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.

Welcome dijini and Eagleray.

I have been a bit quieter since I initially joined as I went through a bit of an emotional time due to Clear Blue tests dating me less weeks than I thought I should be. If it hadn't been for the fact I have been feeling more nauseous each day, I would have been even more worried than I was.

I had my private scan today! Going on my dates I should have been 9+2 and I am normally very regular. However, it appears that the month I conceived I actually ovulated when my period was due! So I am only 7+2 which has meant I have a little adjusting to do in my head as to where I am. This does tie in with when I had the first positive result so not a huge surprise though. The good news is that my little bean has a strong heartbeat and everything looks exactly how it should for this stage.

I do wish that I had the scan a week later, but I really needed reassurance that everything was ok which ultimately I got! The consultant said the risk of MC reduces to around 5% around this time so I am now feeling more positive.

Hello again,

I lost you in the hacking thing and then I disappeared off to get married!

Am now 14+2 and had our combined test results back 1:24000 for Down's Syndrome and no other tests needed.

I think it's still sinking in...can't quite believe I am pregnant!

Congratulations dijini & eagleray.
I'm glad everything is ok Sezra, despite the mix up with dates.
What a great result Paper. Makes me slightly nervous about my 1:103!!
I'm going to GOSH tomorrow for a fetal heart scan. Nothing has been picked up but I lost a baby who had a heart problem so they are doing an extra check. It's great they are being thorough but it makes me slightly nervous that if you keep looking for problems, eventually you will find them.
I'm also having a scan on my heart because I had a previous dvt & small clots could go to the heart. Scary but gotta love the nhs! All this from a hospital in special measures!

Congrats on your wedding paperblank.
Had my quad results back yesterday. Low risk 1:419. Unexpected as I had convinced myself it would be much higher. While we would have still had and loved baby if it had downs, it's a relief to know it won't suffer those difficulties. Next milestone is my 20wk scan on Fri 18th.

Congrats on your good scan sezra, that is great! I think trying to date a pregnancy in the early stages can be really difficult, I wouldn't worry too much. When do you have your 12 week scan? That will be much more accurate.

Great news on the tests, paper and isla! One more milestone to be ticked off

grizzer Good luck for your scan, sounds as if they are being very thorough. Did they offer you the scan for your heart? I had a PE/DVT a few years ago, but at my hospital, I only get regular check ups with a obstetric haematologist, no risk for my heart has ever been mentioned... But it makes sense!

23+5 here, couple of more days and I'll be 6 months. I will have to notify my company 'officially' about my pregnancy the week after next, stating when I want to go on maternity leave etc. It still seems so long away...
DS started school on Monday, and I am feeling very emotional at the moment. He is taking it all in his stride and enjoying it a lot (he won't shut up about school), but I wish I was there more to do drop offs and pick ups. Not that he needs me! I also feel that I'm missing out on establishing those valuable school gate friendships, by the time I will be able to take him to school/pick him up, they will have been established. Working parent woes...

They grow up so quickly once they start school Cloud. Dd tells me as little as possible about her day - school is her secret place! My dd is at breakfast & afterschool club. It does make me sad sometimes but she is very happy there & given her demands for Christmas presents have already started I need to work .
Yes, I had a consultant appointment on Monday & he said 'we need to scan your heart because of previous clot.' It was 5 yrs ago & no one has checked me since! I have a filter in to prevent any clots travelling to my heart or lungs so hopefully nothing can sneak through. It hadn't crossed my mind before he said it, especially as I'm on clexane too. I'm at GOSH now. Starting to feel nervous.....

Welcome Eagleray and Dijini - Dijini your story is almost identical to mine (except I had all of DS's stuff stored in the loft because I couldn't bear to throw it out!)

I was told not to go beyond 40 weeks and I've ummed and ahhed about whether I want to be induced but I'm at the point now that I just want this baby out by any means necessary.

Paper congrats on getting married!

Lola any sign of the baby yet?

37+2 today here. At this point in my last pregancy my waters had gone and I was being induced but there's absolutely no sign of this baby wanting to move at the moment! I'm dragging DH out for a curry for my birthday tomorrow!

Hi ladies hope you are all well xx
I have spent a few days in Cornwall, seeing my daughter graduate ... However I went into labour during graduation and once I saw my daughter graduate visited the local hospital where I was 8 cm dilated, shortly afterwards I gave birth to willow ophelia 7lbs 3

Congratulations, Lolababy00! What an amazing story...

New to the thread: 42, 15 weeks gone. waves

Congratulations Lolababy00 - talk about a memorable day!

GoooRooo I'm cursing my sudden, uncharacteristic burst of organisation!

I'm think it's unlikely I'll go to 40 weeks - DD was 10 days early and this one (due 3/1) will no doubt take the opportunity to show up on Christmas day, New Year's eve or some other inconvenient/dramatic time. I was just surprised that they were laid back about it last time, but somehow magically 3.5 years later now if I go beyond 40 weeks I'll turn into a pumpkin or something.

Mind you, by then I'll look like a pumpkin, so... ;)

I got goose bumps reading your message Lola. How amazing & well done for getting to 8cm before going to hospital! That's the second Willow I've heard this week - love it. Well done to your daughter too on her graduation.
Welcome Dreaming. How are you feeling? I was still feeling terrible at 15 weeks. 22 weeks now & seem ok.....
Heart scan all over in a minute! No sign of any defects, including those associated with down's so I can breathe again until the next drama.

Congratulations lola!! What a great story, you make it sound so easy! Is this the first thread baby?! Hope you are all doing well and enjoying getting to know Willow xxx

grizzer Oh, that is fab! Here's to a boring and uneventful remainder of your pregnancy.

Lola many congratulations on the birth of your baby girl. Such lovely news

Paperblank congratulations on your wedding. I hope you had a fantastic day and a lovely honeymoon if you were lucky enough to have one.

Congratulations too to the new joiners and those who have just received low risk DS screening results and heart scans - it must be such a relief.

5+3 here today and hardly any symptoms as with my first pregnancy. I'm really tired, falling asleep on the sofa most nights, and occasionally very very slightly dizzy but otherwise nothing. Having experienced it last time though it's not freaking me out this time and I'm sleeping well now thank goodness. Well, as well as you can with an early rising (5:30am) toddler!

With my first pregnancy they told me that I would be induced at 39 weeks because of the risk of the placenta degrading. I also had to take baby aspirin to prevent clots in the placenta. As it was I had a section 10 days early in the end because of a low lying placenta. Nearly two weeks 'till my scan, it seems ages away.

Is anyone else suffering with extreme fatigue in their second trimester? Not sure if it's being over 40, or having a 3.5 year old, but tiredness is absolutely all-consuming this time round. I could nap forever.

Hello All, great to be reading all the positive posts on here. Well I had my first early scan (after 3 mcs, this is my 4th pregnancy and hopefully our baby) at 8 +3 and here it was a little bean plus heartbeat! I've never made it this far but of course I'm already worrying about the next scan (10 + 3)! Still, I'm feeling more positive and it's just about being patient. Would so love to be a mum and my DH would be a wonderful father. 42 now and possibly our last chance . . . .
Hope everyone is doing well and lovely to hear all these posts - oh to be in the second trimester! x

Huge congratulations Lola! You'll have to start a 40+ with newborns thread in the parenting section ;)

Congratulations Lola!

Thanks everyone x

Evening all - had a scan on Friday... Was v nervous turning up at the hospital as it was a consultant appt and didn't really hit me that they might scan me until I was in the consultation room, where I instantly fell apart. The scan shows that there is a pregnancy in situ, but it's early - around 5 weeks. I had previously been totally confused around dates but having acquired some new clues recently as to date of lmp, this would actually tie in. Being rescanned in 2 weeks' time so just trying to keep my fingers crossed that everything will be ok.

I've been having bouts of queasiness for some time, mostly a vague sicky feeling but this morning in the shower it came on with a vengeance. Decided to go and get dressed before trying to eat breakfast and next thing I knew I was throwing up everywhere...

Start new job tomorrow - am v anxious I won't be able to fit into new work trousers as although I haven't put on any weight I have a bloated tummy already and find waistbands very restricting!

Congratulations Lola on baby Willow!

It's really positive to see that strong heartbeat Brooke. Unfortunately I can't tell you the worry will go away (it definitely won't!!) but many of us are here after losses (I've had 3 too) and all going strong so you have every reason to believe this is the one.
Good luck with new job Eagle. Hope the trousers fit I was wearing leggings & tunic dresses quite early on to cover up the bloating but when I finally announced my pregnancy everyone said they already knew! Hopefully you'll be ok for a few more weeks.
Yes yes yes Djini, I am permanently exhausted. Have to work every evening this week as well as my normal day so I dread to think how I'll manage.

Thanks Grizzer! Sorry you've had losses too, but yes it seems so common, doesn't it. I also realise it's pretty normal to worry - so hard not too. Good luck to everyone, I know we are all at different stages and I'm so glad we can share on here - DH and I haven't told a soul, and we wont until much later. Thankfully I'm a little overweight just now and had taken to wearing baggy clothes anyway!!

Hello. Was 40 last month. Ugh! Have a 1 year old DS and am 14 + 3 with DS2 - due early March. DS1 will be 18 mths! We were relatively unusual I think in that both pregnancies happened first time trying. I'm not kidding. Blew us both away the first time as I was 38 and I was convinced that second time would take longer and had just gone back to work! Hence we have a smaller age gap than most I guess, but I'm quite pleased - 2 boys close in age should be lovely - if crazy! Feel so sick at night. Dont really like being pg at all - feel so whale-like already - but then feel super guilty for feeling like that especailly when so many poeple struggle so much. The nausea is bad but coudl be worse. Tired too. Maybe worse than last time. Sebsmummy best of luck for scan. Stay positive. How many weeks are you? x

Oh actually may have posted on here before - baby brain! Ha ha! x

Congrats Lola - what a wonderful story! And love the name. Very Pre-Raphaelite sounding almost.

@Brooke - fingers crossed for a sticky bean but yes, totally understandable to be worrying constantly!

@ababsurdum - no symptoms here either and I'm 15 weeks today. Not even feeling tired but that's probably because I'm keeping active with my DS, walking the dog and personal training/circuit training. But then again, I've always had ants in my pants.

Still waiting to hear results of nuchal fold scan. We're now beyond the 7 - 10 working days that they said it would be if I was high risk (which would've been a phone call), so I guess I'm waiting for a letter in the post now to say we are low risk, but I just want to know one way or the other, especially as we go on hols on Saturday!

Update - just got my letter re: Downs risk. 1 in 100,000 - that'll do for me! At least I can tell work now!