Pregnant at forty and over - thread 2

[cloudjumper]

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

It definitely lessens. I think the first trimester is tricky for everyone. I felt very much in limbo and quite up and down throughout but I felt much better after my 12 week scan and then completely positive after my 20 week.

I know that probably feels quite far away, but suddenly, you're there and it looks like you're having a baby (I'm just starting to realise this)!

Just be kind to yourself at this stage, listen to your body, and know that this pregnancy doesn't relate to the ones before. Your 12 week scan isn't far away!

Can I join in? I am 41 and 7+4 weeks along. I am due 2 days before my 42 birthday. My DH and I have two boys, ages 9 and 12. I've wanted another baby for 8 years and DH kept saying no until about 3 months ago when he finally said yes. Without thinking at all, I had the mirena out and fell pregnant almost immediately. I am now in a bit of a panic as I feel a bit old for this! I am so exhausted with this pregnancy, and I can't remember being this tired the first time around (but it was 12 years ago).

I've got a private scan booked for next week to make sure all is well, check the dates, and count that there is only 1 baby. If all goes to plan at the scan, I'll head into London for the Panorama test right after Christmas.

I am so tired and very dizzy. Light headed is my worst symptom.

Welcome malvin and congrats! You're not too old. I'm 42 and 23 weeks with my first (took me a while to find the right DH ).

Let us know how you get on with your scan.

brookes - thanks so much for your words - it does help to hear that the angst gets better. I can't keep this level up for much longer, that's for sure, and not being able to tell anyone during the Christmas/party season is not helping the stress levels at all! We do have our harmony scan on Monday so at least we'll have some reassurance that things are OK before Christmas so we will tell family then. I was late being referred so haven't had my appointment for 12 weeker yet.

Hi Malvin and congratulations! What day is your scan? Will be thinking of you...and seriously - repeat after me 'I am not too old, I am not too old, I am not too old'...

Welcome, Malvin!

Hello everyone else. This is just a quick one to say all went well at the 20 week scan, such a relief! We already knew from our harmony test that he was a boy, and just as well we did, because the scan pics leave little doubt

Only two weeks until year end and my work should then ease back a bit, and I'll be able to be a better contributor on here. Hope everyone else is doing really well x

Great news on 20 week scan City. Congratulations Greater. Hope you're feeling better regarding the anxiety. I think it lessens once you feel regular movements. I'm now almost 37 weeks & I feel the anxiety is starting to rise again. There's always something to worry about! Good luck for your harmony. The results take a couple of weeks though don't they?
Welcome Malvin. It is exhausting at some stages but I'm sure you felt that before but just can't remember. It will get better - I'm sure I've had a few minutes when I haven't felt exhausted
I finished work for the Christmas holidays on Friday. Going in tomorrow though because I need to sort a few things for my maternity cover. No one will be there though so I hope to just get everything done & then I can relax. My official maternity leave starts on the 11th Jan & I'm booked for induction that day.
My work friends gave me a lovely baby shower yesterday. Lots of cake & silly games.
I'm going to spend the day tidying the spare room & then I am officially on relax time (although I haven't finished Christmas shopping yet & haven't even thought about food...)
How are you feeling Cloud? Is Tuesday C day? Thinking of you.

Hello - not posted for ages and ages but have a bit more time now. It's been a bit of a busy week - had 20w scan on Monday which went well. Had stupidly got dates mixed up and thought it was on the Friday (and DP was around then) but then on Sun eve realised it was the following day so just went along on my own DP v unbothered about missing scan anyway

I've found myself out of work, which is devastating. I had a 3 month contract (normal for my line of work) and was expecting a renewal as project running well into next year but then was told I wasn't being renewed after all as they were 'getting rid of contractors'. Fair enough, it happens, but left me in a v difficult position as very unlikely to be able to secure any more work for rest of pregnancy. But the day after I left, they advertised my fucking job! Have no idea at all what's going on but I've been lied to and they got rid of me for no good reason (pregnancy the most likely reason as can't think of anything else), but there's nothing I can do now so trying not to dwell on it too much. Loss of earnings is massive and I'm the main earner too so hard not to feel gutted and pissed off.

Grizzer and Cloud you are so close to the big day now!

Hello and welcome to the newbies - those first few weeks are tough - I'm finding it an absolute breeze now compared to the first 3 months.

Eagle So rubbish how they have treated you, it's shocking what they can still get away with in this day and age. Will you try and take them up on this? Really hope that you'll be able to sort something.

City great news about your scan!

Grizzer Yay for maternity leave! Hope you can relax and put your feet up a bit now! It's always easier said than done, at least that's what I found.

I'm currently sitting in the hospital, waiting for my pre-op appointment. Have managed to come down with a stinking cold and am desperately hoping that it won't affect anything Timing couldn't be worse, fingers crossed that they'll go ahead with the section tomorrow as planned...

cloud I'm an ex anaesthetic nurse, IME a bad cold shouldn't make a difference if you're having a spinal anaesthetic as it won't affect your chest. Fingers crossed for you! We need a Xmas baby!!

Cloud - I hope all goes well with the section and they don't delay...and that you feel OK.

Eagle - that's outrageous behaviour from your previous employer - are you going to call them on it?

So I had harmony bloods taken and scan this morning and all looks good on the scan still. Heard the heartbeat for the first time and there's been a growth spurt so now measuring 11+1 when we thought 10+4. They told me we should get the test results back next week which is sooner than we expected. Apparently the bloods no longer need to go to the states - they can be done in London now. So it'll be good to get those back before the new year. Am telling myself that will be the end of my anxiety...but I'm sure I'll find something else to worry about.

Hi everyone - not been on for a while so thought I'd catch up.
Eagle that's appalling how they've treated you, Being the main breadwinner is tough in your position, I just hope everything works out OK.
Cloud hope section goes ahead tomorrow- fingers crossed!
City great news about your scan
Grizzer hope you get some time to put your feet up
Hi Malvin and Greater congrats to you both

Sorry if I've missed anyone, but wishing everyone well.

I've just got back from a week in the Algarve (my DSis lives there) so that was a nice break, but got back late-ish last night and at work today and I'm absolutely knackered. I could only just put the tray down on the flight because of my bump and I'm only 25+6!

We're currently having the baby name conversation and not getting very far. Did crack up yesterday when having the conversation with DS who is coming up for 4 soon and asked what he thought we should call baby. He thought for a second and said "We could call him baby Jesus". Bless him - he's loving the whole nativity thing this year!

Gm all! Been away for a while..glad to know everyone is doing well.

Cloud isnt this your big day today?? Wish u world's luck. Hope all goes ok. Pls do update us with baby's weight etc. Cant wait to hear from you..

City congrats on ur lovely 20 week scan. Would be nice to have u regular on the forum.

Brook and Isla how are you? Whats up next for you??

Malvin and Greater congrats to you both. Greater i think u and me are same gestation. I am 11 weeks (had uncountable no. of mcs before this). Did u have ur Panorama done yesterday? Where did u get that done? Mind me asking how much did it cost? Thanks.

Notfrom such a cutie ur DS is! Bless him. Hope u get ur Christmas break at work soon and can get back relaxing again.

Eagle so very sorry, this is so unfair to treat u like that!

Lastly fingers crossed for our lovely Cloud again! xxx

Ps: Grizzer u were next to Cloud. When is ur big day scheduled? U for C-sec or normal delivery??

Good Luck Cloud

I had a private viability scan yesterday. There was absolutely nothing on the screen that was recognisable as a baby, but the heart was beating and s/he is the right size. They played the heartbeat for me because I really couldn't see it beating, although DH saw it easily. He said it was about 3 pixels of flickering. My dates moved from 8+1 to 8+4. Next week I am travelling to London for the Panorama test.

The scan was good to have! I went from thinking "I am pregnant" to thinking "I am going to have a baby." Funny how different these ideas are. We told our DSs tonight. It was getting to be a hard secret to keep and if something goes wrong from this point we won't be able to keep it from them. DS 12 kept saying "I will only know the baby for 6 years and then I will be gone." Apparently he doesn't plan to stay in touch . DS 9 asked that we still pay attention to him after the baby is born. Then they proceeded to veto our preferred names.

Also had my booking in appt yesterday and they told me that I am not high risk even though I am 41 and can potentially have a home birth. DH is not keen, however I really feel that as this is definitely my last baby his opinion is not nearly as important as mine. I would love a home birth.

Hi everyone, I've been lurking for a couple of weeks now so I thought it was time to introduce myself.

I'm 6+1 today (IVF pregnancy) with my 2nd baby, I have a DD who will be 5 next week, I will be 44 when this baby is born and I'm feeling very old and knackered atm as the sickness started over the weekend

Ellie - we had the harmony test (which I believe is just another brand name for panorama?) in Southampton with a company called Ultrasound Direct. They have clinics all over the country so worth a google? They were the cheapest in our area at £399 for the blood test and scan (the call it NIPT + scan on the website). I was impressed by the people and the service yesterday - very professional, friendly and informative. And the test results come back faster these days (within a week) as they don't have to send them abroad any more. Hope that helps!

Good luck for today cloud thinking of you

Hi Youre congrats on your pregnancy

Morning Ellie how you getting on?

Thinking of cloud today!

Welcome YoureMyWifeNow (I can do a perfect impression of Papa Lazarou ) and congrats! I'm 42 and 23+4 with DC1.

Hi Ellie I think I'm in the easy part at the moment - feeling pretty 'normal' and getting little reassuring kicks and twitches everyday. It's getting hard to hide now - I'm past looking plumpish into expectingababyish! It will be your 12 week scan soon, a big milestone .

Greater that's so lovely to hear the heartbeat. I only heard it for the first time last week and burst our crying, I just couldn't believe it!

Notfrom we are constantly having the baby naming conversation now - it's not so easy, is it? We know we're having a boy, so that helps, but still, it's going to take a while to decide.

malvin congrats on that little heartbeat, it just the best thing

Hope everyone is doing well.

brooke it's a nightmare isn't it. If we were having a girl I'd be sorted, but with having another boy, I used my 2 favourite names on DS1 as I didn't think we'd be having anymore!

Haha, we'll get there notfrom ! Check out the Baby Names section - there are a lot of suggestions on there.

Hello all, Ababsurdum on 40+ ttc and success stories suggested I join you all over here since getting BFP a week ago. I'm slightly outside the criteria in other ways though - will be 40 by EDD but 39 meanwhile. Can I join?

Cloud looking forward to hearing your news. I'm interested in elective CS - this is my first pregancy and though it feels a loooong way off, I just can't see myself having the energy for natural birth never mind dealing with the after-effects and heard too many friends' stories. Anyone else going for ECS?

Hi all I'm also hoping to graduate from the TTC thread. I had a scan yesterday due to spotting and back ache. Imagine my shock when they found 2 heartbeats, not one! I don't know what tertifies me more, the thought of careing for twins or the thought of losing another pregnancy. They were 7 weeks and 7+1 which wad a relief as I should be 7+4 today.
With at least 4 more weeks till my next scan I am very tempted to book a private scan at about 9-10 weeks. I have to reach my 8 week milestone first, on boxing day!
Waves to Cloud and Grizzer. Waiting for your good news. Hello to all the ladies and bumps and wishing you all a happy Christmas. Xx

Cloud I'm going to assume that all went ahead yesterday, looking forward to an update when you have time!

Baby delivered by elcs at 5.20pm yesterday. She is absolutely gorgeous, my rainbow baby.
Im OK, but of a temp, which is a bummer because it means I probably won't be able to go home tomorrow but hey ho, better safe than sorry!

Baby *girl!!