Pregnant at forty and over - thread 3

[Marquand]

To continue support for mothers to be over 40.

Blondes I'm 30 weeks today - due 26th March, although they have said I won't go over my due date and given it's a Sunday I'm sure he will be here before then!
Very excited about scan. Will try and remember to post pictures. We didn't do one with DD but as he has been a long time coming and due to all the heartache along the way it was something I really wanted. Plus DD is so excited and can't come to The NHS scans, it seemed a good thing to do

Well here he is! All went well and he's turned!! Also head is normal and not on 97th percentile - his measurements are consistent with a 31 week baby so not that far out.
It was lovely and DD was so in awe of seeing her little brother (and I'm glad I'm not gestating a baby elephant)

Awwwww bless him - amazing the technology isn't it

Can't wait for sat and ours tho they do look alike aliens lol

You are due 4days before me tho again they have promised I won't go 30/3 as don't like 40/40 and ivf

I get seen every 3w tho have app at 37w so will see what bubs is doing then and whether breech. Try and turn or cs

Blondes I've been on all fours for the past week willing him to turn lol seems it's worked. My bump dropped yesterday so I'm happy. I know I should have listened to my gut re his size - I had the fear of god put into me with DD and the midwife was adamant she would be minimum 10lb - she was bang on 8lb and her measurements were the same as baby now so I'm less worried.
I do tend to carry fluid, sonographer mentioned today there was a lot and she's done a report for the consultant. Had a lot with DD also so not overly concerned.
Hoping this means I can carry on with my initial plan of a more active birth without the horrors of last time.
Consultant midwife doesn't see why I can't - given I actually progressed well in final stages last time so will see what consultant says, although I was in better shape last time without the health issues - obviously will do the less risky option for both of us but not as stressed as I was. Have an active birth course booked early Feb for some tips etc so hope that will help.
Just can't believe how clearly you can see the face and how much like DD he is. Same nose, lips etc. Can't wait til March - well apart from the labour lol but at least I kind of know what to expect this time round!

Gosh, it's a bit spooky how good those 4-D scans are glad things are going well Womble

Nothing but insomnia to report here

That's an amazing picture womble - I used to be a bit creeped out by the 3D/4d scans but when they're as clear and beautiful as that it makes me reconsider.

Ah seacow the insomnia is wonderful isn't it? I get restless legs and they keep me awake most of the night. This week they were joined by insane itching on my legs too (probably weather related). Thankfully I've been able to catch up on reading a book I bought years ago and hadn't finished.

Ah yes, the insomnia is such fun isn't it?!

That really is an amazing picture! I didn't realise they were that clear. How lovely, womble

Hi all, welcome gizmo!

Been a bit quiet after working a twelve day week culminating in Saturday, standing outdoors on location all day in -3. Bloody knackered still...really struggling to work again today.

On the consultant tip, I think I was sent that way due to pre-existing endocrine issue and an apparently really low bmi of 17 (although I sincerely doubt that's still the case judging by my lower half right now).

Other than that I haven't been asked to take aspirin, etc which I thought was fairly standard for the age group (I'm 40 expecting my first) so it does seem a bit random. I was categorically told I would be ward though-what no birthing centre/pool/candles?! Oh well!

Womble that's the first 4-d scan that hasn't freaked me out/ looked like play-doh! Lovely : )

Excuse the language but Bloop and Seacow my sleep is already officially shit at 22 weeks. I wake up with excruciating hip and rib pain, with occasional bouts of calf cramp. I think inactivity makes it worse (sitting all day) but besides the usual nightly warm bath/pillow and duvet fortress, if anyone has any other tips to help this I'm all ears!

Thanks guys I was amazed how clear it was.
Mouse I'm not on aspirin either so don't feel left out
You can still try and have a "nice" experience even if you are on the labour ward. Some hospitals have birthing pools, balls, swings etc in the delivery suites. When you have your tour ask or speak to midwife. Also have your music on etc etc - although not sure candles would be a goer

Oh and try one of the long pregnancy pillows and wedge it between your legs or however it makes you feel comfortable. I get calf cramps too - usually about 2am. They suck

No aspirin here, either...

Good tip about the pregnancy pillows. Touch wood I don't have the restless legs yet but I am finding I get pins and needles/dead arm on whichever side I'm lying on. Is that a common thing?

Thanks womble! I did have one but left it with family over Xmas by accident and would feel a bit odd carrying it back on the tube.Think I need a fatter one now anyway-was a bit thin...might get one of those enormous ones that mean your partner has about six inches of mattress each night if lucky.
Giz I had regular pins and needles around that time when resting. To be fair I was pretty inactive for months thanks to horrendous nausea which didn't help, but I think it's pretty common to have weird circulation as your blood volume increases, and I still get it now on less active days. Are you able to/feeling good enough to swim or similar? On the very rare occasions I manage it, the pins and needles stay away!

I think it's something to do with increased blood volume. I get cramps probably 2 days out of 10.
Pins and needles i get more if i lie on my right instead of my left. Bodies do weird things when you are pregnant
For now try a normal pillow between your legs - sometimes helps. I used a pregnancy pillow all through with DD but this time I can't get on with it - not sure if it's because I'm all "out front" with this one rather than all over with DD.
Bump definitely dropped lower today - I've got the look of a penguin when I walk lol
First meeting with consultant tomorrow so will be interesting to see how it goes. Got my notes written so I don't forget anything.

God yes, leg cramps. Always at night

I am sleeping with a normal (but fairly plump) pillow between my knees and it really helps me! I will eventually move onto the giant pregnancy pillow.

I am 17 weeks and just look reeeeaaally fat.

No cramps but seriously restless legs (poor df) -and I have bad heartburn but otherwise all good here.

Had 28w mw app yesterday tho actually 30w thur.

Mw found bubs breech and then asked if student could feel. Fine by me. They have to learn. Student was gentle but couldn't find baby so mw felt again and bloody bubs had in a matter of minutes turned round and moved up 5inches and curled back round my stomach facing my back. Her fav position 😂😂

Have 4d scan this weekend. Alien baby 😱😱😱😱

Well seriously feeling much better after seeing consultant. He said absolutely no reason why I can't have a normal Natural birth. So so pleased.
He wants to see me at 38 weeks and ordered more scans but even said he'd have no issue me going over due date a bit and seeing how things go. He said I progressed really well in my last stage with DD despite a failed epidural, and in his opinion no reason why things won't be better this time. Was appalled at the way things were handled last time and promised me I would be well looked after and things will be much different this time. He's not concerned about size - said he's on course to be the same as DD was. Will manage last stage differently due to my pph' s - said the likelihood of a cs is around 2% and he would not recommend it.
So all in all I'm really positive now - looking forward to my confident birthing course in a few weeks and hospital tour. Consultant midwife end Feb to do birth choices so all ticking along.
Hopefully will sleep well tonight now!!

Blondes I had a student midwife help me deliver DD. She actually was the only shining light through my whole labour and if it wasn't for her I think things would have been a lot different! (I also had the work experience girl watching but that's a whole other story!!)

I bet your looking forward to your scan - I think by this stage it's awesome to see their features and not at all alien like lol.

Think as had one at 16w and bubs did look alien that I'm wary. But df really wants one and bubs is half his baby

Fab news that's consultant thinks all will be fine and they will keep a needy eye on you

Oh I see what you mean! Bless
I'm sure you will see a much more humoinoid face this time around 😀

I'm debating whether to get a pregnancy pillow or not. My painful hips are always the side I lie on and I don't see how a long pillow would ease that. I have no bump to speak of yet so would a normal pillow suffice? I already use a v shaped pillow to sit up more when I sleep as I feel it takes the pressure off my hips and means I can lie in my back. Physio told me under no circumstances should I lie on my back but midwife was noncomital about it.

I'm 16+5 and still not sure if I've felt anything yet.

Bloop. They say not to sleep on back as placenta can stop the blood flow to baby

Saying all that I always sleep on my back. I start off on side and auto move to back when asleep and wake up on my back

I did query this with consultant and mw. They said try to not sleep on back and as you get heavier and a bigger bump you may feed breathing hard and then wake up. To which you should roll over

I'm almost 30w. Semi bump depending if bubs is hiding round my stomach or laying down in 'normal preg postion'

They said don't worry about it if that what I do naturally

Thanks blondes I thought it was something like that but as I don't have a bump I didn't think it was so pressing. The physios at my local hospital are always so doom laden- I often feel their advice is closer to somethings by from Netmums than professionals which is wrong of me.

THey do make you worry when say don't do xyz

But if I naturally do xyz then they said don't worry

As I said I go to sleep on my side (uncomfortable) but wake on my back - every time

Df does nudge me and say rooo over. Which I ought do. But will return on my back

I am a front sleeper and it is getting a bit uncomfortable (though I don't think we are advised not to?). I remember the sheer bliss of my first sleep on my front after DS was born. Not very soon after he was born, to be fair, as I couldn't lie on my boobs for a while. Or put DS down, for that matter (he wanted to be held all the time and so I did - I slept upright holding him for many weeks. Won't be doing that pfb stuff again!). That first sleep on my front was one of the most blissful moments of my life. Truly.

The nausea seems to be back :( booooo