Pregnant at 40 and over - thread 4

[Gizmojo]

To continue support for mums to be over 40

I've heard the risk to baby increases particularly in older mothers after EDD so I'm ok with that but 38 weeks? I want to know why and will question the consultant tomorrow .
I did cut out most caffeine until I started getting headaches but still have decaf first thing in the morning andctry not to drink so much tea -my baby is big apparently so it hasn't affected her growth! My husband is 6foot5" so probably to be expected re size 😮

I agree 38 weeks seems early; the only person I know who had to go that early had the liver itchy skin thing (actually I think it was 37 weeks). Look forward to find out their reasoning! Good luck tomorrow.

So you still had the odd tea? I don't drink coffee at all and only ever had one tea a day plus what ever was in 70% dark chocolate (which I'm completely off!) I think I need a small tea around 1 pm to see me through the afternoon slump!

I totally went off caffeine in the first trimester although I still had a cup of tea first thing in the morning to get going!

Since I got to the 20 week scan I've gone up to two cups of tea a day. I've been having growth scans as my last baby was small, but this one is fine. It's a personal decision; the risks are small but not zero. I'm a bit more relaxed with second baby though, I was very strict first time around!

thanks Ekphrasis TBH, I am drinking a fair bit of tea but never touch coffee and hardly any chocolate, its my only thing I'm doing that you aren't 'supposed' to do!

What happened at your appointment today, Monkey? From what I'd read the idea is to start the induction at 39 weeks and I'm guessing that is so that the baby arrives before it gets to 40 weeks (I've just finished an induction that either took seven days or maybe didn't work at all and the baby just came when he was ready!) but 38 weeks does sound unnecessarily early unless there is a medical need.

In the end, I did give birth to Alexander just two hours short of a week's worth of induction but only six hours of labour! He weighed eight and a half pounds and arrived four days before his due date.

My placenta was stubborn so I had a spinal block and an ERPC to remove any leftovers.

We are both doing well and should go home tomorrow. His big brother liked the look of him but preferred to focus on removing mummy's hospital wrist name tag

Yay!!! Huge congratulations Cineraria! Good to hear you and Alexander are doing well. I'd be delighted with a 6 hour labour - here's hoping! :)

I've been off this thread for a while. I was working in Africa for a bit whilst I still could, but am now home and at 30 weeks, am taking things easier - and avoiding any more long haul flights (ugh, ugh, ugh!). I'm now catching up on the news in here.

Interesting to read the comments on here about induction. I think I've heard that word banded around at the hospital since I had my 6 week scan! I'm 44, classed as high risk because of my blood pressure and presumably decrepit (!) age, and told my EDD is the absolute latest date my baby should be born by! However, I have a fabulous antenatal course teacher who told me to stand my ground, remember it's MY choice, and unless baby and me were in trouble, to just let nature take its course if that's what I'd prefer. I think you can get bossed about by a bit by hospitals, and end up having the birth they want you to have to fit in with their schedule.

As for caffeine - I went off tea & coffee in trimester 1. I wish I'd also gone off doughnuts!! However, since trimester 2 I've had cups of tea. The advice I was given is 4 cups of tea, or 2 cups of coffee are okay in pregnancy. Not sure about all the chocolate I've scoffed though......! ;)

Cineraria massive congrats to you-glad to hear you're all doing well very pleased to hear this news!!

my consultant has left so I saw a registrar who I hated! She was very condescending saying 'my dear what do you want to ask me?' I asked her about induction and why was I being told I'd be induced at 38 weeks and why had no one explained it to me?-she barely gave me a decent answer, she just said its because I am 48 (eek) and its an IVF baby, to me that's not a good enough reason-surely 39 weeks would make more sense?, I do understand there are increased risks if you go over your EDD but 38 weeks just still seems too early for me and is more routine to avoid problems than based on my preferences (not that have many really I just want to know there is a decent reason for procedures)

To be honest she just put my back up with her attitude and the receptionist guessed this and changed my appointment to another consultant-a bit unprofessional really as she did say someone else wasn't happy with her either but I'm pleased she did as I know its not just me!
I have booked in a session with a birth consultant in November so she can run over my options, although I think it may be a bit late?

Other than that I had a scan again and saw my baby yawning!

Crikey. All this about induction is news to me. 38 weeks does seem early to induce monkeypuzzle. I'm getting worried as my due date is 6th Jan so 38 wks would be xmas and 39 wks would be NYE. Don't want to be getting induced by some overworked locum or trainee who got the rota short straw.

I know Poppy someone on here mentioned the Christmas convenience timing to me and it does make you wonder doesn't it? The more they treat me like an idiot the more I'll dig my heels in which probably isn't the best way to be-everything is fine atm so in absense of a proper explanation for induction (they've only just given me s leaflet which mentions 42 weeks!) I think I'll say no to 38 weeks.

So no proper explanation has been given monkeypuzzle? That is concerning. I think I need to do some more looking into this. Yes I'd be suspicious with being induced to avoid the Xmas period altho I don't know what they'll do in my case, it'll be interesting to see if they say wait till 40 weeks, to avoid the whole xmas/ny time.

my EDD is 22nd December so I think anything after the 16th December is more reasonable, but I dont think age and IVF is a good enough reason-the horrible registrar said theres more chance of baby being stillborn if you go over which I do think is scaremongering and I get that there is some evidence of increased risk but why cant they just explain it properly? I feel like I never get time enough to ask proper questions and the only people I see more than once seem to be the receptionists!

I agree. I always feel like I'm getting discouraged from asking questions. Last time I saw the consultant he basically just answered most of mine with go ask your midwife instead. 16th Dec sounds more reasonable. I'd be ok with 2nd Jan too which is 4 days before my due date, but def not a day or two before altho it'd be unlikely they'd suggest that surely

monkeypuzzle I've just seen the consultant and I asked him about their policy on induction for older mums. He said in our area they induce at 40 weeks and basically all different trusts have different protocol and there isn't a nationally set guideline here. Other health professionals I've spoken to locally have never heard of early induction based on age. So it's weird to think that if you lived in my area you wouldn't be getting induced early or maybe not even at all whereas if I lived in yours I would. Personally I'd rather avoid it as 38 39 weeks for me is over the Xmas period. Anyway my dd1 was over 3 weeks early and I was about to get induced then so who knows......

Hi Poppy that's really interesting , last time I saw the midwife I said I wasn't happy about it and didn't like the way the last registrar had spoken to me as she pooh-poohed my questions so she got another registrar to come in and explain-she actually spoke to me like an adult and I said that no one had explained anything to me and their whole maternity unit was supposedly based on choice and I'd not been given any choices so far, she actually said that 38 weeks did seem early and I would be monitored right up till then and the reason was increased risks after EDD partially due to age and the placenta basically has a shelf life (which I didn't know) she said there are known to be some increased risks with IVF but that didn't seem to be her main reason-overall I felt like with her it was a discussion that could change as my pregnancy progressed and not a policy so I think unless anything changes I won't let them induce before 39 weeks at all, I also wanted to give birth in the birthing room (not sure what they are actually called ) rather than the mat ward and I was concerned that I was being told it'd be in the ward when I've never even seen either before!
So I think anything before 39 weeks is going to be a no from me and I'm going to look into induction massage etc to see if there's anything in that as it sounds nicer than hormones and sweeps!

@Monkeypuzzle32 that is good that you got to talk to a more sympathetic registrar. I now have a hospital appointment next Thursday when I’ll be 39+5 to “make a plan” if baby hasn’t arrived yet. I’d prefer to wait until the following Monday for induction, the midwife seemed quite okay with that but last time I saw a consultant I got a big lecture on the risks of going overdue. So we’ll see - hopefully baby will turn up of his own accord anyway and it won’t matter!

My consultant also gave me a big talk about risks of going overdue which made me feel very told off! But my midwife said that as I was only 39 at the booking appointment (turned 40 a couple of months afterwards) she wouldn't have even referred me to the consultant based on age (I am consultant led due to pph in previous pregnancies). So I am refusing induction so far, but had 2 sweeps last week (which seem to have done nothing except make me lose a bit of my plug. I am 2cm dialated and 1cm long apparently). 40 weeks today! Really hoping something happens soon.
Oh and I got the kicks count app on my phone, for keeping track of movements, I have found it really helpful and reassuring (as I am obviously a bit worried about refusing induction), so worth checking out. Good luck everyone!

I hope so Pingus consultants love an induction it seems!

interesting again stAlp I am, admittedly older than you but have had an uneventful pregnancy to date

I think you are right monkeypuzzle, consultants do seem to love an induction. Mine was good in the end and sent me some research papers on risks so I could make a more informed decision. I feel happy waiting at the minute but not totally against induction generally (was induced with my first due to pre eclampsia), just hoping that the longer I leave it the more likely it is that just having my waters broken or pessary will work (would like to avoid the drip if possible)

it all sounds horrible of Im honest, I hate the sound of induction-I think I am more worried about that than giving birth!

I was induced at 36 weeks with my son. Due to preeclampsia. I'm meeting my consultant in November, so it'll be interesting to hear what they have to say. I never even thought about induction. I ended up having a section with my son and have been more focused on that. I'll be 42 when baby comes along and I know I'm red pathway due to age, bmi and past pregnancy. I already feel like my choices are limited, without someone circling a date for induction.

Hi all, just wanted to let you know that baby Pingu decided to turn up last Sunday at 39+1, so we managed to avoid induction. Labour was pretty quick (5 hours from first twinge) with no complications related to being an older mum. We are both doing very well apart from lack of sleep! Thanks to everyone on the thread for your support, I wish you all happy and healthy babies.

Congratulations pingu! We also avoided induction (well, refused it!) and had her at 40+4. 3hrs from waters breaking to birth and also no older mother related complications! Good luck everyone :)

Lovely news, congratulations @StAlphonzospancakebreakfast !

Hoorah @PingusMistress! I’m so pleased for you! Sending love and best wishes xxx (Ekphrasis!)

congrats Pingu such good news, I hope I'm the same