Pregnant at forty and over - thread 2

[cloudjumper]

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

[IslaMann]

Oh Moon please please be kind to yourself and allow you and your DH time to grieve

[cloudjumper]

Moon I'm so sorry you got the worst news. Look after yourselves, both you and your DH. Wishing you lots of strength in this difficult time

[brookeberry]

moon the most important thing is that you and DH have come to a decision together. As we all know by now, life can throw up all sorts of challenging things and getting through them together is what we have to do. Much love xxx

[Ellie2015]

Oh Moon really sad to loose you like this. Wish you and DH all the strength in the world during this challenging time..i've no doubts you'll be back here soon..take care and be kind to your self hun..hugs xxx

[Sezramum]

So sorry that you and your DH are having to go through this. My thoughts are with you both. Stay strong and look after yourself.

[notfromstepford]

So sorry moon but it is good that you've reached a decision together that is best for you both. Look after yourselves x

[CityMole]

Oh moon. I am so sorry to hear your news. You and your husband sound so strong, and I will be thinking of you both in the coming days with lots of love. I have really enjoyed speaking to you, and I really hope we see you back here very soon. Let us know if you need a chat at any point.

I got out of 'jail' yesterday, I am OK. Baby is absolutely great. My stupid heart valves are not coping amazingly well with all of the extra blood flow he is causing, but I'll be OK so long as I take it easy and it will resolve once he is born. I am back at work but desk duties only. I've told everyone at work today that I am pregnant (16 weeks I think- I keep miscounting), since I felt it only fair to explain to the whole team why they were covering for me for 3 days so suddenly and without explanation!

I'm pretty tired [snooze icon]

[RoTo72]

Do take it easy City, can't believe ur bk at work a day after freedom. Lol. I'm off a couple of weeks, and again will be reduced duties, but dreading going back.

[brookeberry]

Glad you're out city and things don't sound too serious. Crikey I'm 18 + 5 and still haven't told anyone yet apart from close friends and family. I keep waiting for the next milestone - now I waiting for the 20 week scan.

I just stopped halfway through this message because a client came in - she immediately said - 'what's this?' clutching her stomach and looking at mine. I was stunned, thinking who could have told her. Then she said 'have you had a baby, are you having a baby?' I just mumbled 'well, yes'. I'm wearing a baggyish jumper and thought my stomach was really quite flat today!!

I guess I have that 'glow' (massive boobs and plump round the middle). Maybe I should just get on and tell the people that really should know by now. Still a little nervous about it all. . . .

[Nicky333]

Sorry to hear your news Moon. You and DH look after yourself.

I got my results back and they're 1 in 6187. Makes me feel even more lucky now.

[Ellie2015]

Hello everyone..a whispering hello..just wanted to say i saw my little bean with his flickering heart beat today...felt a bit relieved but am panicking on my TSH which came back as 4.4 (target

[Karensea]

Hi
I'm 42 and 6 weeks pregnant. My older children are aged between 10-15. I had a migraine today for the first time and feel pretty rough but guess it's hormonal. Had an internal scan yesterday and whilst no heartbeat yet, the sonography Could see a sac and yolk. I'm not prepared to have another scan as I've been cramping ever since. Would rather let things run naturally and just keep my fingers crossed that what will be will be. Am trying to stop myself from googling anything negative as I'm aware at my age there are risks but I think worrying won't help! Be great to hear from anyone in a similar situation please? Thanks K

[RoTo72]

Hi karensea. Om 43 ds is 15. Had early scan at 6 weeks last Monday. No hb found either. Thing back this Monday will be 8 weeks. Have been cramping most of the day today but mild. Hoping its nothing

[notsoold]

moon ohhhh I am so sorry for you and dh!!! No words really.... I hope you have support in RL...xx

kate I had that with dc3. No hb at 6 weeks and lots of cramps. I went for another scan a fortnight later and there the hb was. And I had cramps until 12 weeks. I was 42 at the time. Hang in there....xx

I am sorry I have been gone. My morning all day sickness is still here.
I had a scan last week and everything was fine and he NT was 1.5mm. So just waiting for the results from blood tests. I have been feeling awful though. My insomnia is back and only eating rubbish. I had few days feeling great and eating well and it helped but now I am back to mash toast and plain rice or plain pasta... but vast quantities so my weight is going up....
Dh told work and we told friends. My mums friends had the best reactions as all wanted to tell me about older mothers having babies . The best one (hope you don't mind) was a lady that had quite few children and the last one at 44. When she was 46 so felt ill at the hospital ,where she worked with a GYN. ( what the odds?). He examined her to send to the right specialist and told her that not only she was expecting but the baby was due soon. She had a baby six weeks later!!! Amazing eh????
14 weeks here

[notsoold]

13 weeks....sorry!!!!!

[cloudjumper]

Welcome karensea and congratulations on your pregnancy! 6 weeks is pretty early to have a scan, and nothing can be said with certainty at this point - so you have everything to hope for! Cramping is very common in early pregnancy, I've had it for pretty much all the first trimester, and I'm now 34 weeks. Fingers crossed for you! And you, roto

ellie Great news about your scan. I don't know anything about thyroxine, sorry, hopefully someone else will come along and share their knowledge.

notso 13 weeks already! That went quick! Hope you will start feeling better soon, now that you're entering the second trimester.

We met with the consultant yesterday, and my section has been confirmed for 22 December. Pre-op appointment has been booked, and also the steroid injections, which they now apparently do for planed C-sections as well. Now we need to arrange childcare for DS...
The consultant wants me to have weekly blood pressure and urine tests from now on . Apparently due to my age... Saw the midwife on Monday, and she said nothing of the sort. It is a pain in the behind really, well at least while I'm still working! Will have to see if there is a convenient time slot with the midwife next week and the week after. Two more weeks left at work, yay!

[Karensea]

Hi, it was an early dating scan. I knew I would feel uncomfortable after but I would rather avoid another internal in 2 weeks and opt for abdominal scan only. I'm happy to ride it out and keep my fingers crossed than go through that again.
Ellie, I have no thyroid so am also on thyroxine. Having bloods repeated Tuesday as my gp (who is brilliant and keeps regular tabs on me) thinks it's likely my dose will have doubled already. I feel tired and I've gained weight but that could be pregnancy as opposed to thyroid or a bit of both.

The cramping has totally stopped now by the way, if anyone else is having the procedure. They found a large fybroid too and I think the sonographer knocked that a few times whilst measuring.
I want this pregnancy to succeed more than anything, it's my partners first time and I am very excited for him but of course I'm realistic too. All you can do is carry on carrying on really. I'm giving it my best shot anyway. Good luck everyone and thank you for welcoming me.

[Karensea]

Hi Roto72, sounds like we might have similar dates then. The cramping has stopped now but I felt uncomfortable for 24 hours after and the tiniest of spots after too. Nothing noticeable really but I find it frustrating that the staff don't pre warn as it did unsettle me. I'm no where near as laid back as I was with my previous pregnancies but my last one was 11 years ago and I have a lot more risk now due to my age. The nausea has just started today and that makes me strangely happy as its always a sign for me that things are progressing well. Fingers crossed for us all X

[Ellie2015]

Cloud thanks so much. It must be getting so real for u now. Might I ask, why are they using steroid injection for section? Is that a routine?

Roto and Karensea, all the best for ur next scans. Yes nausea means high HCG and that is always a good sign :)

I actually wanted to ask I am suffering from bad hunger pangs during day and worse at night (am only 6+ weeks). It doesnt wake me up but if i do wake up for loo, I feel hungry. Day time, with frequent nibblings, it settles but am not sure what should I be doing at night. I usually have my dinner b/n 7-8 pm and then wake up in morning to have breakfast around same time or may be half an hr later. So almost a gap of 12 hrs. Is that too much do u think? Should i be drinking a glass of milk before sleeping? I fear doing anything of that sort as I am on steroids (which might in the first place be responsible for hunger but not sure any of u not on steroids had hunger pangs??) and do want to have reflux and gastritis kind of thing as I am more vulnerable and want to avoid eating anything before bed. May be i could do that half an hr before bed. What do u think? Any ideas? Could i rather munch something sweet at night too if i'm feeling hungry. Again not doing that as steroid generally tends to increase blood sugar and if i do that regularly, it might increase my chances of having sugar. Ohh my tummy is like asking for food..i'm awake at 3 am. Tonight i have just gulped one dry apricot and prune. Hope this will settle me down and i catch up with ur lovely responses tomorrow morning :) xx

[Karensea]

Hi Ellie, I think if you're hungry during the night, maybe have a bowl of cereal? I'm not waking up during the night hungry but my appetite has grown a lot during the day. I'm really having to try and watch it because I've lost a lot of weight over the last year (I needed to) and I really don't want to gain already! I have put on a few pounds but I'm also going on the exercise bike most evenings. I just plonk it in front of the tv and cycle for half an hour. I'm not able to do as much as I could but at least it's something.
You could maybe have a slice or two of toast before bed? Or a milky drink? During my last pregnancy, I had severe sickness and ended up losing several stones, I was ill for months and couldn't eat, I have no idea if I'm going to get sick again so I'm convincing myself my body is stocking up on food whilst it can. I'm sensible enough to know I need to watch it, I have low metabolism due to no thyroid so my weight has been an ongoing battle sadly. Just as I get into size 12/14 after a VERY long time being larger, I fall pregnant 😂😂
Karen

[RoTo72]

Yesterday was an eating day for me. I have days I'm ok and eat what I want. Cos I know in a day r two Il either have nausea r off be food. Still wouldn't eat as much as i usually would.

[cloudjumper]

ellie Increased appetite is a well-known side effect of steroids, there isn't really anything you can do about this. And similarly, lots of people feel hungrier in the first trimester (I was ravenous all the time). I would definitely eat something before going to bed, I often had some muesli or Weetabix at 10pm before going to sleep. Fills you up and doesn't irritate. You might want to consider having something to nibble on your bedside table - I did that because the minute I woke up I had to eat something to stop me from feeling sick. Oat biscuits are great - very filling and bland. Eating sugary foods will not increase your risk of gestational diabetes, that has nothing to do with that, it's caused by the pregnancy hormones.
Don't worry too much about your weight - do/eat what you need, if it gets you through. If you're hungry, you need to eat, simple.

Yes, apparently giving steroids for a planned section is now getting more and more common, especially if it's before 39 weeks (which mine will be). They are the same steroids they give when you're at risk of premature delivery, studies have shown that they decrease the risk of respiratory problems in the babies after birth and later in life.

[Ellie2015]

Cloud and Karen thanks for ur lovely ideas. It means a lot coming from u guys. Roto today its my eating day ;) i too have that feeling hungry and then not hungry..types..i can totally relate to u..:)

That is very interesting Cloud, one would understand if its premature delivery..then perhaps the steroids would cook the lungs before baby is out..but 37-39 weeks is term and their lungs are fully mature but stil they want to give steroids...very intestesting..is this just ur hospital doing some trial or it is nhs wide?? x

[cloudjumper]

No, there have been wider studies for the steroids thing, it's quite common now. My midwife confirmed it, and I also asked here on MN (which of course is the fountain of all knowledge ). They looked at longer-term effects, afaik, not getting lungs ready for birth.

[Ellie2015]

He he thanks for sprinkling the fountain of knowledge on this forum too..i find it very very interesting...

How is ur piles? (Sorry to touch that subject )...which cream are u using for that? Not long u'll hv ur bubba in ur hand the nasty piles will have to shrink away...xx