40+ pregnancy

[Cleozeta]

Hi, I'm 41, and 4w 4d pregnant. Trying not to get too excited yet as I know it's high risk.
Any other 40+ people out there? How are you getting on?

Congratulations sharplily I’m 9 weeks and constantly worried about the risks of miscarriage! I’ve never had one I’ve had 3 healthy pregnancies (18 years ago) but all these stories of miscarriage on here are making me so worried. Hope all goes well, my boobs are still killing me, have been for weeks now and constant nausea but not actually sick, 5 wees throughout the night ... the joys. I don’t mind though as long as baby is ok x

Welcome SharpLily and congratulations 😃 I'm glad you found that link useful. Pregnancy seems to be one worry after another 🙄 good luck to you, hope it's a sticky one xx

Hi ladies, yes I agree.......pregnancy is a worrying time. But I guess it's important not to become overwhelmed with it, and try to relax and enjoy it as much as possible . I've got my 20 week scan tomorrow, feeling a little nervous, but less so than the 12 week scan. I guess I just think worrying won't change anything so just need to get on with it! Hope you're all doing ok. Sounds like some strong first trimester symptoms going on for some of you. Its such a tough time! Hang on in there, it gets so much easier.

Good luck with your scan tomorrow sparkly. Do you know what you're having or will you be finding out?

You're right, it does get easier, but at 23 weeks baby just went quiet on me for 48 hours which was a whole new worry! She's back to her usual wriggly self again as of yesterday thankfully 😍

Oooh exciting sparkly please let us know what happens 😀

Thanks ladies, we do hope the find out the sex tomorrow. Our two dd's are desperate to know too! It's unnerving when babies don't move..........glad yours started wriggling again tiny . Will let you know the outcome tomorrow, fingers crossed it'll be all ok.

Good luck sparkly! Hope all is well tmrw and let us know how you get on. Congratulations sharplily, hope all is well. The worry never goes, i worried all the way through last time. It doesn't matter what stage you are at there's always something!

I’ve just got my appointment through for my 12 week scan and I have also got an appointment the day after the scan with a consultant at the hospital! Is this normal? Why do I have to see the consultant?

Donnabillox I think all over-40s have to see a consultant due to automatically being considered higher risk

It varies by area but Wanda is right in general we over-40s are under the consultant. Have you seen your midwife and got your pregnancy notes yet? There might be something in there that explains it.

@Donnabillox as PPs said over 40s are automatically considered high risk.

Some of my friends' have had children in their late 30s with no complications, and suddenly with their pregnancy over 40 have had to have more appointments, tests and scans than they had with their first pregnancy simply due to age.

If you are lucky your hospital will help you arrange it so that you have all that week's appointments on one day e.g. see the consultant and a hospital based midwife.

My notes where manually edited by the first midwife I saw due to my age. So where it stated I was to see my GP I see the consultant instead.

Thanks bluebug x

Yes I automatically had to see a consultant after my 12 week scan. It was the same day and straight after the scan which was handy. It's a bit annoying it's separate days, might be worth giving them a call see if they can do that. I don't have to see a consultant again until I'm 32 weeks now.

Hi ladies, the scan was great today! Baby looks healthy, and we're expecting another girl . We have two dd's already, so we feel confident with girls, plus have so many clothes etc! Hope you're all doing ok 👍

Ah congrats sparklythats great I have 3 daughters ( all adults now) and it’s lovely! Thanks for comments everyone just wondered why I had to see a consultant! It’s 3 days after scan but I don’t mind as it gets me out of work ha ha

Congratulations sparkly, glad the scan went well 😃

How lovely sparkly! Congratulations

Hey everyone, I’m 41 and 29 weeks along, first baby. Have been an anxious wreck the whole time, the hormones threw me for a six and I became really unbalanced and irrational in my fears, developing OCD which has continued throughout. It’s just one worry to the next...and the latest is that I’m very anemic. I have thalassemia minor and my Hb is down to 7.9 and likely dropping...may need a blood transfusion if it dips below 7 and baby isn’t growing. Last scan showed she’s growing but she is on the small side at 15th centile...I obsessively Google way too much including the scare stories and I’m worried she isn’t getting enough nutrients and oxygen from me...has anyone else been in the same boat with anemia? I’m only slightly iron deficient and taking iron so it’s not so much that that’s the problem, it’s the low Hb due to thalassemia and pregnancy combined...the only joys I feel are when feeling kicks, it’s indescribab but also now with the anemia that joy turns to anxious checking to ensure that her kicks are still strong...any sign of faintness and I panic that it’s the low HB causing it...honestly this has been the most excruciating experience and for the sake of my mental health I really hope this works out because I don’t feel capable of putting myself through all this again! (I do have 12 frozen eggs of mine in the bank also and am open to donor eggs...but kind of useless if my thalassemia could prove an issue). Any advice regarding anemia would be welcomed, thanks for reading.

Hi Joseve, welcome to the thread and congratulations on your pregnancy!

I sympathise with your anxiety, I generally suffer from health anxiety although I have been managing it for the last couple of years but pregnancy is such uncharted territory it does cause it to spike. My best advice is to steer clear of Google as all it does is reinforce the anxiety.

Regarding your anemia, I'm sorry you're having to deal with that but do take reassurance from the fact that it's been diagnosed and is being monitored, so you are already getting the best possible care for dealing with it.

Remember that your body automatically gives everything to baby first, so he/she will not be suffering from the anemia as much as you.

Finally, 15th centile is not a reason for concern. I think 5th centile is when they really worry. And you're 29 weeks so things are very positive for you delivering a healthy baby even if your anemia/baby's growth don't improve. Keep monitoring movements and call triage any time you are worried. If it helps, a friend of mine was in hospital from 32 weeks because they were worried about her baby's growth, and she had a c-section at 34 weeks. Her daughter is now 3 years old and has no health issues at all

Hi all, i'm 41 weeks pregnant and had my 20 week scan this week. Very nervous as i am 41 and this is my first! Had alot of concerns with the father as he is delaying telling his son to previous relationship. We been together for 7 years , long story! So lets just say i had alot to deal with. Glad to say everything is going well and baby looks fine! 😊 So glad of that and count my blessings, as i just heard my partners father has just gone into hospital with a suspected heartattack - i think i'm going to get the blame for as he had sent a text last night. As you can tell , the road of pregnancy is a emotional rocky road for me.....☹

Hi ladies, congratulations on your pregnancies. If I could ask how long did it take you to conceive and whether it was natural or assisted conception?

Turned 40 back in March and been ttc 10mths with also failed iui with hubby and losing hope and thinking to do ivf soon.

Hi I’m 42 stopped taking the pill in March and fell pregnant straight away naturally , keep at it kitty and it will happen , timing is key good luck x

I'm 42 and 9 weeks today with number 5 so due in January, I've had no nausea or sickness, just sore boobs and really tired. I had horrendous nausea with the other 4, so finding it a bit disconcerting tbh. Also on antibiotics because my booking urine sample showed an e coli urine infection.

@bluebug45 I'm going to be getting growth scans as well as extra checks as I had HELLP syndrome with my first, he's now 16, so I'm considered very high risk for pre eclampsia and HELLP. I'll do anything needed to make sure everything is kept an eye on tbh

Hi @want2bloved and welcome! Glad your 20-week scan went well, such a relief for you hope your partner's father is doing ok. I'm sure they'll welcome the baby when they get used to the idea x

@kitkat369 i turned 40 in February and found out I was pregnant the day before my birthday after 6 months of trying. Fingers crossed for you

Hi @Pecan05 glad things are going well. I had very little nausea but this is my first so nothing to compare it with. Are you planning on the harmony test and a private scan or just holding out for the NHS scan and combined test?