Getting pregnant in late 30s

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I am just feeling really 'down' having read an article in today's Independant about how the idea that today's women are leaving it later to have children, and thus having the best of a career and then babies, is all a myth as a large proportion of those who leave it till their late 30s and early 40s never ever get pregnant despite trying just about eveything. The article seems to be based on a book - Baby Hunger or some such title - that is about to come out.
As I'm 38 and desperately trying to conceive - and have been for 8 months ( dd is 15 months) this has really got me down - especially as I had 3 miscarriages before dd so know I am not ''Ms Fertile'' to start with....
Anyone out there got any ''getting pregnant late on'' stories to cheer me up and counter this article??? PLEASE!!!

Hi I have 3 kids and have had 4 miscarriages, all 7 were post 35, last child born at 40.

I think if you have a dc you are fertile! Hold that thought.

Also I think possible the amount of miscarriages does go up as you get older, you eggs are not as great so there are a few dodgey ones, which lead to miscarriage, but there are also plenty of good ones left, so it is worth keep trying.

Lovely lace...hi.
I would really love to talk or chat more with you. I was diagnosed with exactly the same issues. Had ivf twice now. Said I had pcos and scarred tissues in my tubes. Your story brought tears to my eyes. I have been married for over 9 years.
Thanks.

I'm 40, and almost 33 weeks pregnant with DC3.

Bloody knackered though!

Never TTC berfore my 37th birthday.
DS was born 2 months before my 38th birthday.
Two and a bit years later we started TTC again, and DD was born, on time, 9 months later.
Both pg straightforward, except for hyperemisis. but this is not age related - the girl in the hospital bed next to me one occassion also had hyperemis and was 17.

Both my grandparents were 38 ish for their first and early 40's for their second in the late 1940's - apparently no probs as both siblings nicely timed to about 3/4 years apart! The war pushed things back for many people.

I think that special lubricant helped with us first time trying at 35, now 26 wks. I was a little stumped as to the speed and had prepared for months of trying!

All the best!

Oh an app helped too, tried opk but no sign I ovulated according to that - though obviously did!

I was 38y.o. when I conceived. During a routine check-up visit private gyno told me I had very high, "pre-menopausal FSH" and that she "could not even recommend me for IVF". This was on Dec 22 last year; we decided with my husband to try naturally and, according to my calculations, conceived on Dec 30-31. Do not despair and keep trying!

I have been told that 38 is the average age of first time Mums in my area in London - I'm 35 and my HCPs keep telling me how young I am! When I asked my sonographer whether my age was an issue at all, she laughed at me and said she sees women in their 50s.

A family friend had her first (and only) baby at 48 (a surprise!) while 2 or 3 of my DP's colleagues are having their first child in their 40s. It's all individual, and age is just one factor. A young friend of mine (29) took 2 or 3 years to conceive. She did in the end, but only after she had a month off traveling. I think she just became more relaxed and this helped her. I know it's easier said than done but maybe you could try to forget the conceiving part of it for a few months and focus on having really enjoyable (fun/unusual) sex?

I'm 38 and pregnant with DC3.
It was an accident.
We only dtd once in several months, the day after my period finished, I'd been having irregular periods for some time.
DP was diagnosed with very low testosterone not long after.
So despite quite a lot of odds against I still fell pregnant.

10 year old thread alert

I found this thread very interesting , whilst old it is still relevant to many women.
I have just turned 39 and have been married to DH number 2 for 3 years after losing DH number one to cancer 5 years ago. I have an 18 year old, a 14 year old and a 12 year old. I also had an abortion 10 years ago. DH number 2 has no children of his own and we both would love to have more children. I have had 3 m/c's ( natural no dnc) in the last 18 months, none of these pregnancies got past week 11. I have been to a specialist who says that he can find no reason why I can't conceive again and the past M/C's have just been unfortunate. DH has been and had his sperm checked and all appears to be normal. I am checking my cycles and we are enjoying trying to conceive, although it is depressing whenever AV turns up on time. It has now been 4 months since the last M/C and DH feels like we are running out of time because he is 48. We have both decided to keep trying for another 12 months and if by then we haven't been successful then DH will have a vasectomy as M/ C's take a tremendous toll on my body both mentally and physically. This thread has given me some encouragement as most of the things I have read on line seems to paint a very difficult if not impossible picture of the likelihood that we will eventually have a healthy pregnancy that results in another bouncing baby . Good luck to everyone else who is TTC.. Baby dust

Everyone I know who wanted to get pregnant in their late 30s or early 40s did so sooner or later.

I'm 38 and pregnant with my second. Conceived 2nd cycle. Had DD in my early 30s. I'd suggest tracking your ovulation and taking measures to maximise the quality of your cervical fluid eg use fertility gel. My understanding is that one of the main reasons it can take longer to conceive in your late 30s is diminished cervical fluid.

Well, if this book's author is right, people in our position aren't going to bother buying her book if it's already too late. I suggest you stop reading the papers!

Sorry, just realised it's a zombie thread in Active!

This is a really interesting thread, despite being over 10 years old!

Was having a google as I'm starting to wonder whether I will ever fall pregnant again- I'm 38 and had a MMC at 13 weeks over 5 months ago with baby no.2 (conceived v quickly after stopping the pill, didn't have a proper period, BFP 5 weeks later)

I was 34 with my first pregnancy which resulted in LO who is 2 now.
Again, fell pregnant v quickly and unexpectedly, had barely stopped the pill.

My knowledge of cycles and general TTC info has expanded 100 times over since earlier on this year!

OPKs, BBTs, fertility apps, cervical mucus, different phases in the cycle...I had very little idea about any of this.

The success stories on this thread give me hope...I wonder if the OP ever managed to have baby no.2 ?!

Hi just found out that I am 5 weeks at age of 39 but a bit worried I have had m/c a few times before at an earlier stage and today just had sharp pains on right side bottom of stomach and heading down my leg which made me feel sick tired and very cold but no spotting as yet is there anything to worry about?

I love that this is such an old thread. The babies that were born to the original posters, I hope there were lots, will now be at secondary school!

Fwiw for anybody reading, I know two pregnant women ATM. One is past 37 and got pregnant with basically zero effort, the other is over 40 and has had past fertility issues. It can happen to anybody.

Bloody hell I think this must be the oldest thread ever to be bumped!

Haha, yes! I was merrily reading through it and then the OP said, "I have the Independent delivered every day". I thought, that can't be right; they've stopped printing it!