Pregnant at forty and over - thread 2

[cloudjumper]

To continue the support for those of us who are pregnant at forty and over.

hi city I'm having scans every 4 weeks due to previous problems, so not sure when the routine ones are!

Yes it's not long is it? V exciting times.

Thanks city. I'll be getting growth scans at 28, 32 and 36 weeks because of being an 'oldie'! I think those weeks are the standard. I'm 26 + 4 now and I'm glad I'll be getting a scan soon - I love to see what's going on in there!

I'm an oldie and I'm not getting extra scans because of that!

I am getting one at 34/35 weeks but that's because of a low placenta. I want oldie scans too!!

Nicky! I'm in Scotland - we probably do it differently up here!!

brooke I'm in Scotland too! At the PRM in Glasgow. they mentioned extra scans, and I have my 24 week midwife apt this week, so I guess 'll find out then whether I'm in for a scan at my 28 week appt. WOOOOO. I too love seeing inside at what he's getting up to, but I ALWAYS have a few sleepless nights in the run up to one with The Fear.

Just had a look on the NHS England website and you don't get offered extra scans because of age, so just 12wks and 20 wks.

city I get The Fear too, it's horrible and I'm relieved when it's over and everything is OK. Think I'd be used to it by now!

I think the extra growth scan thing is a hospital-specific policy, like the induction at term thing. In last pregnancy, I didn't have extra scans, but am having 28w scan this time (both times I was over 40)

Also recommended to take aspirin this time (but not last time). Bit of a nightmare with bleeding issues - horrible nosebleeds plus knocked my thumb yesterday and my old(ish) cheese grater graze popped open and wouldn't stop bleeding - it's horrid!

Argh - nose just started up again.

Anthropologie scarf looks like a murder scene, as does my face

Nice taste in scarves though, eagle!
I am still doing a bit of a face like this [imagine THE FACE OF SCEPTICISM] as I take my daily junior dispirin, but midwife said it's on the whole better to do so than not, so I am going along with it anyway. Still doing THE FACE though. Nosebleeds are the worst :(

I sometimes forget to take my aspirin but then I think, 'Meh'.

Sorry for self indulgent nosebleed posts - will catch up properly when not on phone

Scarf is an acid-dyed blue huge thing - reminds me of the sea, well it did until my nose spurted blood all over it

Worst bit is when it's stopped pouring out of my nose it then pours down into the back of my throat then I'm yakking up globby blood bits into my mouth. I think you've heard enough now.

Got my audience with Mrs Big this Friday - she's the head honcho consultant who is more likely to approve a c section than anyone else, according to the MWs. Got to make notes and try and put my case across.

eagle I think so long as you can express your appreciation of the relative risks and that, having weighed it up, you believe elcs is the best option for you, then they ought to be supportive. If all else fails, quote the NICE guidelines at them- your wishes, so long as rational, should be supported. Mind you, I am reduced to gibberish-spouting nitwit in the presence of my consultant, so I can feel your pain.

Hahahahah Nicky, me too [flips the Vs like mature mother to be].

Hahahahah Nicky, me too [flips the Vs like mature mother to be]

Hehe CityMole

I'm trying to use up my supply of swears before May. Trying really fucking hard

city I'm in Glasgow too! At the Southern General - I actually live 45 mins away from it but I'm assured that's not a problem . . . .

I had 3 early mcs - I wonder if the extra scans at 28, 32, 36 wks are to do with that as well. They gave me 2 early ones. (I'm now addicted to the scan fear/high!). They have been super-attentive to me which I've found really impressive. Yes eagle, maybe it is hospital-specific. Hope the appt with Mrs Big goes well!

Good news! Finally got harmony results back today and all is well - low risk for everything. Can't tell you how relieved and happy we are. Going to tell the whole world now (before my belly does it for me!).

Brilliant news, greater! what a relief

Hi glad to see lot of humour on the board and that everyone is doing well. I'm sorry I am pitching in a totally different mood. Probably it is not anything but with my horrible background i'm feeling v low and scared. Hope u dont mind me sharing here. Basically my main compaint is constant wet feeling in the vagina as if constant leak is going on..

Yesterday morning, I had a review at specialist clinic and as part of their thorough work up, they ended up convincing me for a speculum to take multiple swabs. So i had the speculum and they were honestly very gentle. I didnt feel it was as traumatic as in my previous pregnancies that I lost. They also did a quick internal scan (i'm 14 weeks) and all was fine. We were then discharged home happily. But come evening, I started to have wet feeling in my vagina and that has continued, i hv also been feeling as it i am releasing drop of something from vagina like 4-5 times when I sit, although my knicker is not soaked but it has been wet with drops almost whole day, smell is that of urine to be honest but drop is def coming from vagina. its about 24 hrs since it all started and 36 hrs since speculum. I also had a sudden onset of burning sensation in my tummy this morning. That has got better over the day without any treatment but still there. I dont hv any other symptoms. It might all sound weird but has any of you had such symptoms ever? any idea what it could be? Any advice? I have put on a pad. I feel like crying to be honest but i am trying to hold myself, in case i'm worrying over nothing...xx

Ellie, I have had high volume of wetness vaginally, and it increased markedly as I went into the second tri. And again after 20 weeks. I'm going through a lot of pants/ liners!
Are you sure it smells uriney? How is your pelvic floor (probably a v silly Q, but do you have any issues with leaking when you sneeze, etc?) I'm assuming no pain when peeing that might suggest a uti, but for peace of mind perhaps ring the midwife in the morning? Sending you loads of hugs.

Thanks so much City. Your post has reassured me a bit (((hugs))) but what concerns me is the sudden onset of this.

Yes i am very sure it smells of urine, I have been worrying about my pelvic floors for a while, esp. coz I do have occasional stress (esp. sneezing) incontinence/leaks and having constipation doesnt help! I am still waiting to see a physio as I do not want to do any exercise on my own. I doubt myself of doing something wrong with exercises last time, harsh on myself I know, but this time I dont want to do anything without an 'expert' advice.

Yes I did initially think of urine too. But microscopy results are thankfully nil for everything and I am not hoping cultures to show anything as I do not have any symptoms.

I spoke to the midwife on call as I couldnt stop worrying and she thinks this could be due to speculum examination and she thinks i might continue to feel this wetness for another couple of days before it settles. I just hope its just as benign as urs..xxx

Gm!
Quick Q for City
When u started off with vaginal wetness, how did u reassure yourself that it wasnt amniotic fluid? Thanks xx

Hey ladies, it has been a while. I am in Bedfordshire and am going to be scanned at 28, 32, 36 and 38 weeks before being induced a week early. Assumed it was my age as nuchal scan was low risk and apparently I'm healthy as a horse! Currently 19 + 4 with scan on Monday, hoping to find out if we are team pink or team blue!

Hello ellie, are you still fretting?

I didn't really reassure myself because tbh, it never occurred to me (until now) that it could be amniotic fluid leaking. not at that stage of the pregnancy. It just would have seemed such an unlikely thing for it to be compared to the obvious thing that it (I hope) it is, i.e. pregnancy leukorrhea (which, a bit like your cm during a menstrual cycle, can change in consistency from day to day, sometimes thick and other times quite watery. Having said that Ellie, there are a couple of things about me to remember- 1. I am new to this and having not suffered loss, I'm not looking for warnings or things that might be red flags

1. I am by nature a very optimistic person, so I have researched briefly and adopted the first semi-likely benign cause that I came across, thinking' that'll do, that's what it is!'

You sound really worried, and it must be so so hard when you have past experience hanging over you- can you get a second opinion to help put your mind at rest?

everything else is going well so far in this pregnancy, is that right? You had a good 12 week scan?

Hi Ellie - hope you're feeling less anxious today. So hard when you've had previous bad experiences. I also think every last thing is a sign of impending doom - exhausting isn't it? Sounds like you've had some good reassurance from your MW though and hopefully the further along you get, the calmer you will feel (hoping for this for myself too!).