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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

40+ pregnancy

389 replies

Cleozeta · 01/04/2018 10:55

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?

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TinyTerror1 · 22/06/2018 19:02

Good luck with the scan tomorrow Pecan xx

Pecan05 · 22/06/2018 19:16

Thanks @TinyTerror1 xx

sparklyglitterball · 22/06/2018 20:32

Good luck with the scan tomorrow pecan. Sounds like you could do with being checked over by a dr.

Pecan05 · 22/06/2018 20:42

I'm hoping it's just because of the uti, just have to wait and see

Donnabillox · 22/06/2018 21:11

I’m sure all will be ok try not to worry x

JoJoyorker · 23/06/2018 14:02

How are you pecan? Have you had your scan yet?

Pecan05 · 23/06/2018 14:15

Not good news unfortunately, only measured 7 weeks when I should have been 9+ and no heartbeat. They're wanting me to stay in for up to two weeks because the sac has attached to my previous section scars, so I need to get injections to effectively dissolve it, and they need to keep me in till my hormone levels are dramatically reduced. I've got no one to look after my kids because my partner can't as he has his son and lives in another city, so I've had to phone social work to see what the can offer. It's all so overwhelming

TinyTerror1 · 23/06/2018 14:17

So sorry to hear that Pecan. Thinking of you Flowers

sparklyglitterball · 23/06/2018 15:29

So sorry pecan, such sad news. Sending lots of love and strength. Hope you get childcare sorted soon too. Xx

Donnabillox · 23/06/2018 17:09

Oh bless you pecan so sorry to hear that news . Thinking of you x

JoJoyorker · 23/06/2018 17:15

Oh no pecan I'm so sorry to read that 😞 I hope you are ok and get some childcare sorted out x

Pecan05 · 23/06/2018 17:24

The kids are having to go into emergency care as the doctor won't let me stay out till Monday when my partner can come through. My wee'est one is devastated as they might have to be split up. It's been a horrendous day

Donnabillox · 23/06/2018 18:18

Oh pecan that’s awful ! Praying they don’t get split up x

Pecan05 · 29/06/2018 07:30

Hi just to update, I opted for the d+c, which was thankfully straightforward. I was discharged on Monday afternoon, got to go today for blood tests to make sure my hcg levels are dropping, then another scan on Monday to make sure everything has been removed. It's been a traumatic week.

SharpLily · 29/06/2018 22:07

Sorry for you, Pecan.

I had my first scan today, at eight weeks. It was a huge relief to see that all was well, measurements were good and we saw the heart beat, but my husband and I hated the consultant! Fortunately we should only be seeing this particular consultant this one time as apparently he is the early pregnancy man. We are in a country where the idea of 'bedside manner' doesn't exist anyway, but we went in and sat down and the first thing he said, quite aggressively actually, was that he'd seen in my notes a history of early miscarriages, and that his job is to look in my uterus only, and that I shouldn't expect him to help with any problems in any way, and that I could easily still miscarry and he can't help me with it. It wasn't said in a very nice way, not at all sympathetic.

I must admit I went in expecting the worst too. All through my last pregnancy I had cramps so I know that they are not necessarily anything to be worried about but I'm in quite a lot more pain this time. It's not pleasant.

MrsPoopyPants · 16/07/2018 22:49

Hi ladies, how are you all doing? It’s gone a bit quiet on the thread.
I’ve got my 28 week scan next week so fingers crossed all is well.

Donnabillox · 17/07/2018 05:46

Oooh lovely poopy pants hope all goes well, I’m 15 weeks ... very excited for gender scan. My tests all came back as low risk for pataus and downs and baby is doing well! Sickness has gone but still up weeing about 6 times a night ha ha x

BlueBug45 · 17/07/2018 08:59

7-8 weeks to go before baby arrives.

JoJoyorker · 17/07/2018 22:57

Hi ladies, pleased to hear all is going well for you. I've had my 20 wk scan but back in a weeks time as baby was in an awkward position 😕

Pecan05 · 17/07/2018 23:13

Went back for my scan to make sure no tissue had been left, it was all back to normal, and had to have weekly blood tests to make sure my hormone levels were dropping, last test they were at 2 so got discharged from the pregnancy support unit. We might try again, we'll see

Snorebrown · 25/07/2018 17:11

Hello everyone. 25 weeks and not sure whether i will be under consultant led care. Did you have this automatically being over 40 and what does it involve please?

sparklyglitterball · 26/07/2018 11:09

Hi ladies,

Hope you're all doing ok and surviving this heat! I'm 27 weeks tomorrow and finding it a struggle at times, although I do love having such a great summer. Snore, you should have a couple of consultant appointments, and be offered two growth scans, as well as induction at term.

Snorebrown · 26/07/2018 12:14

Thanks sparkly is it automatic at 40 plus?

BlueBug45 · 26/07/2018 15:51

@Snorebrown everyone I know over 40 has automatically been assigned a consultant regardless of whether they have had previous children.

If you haven't seen one by now then you need to make a fuss at your maternity department. You may have to go in in person to make an appointment if you cannot get through on the phone to ask for one. Do this asap.

At the first appointment the consultant will assess you to see whether you are low or high.

If you are low risk they will just tell you that you cannot go over 40 weeks and will need an induction if you don't go into labour before then.
You don't automatically get extra scans or any more appointments with the consultant or any other HCP. The people I personally know have always given birth in consultant led wards even if they are having a vaginal birth. However I've heard of woman over 40 having home births and using midwife led units.

If you are high risk they will come up with a treatment plan which may involve a different appointment schedule, seeing other specialists, taking other medications, more scans, blood tests for different things, more appointments, etc. You don't have a choice in where to give birth.

SharpLily · 26/07/2018 19:48

I have my 12 week scan on Monday and have to admit I'm feeling very anxious about the anomaly testing - there's no reason I should be, it's just the way I feel.

I have also been put on aspirin to reduce pre-eclampsia risk. I'm not in the UK and apparently it's standard here if you fit two or more high risk categories (I'm over 40 and my mother had it).

Am still feeling AWFUL but looking forward to that easing off over the next few weeks. I'm hypermobile which caused some problems in my last pregnancy but they started later. This time I'm already suffering am worrying about how I'm going to get through this...

We're not telling anyone until we get the all clear after the scan and testing next week but I'm starting to show so I'm keen to get it out of the way, particularly as my hypermobility meant I needed a lot of physical help during the third trimester of my last pregnancy. I need to let my parents know what's happening before my mother starts booking holidays around my due date!