Pregnant at forty and over - thread 2

[cloudjumper]

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

shabby - oh I am so glad all is ok and you had lovely midwives to check you and the little one. What a worry. I am sure I will be the same when I'm 25 weeks.

April - good luck with the tests. Is NIFT the same as the Nuchal Bloods? I hope you get the results quickly.

mitsy - any luck with the rights of contractors yet?

I'm now enjoying getting others at work (or kids! I'm a teacher) to carry stuff around for me :)

Mitsy I'm a contractor and have had 2 pregnancies in my 40's. First time around I discovered I was pregnant in first week of new role. Everything worked out ok though and I left the contract when I was 36w then took a year off then found a new contract. It was a bit tricky managing appts during pregnancy as I worked 35 miles from home and had lots of extra ones due to health complications. Returning to work afterwards was tricky too as had to book f/t nursery without knowing when I would get a job.

Since first baby, I've worked on and off, generally taking the summer months off, but do run another business which pays the bills when not contracting. I started a new contract last autumn but discovered I was pregnant again hours after accepting the role. The job didn't work out very well (I suspect I was discriminated against due to the pregnancy) but I hope to start work again later this year as I'm the main earner!

Assuming it's IT sector you work in, I doubt there would be any employee rights as most contractors go to great lengths to prove they aren't employees.

Sorry - hope I haven't painted too bleak a picture of things. It has been hard but I've persevered as it's an awful lot of income to lose if you drop out for too long. Please let me know if you have any specific questions!

Oh and congratulations to you and all the other newbies

april - oh it is so difficult isn't it. I know we all know the feeling. It's good that you can have this test but it's harder perhaps to deal with the worry associated with it all. It sounds like you have s very supportive partner and I hope you can help each other with the wait. I know this sounds flippant (I don't mean to) but can you find something to distract you til Thursday?

How is everyone else? I bought one of those seat beat thingies yesterday. Anyone else got one? Also is anyone else drinking alcohol free booze? I am even too scared to get that! Plan to ask the doctor on Monday.

Welcome and congrats newbies!!

What's a seat beat thingy? I'm staying off alcohol all together, gave up when we were ttc and won't have any til I do ha breast feeding. Actually don't miss it now- Especially hangovers!!

April, I hope you're ok, I'm sure everything will be ok if you feel it in your bones. Sends flits of hope and hugs, it's such an awful time in that sense, I was the same, got myself really wound up.

I tried some alcohol free wine-it was disgusting.

Bevoir elderflower (non alc) is lovely! I'm quite into that at the moment m.

shabby, april and banana - thanks for the tips of alcohol free stuff. I will try the elderflower. I also have gone off tea and coffee but I think I psychologically fancy a cool beer in the sun sometimes!

The seat belt thing holds your car seat belt in place so that the straps are not dangerous to the baby in case of any impact, or sudden stopping. My midwife told me to get one but now I'm wondering if I'm mad for getting it!

april - hope you're bearing up. Time is going along in the right direction for you.

You can get a non alcoholic version of Erdinger wheat beer which is actually really nice, and my go to grown up treat when I'm missing wine.

Now that I'm in my 3rd trimester, I've had a 1/4 of a glass of wine on the odd occasion. What bliss!

I had a 4D scan today (the hospital where I will give birth offers it for free). Baby boy has shown that - like his siblings - he doesn't like to be told what to do. So I saw that he has a lovely ear (looks pretty standard issue, but lovely nonetheless), and that his arm (surprisingly well-padded for nearly 32 weeks, I thought) does a fine job of covering the rest of his face.

But all well, and that is all that counts. AND I could stomach a chocolate milkshake (which I have been craving for for WEEKS) for the first time today. It was a ridiculously overpriced hospital milkshake, but what the heck. Who cares?

April fingers crossed all will be ok. Instinct is a strong feeling if you are thinking all is ok I'm sure it will be xxx

Misty check your contract the chances are the only rights you have is a weeks notice. I was contract in my last pregnancy and hid it until 18/20 weeks as I didn't know how they would react.
I assume you aren't classed as an employee of an agency but are truly contract dealing with your own accounts. If you are Ltd then you might be able to claim tax back after your mat leave as your company will make a loss that year if still paying you. Speak with your accountant.

hi i feel really nervous posting but can i join?
i just got my bfp, i will be 42 next month ihave a ds who id 9 this is my 7 pregnancy unfortuantly i have had mmc at 8 weeks in the past so feeling very anxiouys and praying for a sticky bean this time.
Going by an app i'm due on valentines day.The fertility nurse has booked me in for a scan at 7 weeks at epu on 28th june then to discuss starting steriods.Can't come quick enough.Had mmc 2 years ago so thought i was begining menopause

sorry for all typos on mobile

Hi and welcome teabags - sorry for your losses. Good news About your bfp though and all the best for your appointments. Must be an anxious time for you. Kepping everything crossed for you.

Aww April hope it's all good for you. I am worried about tests too. I just don't know what to do if it's bad news. Will keep my fingers crossed for you. Xxx

Thanks for the welcome, I've not had the chance to read the whole thread yet.
Good luck to everyone having an anxious time I won't be able to relax till I'm holding my baby in my arms.
I'm away out with friends to a ladies day tomorrow going to have to try and come up with a plan to hide I'm not drinking without them guessing? Any ideas gratefully received

Hello. Teabags, welcome no ideas here for avoiding drink. I seriously feel I am coming down with a cold and nobody believed me last night. Maybe it was just a crap excuse.

Oh April you do sound a bit fed up. It is hard waiting for results, when all you can do is distract, distract, distract. Hang in there!

Congrats teabag! Welcome!

Marquand how rude and uncooperative to not perform for the camera!

Arborea with you on the Erdinger! Yum. I have one chilling for tonight to have with my curry.

Whatabanana I read that as 'I had some alcohol free wine this morning'!

I'm going to be 35w tomor, eek! I've been having Braxton Hicks without knowing that's what they were All makes sense now, 'ooh my bump is rock hard' duh!!! And we're having building work done at home, so I'm hoping this baby doesn't turn up early (like its sister at 37+4)! We are currently camped out in the garden finishing tea while DP bricks up a doorway!

dats - ooh how exciting - you are nearly there! I still can't imagine that ever happening to me (15 weeks with my first one). Hope you feel ok and the house gets sorted enough before you meet your new family member!

How are you doing april? Found a distraction? Not long now....

Anyone else here struggling to remember to do the kegels? I presume it's worth doing (experienced people?)?

Well I survive ladies day at the races and we won bets on the 1st 3 races talk about beginners luck.
I ended up telling 2 of my very good friends so they could help hide my lack of drinking . Don't think anyone noticed although I felt out of place at times, it will all be worth it in the end.
Totally shattered today and I'm nightshift tonight

Just popped back to say hi again.

April, I'm now waiting for Harmony results (I'm 44, 10+2), did the blood sample yesterday, so I've got to be to next week (or maybe Friday?) to wait. It's nerve-wracking. Thought I was feeling calm but today I realise I'm not. My morning sickness (usually evening only and mild) has kicked in with a vengeance today... don't know why but that makes me feel nervous. How are you doing with the wait?