Pregnant at forty and over - thread 2

[cloudjumper]

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

MOOing!

city I just read the reviews for that book - looks really good. I think I'll get it, thanks for the tip (you're name's not Juju is it?!) I just don't want to be a screaming mess during labour - wouldn't it be great to just sail through. My mum says we all just slipped out (selective memory?)

Hello all. I'm now officially booked in and in the system. I saw the same community midwife I had last time which was nice, and I didn't get a hard time about wanting a different hospital this time. She was also supportive of my having an ELCS, so fingers crossed (a) I get that far, and (b) the consultant agrees! She does think they'll keep a closer eye on me this time round due to age and a BMI of 30 but that's no bad thing to me.

Hi all, just popping in to say that my big day is Tuesday when I'm booked in for an ELCS. Baby has been giving me a right booting tonight - hope he's not getting into position too soon! Hilariously, I got an email today from my boss's PA asking if I could make a conference call on Tuesday. Um no, cos I'm having a baby that day!

mrslebon wow that's come round quick. All the very best of luck for Tuesday hope all goes really well for you

hi Arborea good to hear you have midwife support for ELCS - that'll help as far as consultant goes.

I'm in the process of writing my hand over notes for work today - wanted to get them done before my scan next week in case they decide to bring things forward. It's making it very very real now and I'm getting a bit nervous!

mrslebon, how exciting!! Please update us when you get a chance, I'll be thinking of you

notfrom how I envy you- I am actually dreaming about the day I get to do my handover notes.... I'm coming to a place of acceptance that I'm not going to manage to complete certain projects in the next 8 weeks because of matters outwith my control, and there probably is going to have to be some kind of handover of sorts. Ahhhh, CANNOT WAIT. when is your next scan?

I had a growth scan today, and all is well. Two sonographers- a trainee and her supervisor, both commented on how active the baby was and asked me if I'd had a lot of sugar.... (answer- no, and is this a bad thing...?)
He is measuring quite big- still on the chart but only just. Fun fun fun!

Good news on your scan city Surely lots of activity is a good thing?

My next scan is Thursday next week I'll be 36+2 and they'll decide then if they think it'll be ok to to go to the 22nd March when I'll be bang on 39 weeks (booked ECLS date) or whether they'll need to get him out sooner, we will see - fingers crossed!

Hence the earlier hand over notes - just in case I don't come out next week (happened with DS1 at 35 weeks) so thought I'd better be prepared

It seems like it's all go just now! That's so exciting mrslebon - fantastic to know when you're going to meet your baby

Congrats on the scan city I'm fairly certain an active baby is what you're looking for. That's how ours was described and I rather like it - 'not that active' or 'lazy baby' doesn't sound so great!

33 weeks today and very much starting to realise that this not-so-wee-one is going to have to come out fairly soon. It took me so long to accept a successful pregnancy and now I'm thinking, yes, but what happens after . . . ??

Hello! Can I join? I'm 43 and got a bfp Wednesday so I'm only 3 weeks. Hoping it sticks.

Congrats oohar! Welcome to the thread

Thanks! Just working out supplements- someone told me a higher dose of vit d is recommended ( over 25mg). Just waiting to hear from midwife to do booking in. Excited and nervous. Haven't told anyone yet.

Congratulations oohar - that's great news
No idea about the vit D dose. Is this your first?

Hope everyone has had a good weekend. Mine's been busy, packed hospital bag, did loads of washing & sorting, cleaned the kitchen within an inch of it's life and quite frankly I'm absolutely knackered this morning.

Wonder if anyone will notice if I have a nap at my desk?!

Have a good day ladies, take it easy.

Morning! No symptoms to report. I have a 4 yr old dd. This one was conceived by home insemination from a friend/ donor. Never thought it would work. It feels a bit unreal atm. But very much longed for. Just have to get through this initial boring bit where nothing much happens . I was looking at hospital bags- it seems a long way away for me. Good luck

Wow - that's a great story - glad it worked for you! I have a 4 yr old DS - he's very excited now, although does keep pointing out that I'm fat and asking if I'm going to pop!
Know what you mean about it feeling unreal, good lick to you too, hope it all goes well

Morning all! Sorry for the recent silence - DH and I have been getting our new business off the ground so been manic.

I have my 20 week scan this pm! Pretty nervous but also excited to see the baby again. I feel him every day now which is very reassuring. We will be finding out the sex if we can too. Will let you know how how it goes.

Hi to newbies and hope every one else is doing well. X

Good luck with your scan this afternoon Greater !

Hello everyone

am 30w now and a mixed bag of news and test results recently.

Had 4D scan a couple of weeks ago - DD (aged 3) responded by pretending to look interested for about 3 seconds then asked for my phone. Then she needed the loo so she and DP missed the rest of it. Any attempts to show her the videos or pics are met with a request to show her Hey Duggee on Youtube instead (if you haven't heard of Hey Duggee yet, then brace yourself for 2 years' time).

I've recently been tested for vit D and iron/ferretin levels - I tend to suffer from deficiencies in both areas when I'm not pregnant and the vit D deficiency in particular makes me very poorly so am vigilant and proactive these days to ensure levels don't go down too much. Vit D levels came back low but not bad compared to how bad it's been in the past, so pleased with that. And ferretin levels I got the results of a few mins ago - it's currently 19, which is EXCELLENT for me! I think at this point in last pregnancy it had dipped to 8, which is pretty dire.

Some of you might remember vaguely that DD isn't growing and over the last few months we've had various tests and investigations going on. Just before xmas, they did some very invasive tests for growth hormone deficiency, and these (suprisingly) came back normal. This only really left genetic disorder as a possible cause. I had a letter (a little bit out of the blue) last week to say they have now idenfied a genetic reason for her lack of growth, which was a bit of a shock as didn't realise they would just write me a letter to tell me! It's a mixed bag of reactions really - it IS good that they have found something, and apparently she can have her height/development improved by having growth hormone treatment. However, it was still a bloody shock, and very stressful as we still don't know what it is that she's got (and whether lack of growth is the only thing we have to worry about). In addition, growth hormone treatment is daily injections until adulthood, so quite a big deal really. And of course, what of the new baby? It's an extra thing to worry about until we know more as it could affect the new baby too. Unfortunately, baby's current size and their birth size is no consolation as DD was big but then height-wise has plummeted from top, to bottom, to under the chart. (I should point out as well that although height sounds like not so big a deal, it's the more hidden implications of bone growth, teeth development, puberty and so on which could also be affected).

Good luck for your scan today greatergood and congratulations and welcome to ooharmehearties

I get what you're saying Brooke - you spend so long just trying to have a successful pregnancy (or get pregnant in the first place) there isn't much time to think about the baby itself. First time around for us, those first few days and weeks were a shock but gradually life returns to a new 'normal'. It CAN be overwhelming at times, but life doesn't end by any means. DD was packpacking around Central America before she could walk (not everyone's cup of tea for a holiday but it had been my dream and we had an amazing time)

Hi,
I'm 44 and just found out I'm pregnant. I really wanted to be pregnant but now I am I am in absolute panic about whether it is the right thing- is this normal?? everything feels negative- miscarriage risk, risk of unhealthy baby, impact at work, impact on family (have DS 6 very much PFB), practical things (where will baby sleep) - even stupid things- I wanted to book a holiday now I think I won't be able to fly, we were going to get a cat?
I am hoping its all hormonal but I don't remember this last time...

Eagle it sound like you've had a real tough time recently. I'm surprised you got the results by letter too. I hope treatment all goes well and that as you said at least they have found the cause and can take positive action. to you and glad you had some good news on your vit D and ferretin levels.

Fragile congrats on your pregnancy and I'm pretty sure everything you've said is completely normal!

Hi and congratulations FragileBrittleStar

I'm 44 too, and was devastated and terrified when I found out I was pregnant again - the pregnancy I'd been hoping for for a long time!

I was terrified of miscarriage mostly, but it didn't happen. I had harmony testing this time, which gave me some reassurances early on.

Your DS will love having a sibling so don't worry about that - he will still be your PFB.

Baby can sleep in a drawer, or a box, if need be (haven't figured out yet where we're going to put our baby, but just want to get the house renovations done first).

You can still have a holiday! We haven't managed one yet due to rubbish timing of various things and also the time of year but hoping to have a few days away somewhere at some point. I'm sure you can still get a cat too.

It's early days, which for me were the hardest! I look like humpty dumpty now, but it's still a damned sight easier than the early days, where every minute was stressful and I felt so rough. Time is going by faster too.

Hang on in there, and give the news time to sink in

Eagle I am so sorry that this news was given to you just via a letter and you are left anxious about the exact diagnosis. When is your appt with medical team/geneticist to discuss this? Apart from growth failure, are there are any concerns in other areas of your DD's developement. I know of someone whose child is on growth hormone injections, we reasearched a lot and as far as I understand, most genetic causes of growth failure in a girl are a 'chance' effect (affecting only that child) excep a few conditions, but even with them, odds of passing it to next offspring is fortunately low. I would be very surprised that geneticist would fail to mention it, if it were something that could pass on to your next child and not give u an urgent appt to meet them. Obviously it will become more clear when u know the exact diagnosis and meet them and discuss it. If possible ring them up and let them know about your anxiety re your baby that you'd soon be expecting in around two months, so they could bring forward your appt. Are u expecting a boy or a girl? Its reassuring that u had normal harmony test.

Re Growth Hormone therapy, i agree its a great deal. But its a relatively safe and effective therapy and serious side effects are fortunately rare. I can totally understand your anxiety and really feel for u, all this coming at this time. Hope u get your answers and clarifications soon.

I am glad ur ferritin and vit D level is low but better than what u expected. Are you on any treatment for the deficiencies? Is someone monitoring these levels? Hope your vit B12 and Thyroid function are normal.

Lol, i just laughed when u say baby can sleep in a drawer or a box! Really??!!!!

Fragile congratulations on ur pregnancy.

Oohar congratulations. I would be cautious about anyone's recommendation to take higher dose of vit D, unless it comes from your clinician. Usually its best idea to have a baseline level before starting the treatment but if u want to go blind, the max daily recommendation is not to go beyond 2000 mcg which is only 2 mg! Most prenatals have about 10-20 mcg in them which is ok for a non deficient pregnant woman. Hope u clarify this with ur midwife or obstetrician. Bw xx

Greater whats the news from ur scan? Hope all went well xx

Brooke so glad your pregnancy is going well. Touchwood. It must be amazing to have that feeling 'ooh its really happening..not toooo long!' How frequently are u now having growth scans?

Notfrom welldone for the hospital bag, full-on cleaning etc! Hope U managed to rest the rest the of the day! Tc hun xx

Scan went well yesterday and it's a boy! A camera shy boy who mostly showed us his bum...and who has very long legs! Went straight out and bought a couple of outfits...first things we've allowed ourselves to buy.

That's fab news Greater pleased it all went well and that every thing is OK

Ellie good to hear from you - how are you getting on? Is everything going OK?

Good luck for today mrslebon we're thinking of you

can I ask - in terms of midwife/doctors etc- do you get more frequent appointments at 40 plus than normal? I was a relative spring chicken of 38 last time...

Thanks notfrom! Just sitting around reading mags waiting for our slot. An emergency went ahead of me which is fair enough. Feeling quite chilled (but fecking starving!) and DH is asleep in the chair!