40+ and pregnant? Come and join the fun!

[cloudjumper]

I am 43 and currently pg with DC2, due early January. I thought it would be nice to have a thread for the pregnant ladies of 'older vintage', similar to the 40+ ttc thread, for advice, support and the occasional moan.

Aw huge double congrats FluffieBabies!

Tomorrow is my last day at work. Counting the hours!

Fluffiebabies. That's wonderful congrats! How do you feel. I'm 42 and 7 weeks preg with twins. They are momo they think (same sac). I'm scared

Thanks for the congrats! Wyawc4 I feel fine now, I had an elected cesarean as its twins, which they were happy to do, and it went really well.

Happy Birthday for tomorrow, Empem!

Fluffy, wow. Congratulations! May I ask if you used donor egg or was this a natural conception?

I had my consultant appointment this morning and was amazed she agreed I can birth at the standalone midwife-led unit here in my town! I had forceps and a retained placenta with my first baby at 42 and the cons is only worried about the latter as there is a 25% chance of another. I had an anterior placenta last time but am convinced it is much further to the left this time (ive been feeling movements since 13wks) and we will find out at the 20wk scan in a fortnight exactly where it is located.

Hearing the heartbeat today was a joy. Hearing I need to be fully off my antidepressants and codeine by 36 wks was not. I will have to birth at hospital if I don't.

Sorry for those desperate to pop baby out. I am struggling more with this pregnancy as I have a baby already and I am truly tired now I'm at home with her (my contract ended at work last week). Being at work is far easier than being a SAHM!

Thanks for the birthday wishes

Had a different sort of day today n despite getting up stupidly early when DH went to work I went back to bed and had another 4 (yes FOUR) hours!

Then to see Paper Town at the flixs with DD and then had a spray tan tonight to make me feel better at my family birthday meal tomo eve.. I've purchased a new dress which is sleeveless so needed to make the bingo wings look better!!

I'll see how I go with the BP checks and see if I get signed off for bed rest, I did with DD1 but that was at 37 weeks when I'd finished anyway! I only work part time and although it's a busy none stop job it's not terribly stressful and I'm sat most of the day. No travel time either as its 5 mins from home so mustn't grumble!
Next week short week same week after and then the deciding MOD scan the week after then finish week after that so put like that it ain't so bad.

Happy birthday empem Hope you have a lovely day.

goo Wow, last day at work! Very jealous! I'm just starting to get my head around when I'll go on mat leave, for how long, how to use holidays before then... Seems ages away!

flotillas Great news on the birth front! Although I am glad that we do get a bit more attention, I think that sometimes the HCPs are a bit too cautious when it come to giving birth at 40+... If everything is looking fine, then there is no reason why we should not be able to have a natural birth.

fluffie Congratulations, amazing! How was your pregnancy with twins? Was there a specific reason you were taking levothyroxine?

I'm very much looking forward to the long weekend! Lots of relaxing and spending time with DH and DS, and hopefully the weather will be nice.

Flotillas it was donor eggs, and workied first time!
Cloudjumper I was lucky that my pregnancy went smoothly, no morning sickness or anything. Just very puffy feet towards the end.
The fertility clinic put me on Levothyroxine, as when you get older your thyroid levels change, and research found people are more likely to have a successful pregnancy if the levels are within a certain limit.

Hello, I'm dipping my toe in after reading all you great posts. I'm 42 and just over 7 weeks pregnant. DH and I have been trying for a baby (our first) for over 3 years and is my 4th pregnancy. I've had 3 mcs, one early, one at 7 weeks and a mmc at 12 weeks, plus a failed IVF.

This was all over a year ago and DH and I have really moved on and been accepting of the situation (eventually). So here we are. I have a scan booked for 8+5 and it's hard to wait, but I didn't want to do it any earlier - I've never made it past 7 + 2. It's such a limbo not knowing whether I will be possibly a mum or just upset again, not knowing whether to be happy or anxious. I haven't spoken to anyone but DH, so thank you for letting me share here.

Hope you are all doing well.

Hello all - newbie to mumsnet... I'm 43 and just found out I'm pregnant with my second after the m/c - fingers crossed for this one, though I am trying not to be to excited yet! Have one other, but he's almost 16... So good to find a supportive place for older pregnant ladies :)

Welcome brookeberry and mooncalf congratulations to both of you! Fingers crossed too.

Hi Brookeberry - seems like we're in a similar-ish position, though I haven't had ivf. It is so hard knowing how to feel - I've tried to stay positive the previous the times, and here I am again starting the journey again... Trying to think positive thoughts, and mainly not to obsess about symptoms and what's coming next! It's easier to take it one day at a time, knowing that right now I AM pregnant, and not to worry too much about what's round the corner...

Thank you :) good to be here!

Hi to all the newbies! Some great stories.

So I had my dating scan today and, unlike last time, the dates are spot on. I'm 12 + 4 and due early March. It was great to see baby wriggling around and our DS came along too. He said he could see two babies and we were like 'Whaaat?' but then realised he meant there were two screens! The sonographer said the nuchal fold is 'nice and thin' but I fully expect to get a call re: being high risk, due to age. I was 1 in 60 for Downs last time. Still haven't told family yet!

Welcome Brookeberry & Mooncalf. Hope everything goes smoothly for you. Most of us are here after mcs so there's every reason to believe these are sticky beans for you.
Happy belated birthday Empem. Hope you were spoilt at your family meal.
GoooRooo, how lovely to have finished work. Are you resting or has the nesting kicked in? I swear my waters broke with dd because I was constantly bending down with the dustpan & brush!!
Congratulations on twins Fluffie. What did you have? Sorry if I missed you saying. Are they identical?
Great news re scan Mrslebon. I've been high risk for downs in all my pregnancies (dd 2 was downs but we lost her due to many other health issues.) A thin nuchal fold is great, I put much more weight on that than anything else. Dd 2 was 8.7 so there was no doubt with her. All sounds good to me. Have you had your blood tests? My first ones came back as 1:25 risk then the DNA blood test was 1:103 so I was happy with that.

Thanks Grizzer, they are non identical boys.

Thanks all. Yes mooncalf, best to take one day at a time - I have an early scan in just over a week, so I will have to wait until then until I know any more. Good luck to you and everyone else.

Hi everyone,
Ive just had 1st baby after 5 yrs of trying I'm 37 now. Would love another but worried if I am too old? It's nice to know that there are ladies in their late 30s and 40s having children because I don't know any! At the moment I am trying to get my fitness levels back after DD was born in April. I used to run loads and was super fit I can't seem to shift the weight my belly still flabby despite me doing loads of sit ups and planks every day! How long does it take to get back into shape after giving birth? Is it harder after 2 babies? Is it harder when you're late 30s early 40s? I saw this lady the other day when I was swimming with DD who had gorgeous figure and 2 kids! Flat tummy and slender! Obviously looks aren't evetything but I'm feeling fat and ugly at the moment and feel unfit! I'm trying to eat healthily but crave sugar to give me energy as I'm so tired! maybe I am being too hard on myself!

I hope you don't mind me joining this thread, I've just been reading your stories, really inspirational, I have been on a long journey too, my life was on hold as was so desperate for a child, was told I had 5% chance due to poor eggs. We gave up, then 3 months later I was pg! Now have beautiful daughter I thank my lucky stars every day xxx

Congratulations on your DD musicmum! I'm 40 and having my first, so you're definitely not too old to try for another. I know a few people around my age Ttc and with small babies.

I can't help with the getting back into shape question this being my first. It's something I wonder about too. I've craved carbs this pregnancy and have put on more weight than recommended. Although I've always been slim, I never had a flat stomach before pregnancy, so I definitely won't have one after! I'm more worried about my boobs. They were small and fairly pert before. Now they are huge and I wonder what the effect of that will be after breast feeding. I think my bikini days might be over! It's all worth it though

Hello newbies!

MusicMum I had my first at 37 after five years of ttc. I'm turning 41 in two weeks and due DC2 in four weeks. Not too old in my book

Grizzer I have (stupidly) bought a shed loads of ingredients for batch cooking to do this week. I'm going to get a hair cut and a pedicure at some point and then this baby can make an appearance when she likes!

Hi Siesta
Thanks for your message, I went completely off all hot food and lived off crisps and cheese sandwiches in early pregnancy....not good but it was all I could keep down! I was worried about my boobs too, and still am. They were quite low before pregnancy, I am mixed feeding breast feeding and topping up with expressed or formula, but my left boob is bigger than my right!! It's really weird!! I am really hoping they match in size once I stop breast feeding!! Does anyone else have any advice on getting back into shape, and how long it takes? It's so lovely being in touch with ladies of a similar age to me, I don't know any near where I live!

I was fat before I was pregnant and fat afterwards, so in a way I got my figure back

I lost 4 stone before this pregnancy and will be going back to Slimming World once DD arrives.

Thanks Grizzler - had a lovely day yesterday and a great meal although I messed up the numbers and menu choices so 4 of the family had to sit on another table ???? was really cross with myself about it and blamed my baby brain! As lovely as it was I found it all a bit much and was shattered when we got home literally dumped everything and came to bed! Had a much more chilled day today. Sent DH out with his bestie and DD been out with friends so I've had a lovely day doing nothing!!

Welcome to all the newbies.. The group is growing

Gooroo I've had the week off this one and planned in batch cooking a variety of meals in preparation but didn't do any!! I'll have to do it at the start of maternity instead... I think if I get some trays ready in prep it may spur me to do them

And am with you on Slimming World... I'm going to start as soon as I can after the birth and there's a local daytime class in walking distance to me which am planning on joining. I was going to wait till the new year but am determined to shift it quicker this time! Took me 10 years to shift it last time