these last few weeks of colds, coughs, pre-school routines....I can cry at adverts, fgs

When I worry about age, I remember my sister's BF who had twins (unplanned, she had two much older ones) at 49 and is managing fine three years later...

EliBoo · 17/10/2006 16:42

Lemons, 4 weeks is definitely too early to see anything on a scan. Did they say what 'low' meant?? At 4 weeks 'low' could be totally normal.

Keeping things crossed for you, I know how hard it is having the uncertainty...

jabberwocky · 17/10/2006 17:03

Lemons, I'm with elliboo, I don't think you can really see much on a scan until about 8 weeks. I had a little bleeding early on with ds and it is scary. But, he's fine, playing upstairs as I type

As far as testing goes, I know amnio is difficult, but just to let anyone know who is thinking about it, I had two - one with ds and one with this baby. The one with ds I did have some cramping afterwards, which was frightening. I really think they pulled the fluid out too fast which may have caused it.

Second time, they just let the fluid drain naturally and it was just fine. No cramping or anything. Also, the second time around I knew to request a FISH scheme which gives you preliminary results on the 5 most common abnormalities within 2 days. Then they go on to do the regular culture which takes 1 - 3 weeks that tests for other problems.

HTH