Pregnant at 40 and over - thread 4

[Gizmojo]

To continue support for mums to be over 40

Ginliness I think you would have definitely heard, I was terrified and midwife said you get a call in 2 days if they need to follow up. I'm sure all is good!
Third trimester waddle is definitely here, v puffy ankles now there's been a slight temp rise in the weather, almost (but not quite) hoping for rain!!!!

Yes, ChristmasSeacow, check with your GP or midwife if its ok for you to use Ranitidine. I get such painful indigestion in early pregnancy and it made a real difference to me.

If you can't get an appointment for a prescription, you can buy it from a chemist or supermarket but you should still call someone to check it's safe for you first as it can be bad to take if you have certain conditions or other medication.

@gin you would have got a phone call within a day or two if high risk

Letter prob will come tomorrow saying all is fine and low risk

Hi I am 45 and 24 weeks pregnant with a boy. We have a nearly 4yo dd and lost our last daughter to cholestasis at 35 weeks which I have again so I'm in a constant state of mild panic. I was lurking but teabag you mentioned itching so I had to post. Please do get your bile acids and LFTs checked. Hopefully you don't have it but if you do, the earlier it is caught the better. Oh and it is quite common to itch for up to several weeks before bloods show anything. For me it took 6 weeks this time. Good luck!

@Blondeshavemorefun you were right!
I got my letter today. Still can't believe my results for a geriatric mother of 42
1:2509 for T21 and 1:5277 for T13 and T18. I keep reading it with incredulity like great exam results.

Have shed a few tears of relief.

Thank You @PingusMistress @Iusuallylovecake for the words of reassurance too x

That's fab @gin

Mine was 1 in 500 so you are much less risk then me

Hey all... can someone advise me please? I'm only 5+4 and I've just seen the mw. She has offered me the blood tests at me dating scan so I've said yes but have no idea what to expect. So, what is classed as high risk and is it better to go for a harmony test instead and go private?!

Thanks in advance

I am 47, have one 10yo and a 1 yo - conceived with a donor egg... I am 8 weeks pg out of the blue!!! Anyone else over 45 on here? Really such a shock! I know it's early days but I've had a scan and we have a heartbeat???

rabbit depends on your age

@alice,wow congrats,im 43but sure thereare older then me n here

www.wolfson.qmul.ac.uk/service-1/antenatal-screening/screening-tests/calculating-the-risk-of-down-s-syndrome

Rough guide

So me at 43 the average is 1/45 and I was 1/500

Great result about the test Gin.

Welcome Alice - do I infer correctly that this baby was not assisted and has been a bolt from the blue? That's amazing. How do you feel about it?

Kk and others, can I ask about the cholestasis itching - is it all over or just certain places? I have been feeling itchy on my upper arms and armpits (I look like a chimpanzee when I give into it!). But not anywhere else. And not continuously. Kk I am very sorry for your loss - I knew it could be dangerous but it is still shocking to hear about the loss of a baby. Can it be treated or just managed and monitored until you can deliver? I wish you all the luck in the world for this pregnancy

Since yesterday evening I have also been feeling a bit lightheaded and breathless at times... I think it started with the weather getting suddenly warm yesterday (and I was on the London Underground when it first hit) so I doubt it is anything serious but I think the breathlessness I still experience is because I am now conscious of my breathing, and worrying about it is making it worse! Not sure whether I should be worrying or not.

Thanks for all the advice on indigestion - I will go to the gp for sure.

Having an early night tonight x

Thanks christmas. Cholestasis can be managed and monitored through drugs and blood tests as well as early delivery but there is no cure and no surefire way to avoid the worst case outcome although it is really really rare to lose a baby when you are diagnosed and being managed like I was.
In terms of the itching it can be absolutely anywhere. It is quite often on palms and soles and tends to be worse at night. It also has no rash except for any marks you may create yourself from scratching. I am a massive advocate for anyone just getting checked if they have any weird itching or dark wee or pale poo as it's just a simple couple of blood tests - bile acids and LFTs. BUT be reassured that it is rare - I think only a couple of percent of people get it!

kkmuppet I'm so sorry for your loss :( The itching seems to be weather related but I will speak with midwives and request another blood test anyway.

Congratulations wrongalice - my aunt had a baby at 47 naturally and he's about to graduate and a doctor!

christmas yes, naturally! Though I have one naturally already, then we tried for years and kept miscarrying, so ended up having the next one with donor egg after my eggs were tested at ivf and all failed:(
So this is a bit nerve racking. Got the harmony in 2 weeks. teabag that's good to hear. I know it is possible in theory but didn't think we could do it at all!

A couple of people that I've told have said 'oh it will be so lovely for you to have another one of your own!' As though my little one is not my own! It enrages me - babies conceived by DE are as much the mother's 'own' as those conceived naturally, and with one of each I know that for sure (rant over).

Hi wrongalice. I'm not in the same situation as you but I'm getting on a bit - will be 46 in a couple months. This pregnancy is a donor egg baby but I've had two babies in my 40s naturally (42 and nearly 44) after being told my eggs were terrible quality and Ivf wasn't even an option for me. I also had multiple miscarriages in between but it just proves that there are still those 'golden eggs' in there. Best of luck for a h&h pregnancy. Oh and I chose to get The harmony package at the FMC due to my age both times. I would highly recommend it as it is reasonably priced and the second scan is so thorough it is really reassuring.

Thanks kkmuppet - let's hope this is a golden egg! Good luck with yours, that's exciting! - did you use Care clinic?

how rude @alice!!!!!

Hi, I'm currently 24 weeks pregnant and have had scans recently at 21 weeks and 23 weeks which showed that the baby weighs 440 gram and had put on 100grams over the 2 weeks period . Is this something that I should really worry abt - my consultant mentioned that there could be chromosome issues but only aminosis can rule that out. I don't want to do that .
Im Asian so I'm wondering if my ethnic origin and also I'm 5 ft 4 n 8 stone 8 has anything to do with it!

bella hi and I'm sorry but I know nothing that can help reassure you.
wrongalice I actually went to reprofit in Czech Republic as I was keen on donor anonymity and also the incredibly low cost! Had a fantastic experience start to finish. So nice to hear of someone who has done it and validates my feelings that as I am growing and will raise this baby it's MY baby just as much as our naturally conceived daughter

@Kkmuppet @TheWrongAlice welcome and congratulations. Lovely stuff 😊
Lovely to have some more newbies on board. @TheWrongAlice re the crushingly stupid one of your own comment, I would like to say I can't t believe people come out with the tripe they do but well they do. Amazing......

Hope everyone is doing well.
I'm fourteen weeks today. Bump well and truly visible now. According to my son I'm "big potato mummy".

@BellaD24 welcome. I'm sorry to read of your worries and I don't have any experience or advice. I did, however want to wish you all the best and shall keep,fingers crossed for you. Aside from amniocentesis which wouldn't only diagnose not treat anyway, is there alternative paths and treatments consultants have recommended or are considering? x

thenak you for the replies, I'm v new to the site! Ginlinessisnexttogodliness I may ask what my options are but all this is new and highly worrying 😓

I'm just eating more at this stage to see if that helps

Got my provisional section date today. I've 5 weeks to go. Shorter than I was expecting and now I'm bricking it