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.

Thanks everyone - I'm so pleased, of course - thank goodness!!

I will be thinking of you tomorrow too Brookeberry - 4:10 appt will make it seem like a looong day, I bet!

So I was wondering what's a VBAC, and what's the benefit of going for the harmony test - I mean I've read a little about it, but not much, plus personal opinions are more interesting than blurb on a website...

Abab I didn't realise we were so close in dates - for some reason I thought you were much further along!

Ok, having just gone and actually looked up the harmony test, the benefits are fairly obvious! I have some literature about it from the midwife, but it doesn't name it, di I was a bit confused...

Moon I had to google vbac, it's vaginal birth after caesarean. I'll be having a section, so no. I have thought about it as the recovery would perhaps be easier and better for dealing with a toddler afterwards BUT that's only assuming everything goes hunky dory. When I was on the ante natal ward last time the poor girl in the bed next to me had delivered her (second) baby when she was only 7 centimetres dilated. She was ripped to bits, had to be sewn up by one of the top surgeons in the hospital and was in far more pain than me - it makes me wince thinking about it.

Kungfu how funny, at least it provided some light relief for you! I hope the scan went well.

Sorry that was post natal ward - doh!

Thanks all.

Well the consultant appt went well...it was the same doctor and he was really lovely! I think I may have just caught him on a bad day! He's redeemed himself.

Had scan too to check growth and all ok thankfully. Baby was being shy and wouldn't look at the camera but has managed to do a complete 180 somersault and is now breech! Good job I'm having a csection

Congratulations to everyone btw, I'm feeling buoyant and pretty good (despite appalling back pain and tiredness). Just have to summon up some energy to get things sorted for my dd's birthday party this Sunday.

moon, what a thrill! Congratulations.

Brooke, wishing you masses of happiness tomorrow

Welcome to Blackeyedpeas. I'm sorry you feel under attack. Try to not take these curt comments to heart; some people simply lack empathy or have become jaded in their profession. You're having a baby!

Cloud, love, how's the snot situation? I find it bizarre that our nasal capillaries go crazy during pregnancy. The pregnant body is a wonder! My diazepam came to an end (boo!) but I'm wearing my Tens machine during cooking and baking which provides temporary bliss and allowed me to stand and bake apple fudge cake today (yaaaay!)

...ah, I see I missed reading a whole page before posting Great your consultant had had a lobotomy, Blackeyed

Glad to hear it went well BPP - he must have had an off day indeed! Glad you had a successful visit and scan - how far along are you?

I find with me it's usually everyone else is normal but I am hypersensitive (ie my inner hormone goblins are telling me the world is definitely out to get me...) well massive bit everyone, but definitely my poor dh - I had a property tantrum last night because he had made me dinner but had not arranged it on the plate to my satisfaction... I mean it was literally all on top of each other, but still... what a cow bag! :)

Love the variety of this thread - pregnancy/plastic surgery clinics + 7cm dilation births + snot and general eye opening imaginings....

And then apple fudge cake.... God I am googling for that recipe right now!!!

Evening all

Just trying to catch up. Its amazing how much seems to happen if I don't check for a couple of days.

Good news on the positive tests Bottle you must be relieved!

So pleased you scan went well Mooncalf and wishing you a happy scan Brooke tomorrow

Welcome Blackeyed! Glad to hear your consultant appointment was better than expected! I am also under a consultant but I don't have to see him until I am 20 weeks. I will be having a little chat about my birth options and as I undecided whether to go for a VB or CS. I am terrible at giving birth, slow to labor and then problems at the end.

I have had a rubbish day today. My worst nausea yet (I am desperately hoping it is peaking) and really achey bump area. I am presuming that this is just everything stretching at 11 weeks and nothing to worry about.

Hope you are feeling better Cloud?

Thanks all, I am feeling much better today. Energy starting to come back, I even managed to go to the gym tonight. Which then prompted me to think for how much longer I will manage that... I reckon I have another month or so before I have to pack it in.
Need to talk to them about freezing my membership, I don't see any point in paying when I can't go. Currently doing 2 classes a week, which just about makes it worth paying the monthly fee. I do plan to start going to back asap after birth, but who knows when that might be (and who knows if they have not axed all my favourite classes then!).

bottle I am contemplating a VBAC, and it will certainly be an option, if I decide to do it, my consultant didn't have any objection. However, at the moment, I am more leaning towards an ELCS, just because I had such an awful birth with DS (EMCS). The one thing I know for certain at the moment is that under no circumstances will I be induced again. We shall see!

flottilaz Yeah, I'm still/again bunged up, but now it's back to the 'usual' pregnancy-related stuffy nose, the cold is on its way out. Glad that the Tens is providing some relief.

I got an invitation to get a flu jab on Saturday, and I really hope it won't knock me out again, I sometimes get that with jabs. Guess the whooping cough vaccination will come soon as well... The appointments are certainly starting to ramp up again, now that the 3rd trimester is looming - how did that happen?!?!

Cloud, it's pretty amazing to be at the gym at nearly 7 months (is that what you are now?) What classes do you do?

When does the third trimester begin? I so love being pregnant, despite the pain this time around - I don't want it to end.

moon, the recipe is a Saturday Morning Kitchen one and there are several errors in the recipe meaning it was overbaked with a dearth of apples in it

The third trimester starst at 28weeks flotillaz
cloud it is always amazing the amount of app towards the end! Which classes do you do? I do zumba 2 or 3 times per week. I went yesterday and it had been cancelled for the evening. The gym was so hot and airless I went back home.
My symptoms dissappeared and my scan is on Friday. Friday!!!!
Planning a small birthday party for ds2 (he will be 2) for toddlers this Saturday and then a proper one (for family and friends) the following Saturday. It helps to keep my mind busy!.

I was hoping to write more but my dog is here wanting food.
Hello to everyone !!! I love this thread!!

Just booked my harmony test for next Tuesday! Apparently the results are back in 7-10 days as the blood is sent to London now instead of the U.S. This should mean we get the results well in advance of our scan on the 28th. God I hope it's all ok but I couldn't terminate if it wasn't.

Thinking of you today brooke.

I hope everyone else is having a good day. It's pouring here.

Glad you are feeling better Cloud

DC3 was a VBAC. First birth was awful, labour stopped so then had to go in drip as my waters had already broken. 48 hours later DD1 was born via forceps although I was in theatre and 'topped up' ready for an EMCS. DD2 had to be induced as 2 weeks late and ended up as an EMCS. Very horrible and I was quite upset about how everything spiraled out of my control. With DS1 I went for a smaller hospital and the consultant said he would let me go 1 week over and then he recommended a CS. Thankfully I went in to labor the day before I was booked in and he was my best birth out of the three. So after two hard labours a positive VBAC is possible.

Now though, I am not sure what I want to do. I want the faster recovery time of a natural birth but with my track record I know it has a good chance of going pear shaped! My hunch is to go for an ELCS but I hate the idea of being so restricted. Its been a long time though (12 years) since my EMCS and I think the memory has faded of what I felt like after!

Sezra it sounds like you've had some awful experiences. From what I hear recovery is easier after and elective section compared to an emergency one.

Thank you abab and flotillaz and moon and all. I'm trying to keep busy at work until I have to leave at 3pm. The last time I had a 12 week scan it was a mmc, a blighted ovum and we were both devastated. So this time I know there was a heartbeat at 10+3. I had my early scans this time without DH as I didn't want him to see a heartbeat at one and then gone at the other - one of my other mc. So today I just so hope it will be okay. I don't want me or him to go through the heartbreak again. We are both so hopeful, but you just don't now, do you.

I really hope this goes well for you today Brooke.

Ababs I think it made me more determined to have the birth that I always wanted. Well, that's not true, I actually always wanted a water birth at home so I am not sure what happened there!

Now I just feel more pragmatic about it all. Part of me wants to try again naturally as this is DP's first and I feel like I am robbing him of the experience. But then again given my past history it might be better if it was all planned out without any of the trauma!

Good luck today brooke will be thinking of you.

Sorry you're feeling crap today sezra I have suffered with nausea quite badly this pg. I do sympathise as it really knocks it out of you

Bit of background : My dd was born 4yrs ago by ELCS at 42 weeks. No sign of me starting labour, despite several membrane sweeps. Induction ruled out as growth scans indicated she was going to be over 10.5 lbs. she wasn't that big - nearly 9lb. All ok and I recovered well.
I then unfortunately had MMC last year at 12 weeks.

This time consultant has said ELCS at 39 weeks as my chances of going into labour have dropped to 50% ish and an induction after cs is inadvisable as the contractions could come on very suddenly and damage the internal scar.

Seeing consultant again at 36 weeks when he said he'll book my csection in.

So here I am at 31+6 just waiting til I finish work (3weeks to go then 2 weeks annual leave before mat leave). I cannot lie though, I'm bloody knackered....1.5 hr drive to work each day does me in!

How did you get on Brooke?

Aw my post from earlier didn't stick...

Just came to see if Brookeberry had updated her news... Hope ask went well, been thinking of you today!

Xx

Brooke let us know how you get on.

Hope all went well, Brooke

I feel awful today - nearly fainted at work this afternoon No idea what is going on! Baby kicking lots, so at least that's fine.
Wondering if I overdid it at the gym last night - but I was very careful (or so I thought)! Might need to tone it down even further...
Bleurgh. In bed now, hoping it'll all be back to normal tomorrow.

Thanks for answering my question Notsoold. Friday will be here before you know it

Brooke, please come tell us all is well...