Pregnant at forty and over - thread 2

[cloudjumper]

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

I think it depends on your primary care trust.
I get a lot of monitoring not because of my age but because of my previous history of having a IUGR baby (I was 37).
If my previous pregnancy had been straight forward, apart from the recommendation of aspirin, I would have had the same amount of appointments as a 25 year old.

Glad you're chilled out mrslebon - that's got to be the worst bit - being bloody hungry!

Hope you've not got much longer to wait and that all goes well

Welcome fragile - sounds all fairly normal for the first trimester - and it's such a life-changer no matter what the circumstances. But I do think everything is heightened in the first trimester due to the crazy hormones - things have certainly settled for me as I've gone along (42, DD1, 33 weeks). PS definitely get the cat!! I use my two as stress balls (of fur)

Hi eagle, hope you're doing well. Sounds like you are handling things brilliantly. I was saying to DH this morning, we have no idea really how things are going to be and all we can do is take things in our stride, like you are.

Fab news greater! We are having a little boy too I'm not a fan of blue and I am loving that little yellow vest with zebras!

Hope all goes well mrslebon

ellie only one more scan to go. I had a growth scans at 28 and 32 weeks, and I have one more at 36 weeks. Little bub is all very average (50th percentile) at this point. They also check the flow from the placenta - it's great care really. You must be getting there - well into the 20 weeks now

fragile this is my first so I can't compare - I've had 7 scans so far and I see the consultant every two weeks now - but I had 3 early miscarriages, so I think it is more to do with that rather than age (well thankfully they don't make an issue of it, but maybe they are being tactful )

Ugh, so so bored. Hello magazine is just not cutting it and we've been moved to the staff room as shortage of beds. I may even be sent home until tomorrow as too many emergencies ahead of me. But there's a chance of getting a slot around 3pm so we'll see. DH had gone to get lunch the lucky sod.

Gah! Been sent home so no baby today :-( There was a lady with a bleeding placenta and a diabetic ahead of me so fair enough. Bit gutted though.

Wish all the patients in NHS were so understanding like u mrslebon. All the best for tomorrow. Look fwd to ur BA xx

Oh no mrslebon I'd be gutted too, but would be equally as glad that everything was OK enough to be able to go another day.
Fingers crossed for today

Aw mrslebon how frustrating! Are you back in today? Good luck!

Brooke - I'm not a big fan of the 'traditional' boy blue stuff either - let me know if you come across anything good. We haven't really started yet!

Thanks for all your kind words about scan - we're very relieved that everything's looking OK although I am disappointed not to be able to see him clearly or get any photos - not sure I could send a pic of a bum and testicles to my Mum!

I have a question: is everyone getting 'special treatment' due to their age? I keep reading about appointments with consultants, extra MW appointments, growth scans, being induced early/C-section...but I've none of this on the agenda and I'm not sure whether to be worried or not!

So far there have been no complications and all looks fine, but I want the best possible outcome for the baby, so should I be asking MW about age related risks and how they manage them? She seems very blase about things and has basically told me it's a low risk pregnancy and I should really consider the MW lead unit for the birth. Should/could I request a consultant appointment to discuss my worries and put my mind at risk?

Hi Greater if this current pregnancy was my first, I would be the same as you with no extra appointments, no consultants etc. as it is essentially a low risk pregnancy - the only recommendation out of the ordinary was that they like to have all mums over 40 deliver at 39 weeks. If you agree to this and wanted ELCS rather than induction, you'd be referred to speak to the consultant to get booked in.

All my extra appointments are down to previous history of having an IUGR baby who was born weighing 3lb 12oz (and being very lucky to be here).

mrslebon how frustrating for you! Better luck today!

greater, this is my first and low risk, but I am getting two growth scans. I've only seen the consultant when they detected my heart murmur, otherwise I suspect I wouldn't have seen a consultant. they've given me the schpiel about delivering at 38/39 weeks and I've told them No Thanks (or rather- I won't commit to it now- let's see how things are in a month) but I am taking aspirin like a good girl.

Just to say that at my checking in appointment I asked the doctor if there was anything additional to be aware of because of my age - and she said no. she said it may be that the midwife would want to scan "older ladies" earlier but nothing else.. so am now in the waiting period til first scan where I am second-guessing what every symptom or rather lack of symptom means - for my first pregnancy I didn't find out I was pregnant til about 7 weeks which made the waiting easier and I had horrible morning sickness which at least made me feel pregnant - now I feel fine so it doesn't feel real but it is earlier....

fragile there is definitely no special treatment at the start (or at least there was none for me). I think at the start, we are all subject to the same horrid slow wait to get past 12 weeks. The extra monitoring tends to come (if at all) at the other end, where they are keen to ensure that the placenta continues to do its job and to monitor any vascular issues that might arise towards the end of pregnancy.

He's here! Thomas Edward Jasper born at 9.20 this morning weighing 5lb 5oz. Smitten!

Gorgeous Mrslebon, huge congratulations

mrslebon !!! He's gorgeous - congratulations! What a beautiful boy. Makes me all tearful and want to meet mine. xxx

He is GORGEOUS. Congratulations, well worth the extra wait!!

Oh such a delight..Absolute beauty! Congratulations mrslebon

mrslebon gorgeous, gorgeous, gorgeous!! Thanks for sharing

Gorgeous & so teeny tiny!! Congratulations mrslebon. Love the hat xx

Thank you all - I feel so wired I can't sleep! Or maybe it's the Percy Pigs

Oh mrslebon he's gorgeous - massive congratulations!

Update from me, went for a growth scan this morning and they've decided to bring my ELCS forward 2 weeks to this Tuesday coming .

I thought I still had 2 weeks to go! It's because his growth since the last scan has tailed off, so I'll be having him on Tues 8th when I'll be 37 weeks. Had my 1st steroid injection today, back tomorrow for my second.

So it's going to be a busy few days.

Good luck to everyone else with any up and coming appointments.

Congratulations, mrslebon he' gorgeous!!!

notfromstepford that is so exciting, and obviously a bit too

are you ok, are you going to be organised? Hurrah for the growth scan, it's definitely better to be safe than sorry

Mrslebon congratulations on your gorgeous little boy!! Will be interested to see how your recovery from ELCS goes as I have mine booked for 8 or 9 weeks' time!

Notfromstepford - gosh that must be disconcerting having the date brought forward! Do you have anything specific outstanding left to do?

Regarding the 40+ age thing, it does seem to vary a LOT from one hospital/health authority to the next. This is my 2nd 40+ pregnancy and I've always had consultants due to a medical condition which can be hard to control during pregnancy, so hard to say what would have happened otherwise. And it's a bit confusing because the consultant care makes me sound 'high risk' but actually there isn't any additional risk to me or the baby, and I was even set up for a home birth first time around (it didn't happen, but it could have done!).

I have this time around requested ELCS but it was a lengthy process and not something automatically granted. My age was part of the reason for requesting it, but I've never got the impression that it's something doctors would prefer to do.

Finally had a call today regarding DD's mystery medical condition. We now have a name for it, or rather a name for the wonky gene which is causing her to not grow. And the good news is that growth will be the only issue. The new baby could have it, but we can worry about that later. Just need to make sure I'm up to speed with the injection regime before new baby arrives!

Meanwhile, I am pondering this - how can I be so blooming huge and yet the building work doesn't START for another week?! I feel like time is racing by now, and I haven't even chosen kitchen cupboard doors yet.

Hi city and eagle not so much yoga breathing as oh fuck not again! I just can't seem to grow normal sized babies! Lots of little bits to do at least main stuff is done. They have mentioned I'd be in for a week so that's worrying me more than having this one early to be honest.
Glad that you have some proper info for dd eagle and that it is only growth affected that must be a weight off your mind. Catch up soon better crack on with the washing!