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

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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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Original poster
Cleozeta · 09/04/2018 10:28

Yeah thats the same reason I chose 7 weeks. DH is coming with me as I booked it during school hours (my youngest is 5, so at school now) I wouldn't take them with us in case it's not good. We probably won't tell them until 12 week scan if we can help it. When are you telling yours?

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Dinosauratemydaffodils · 09/04/2018 11:48

@kitty1013 I'm 40 and getting the same scans as you but in my case the primary reason for it was that ds was below the 10th percentile on a personalised growth chart with age as a secondary factor. My midwife showed me the list of criteria.

Can't say anyone has treated me differently or worried about my age. Both the consultant obstetrician and the consultant anesthetist I've seen so far (30 weeks and I saw both for reasons relating to my son's arrival not age) have laughed when I said it was definitely the last baby.

MrsPoopyPants · 09/04/2018 12:54

Hi everyone,
I’m 13 weeks now with DC2 (been trying for a year with MC at 6 weeks last year) and I’ll be 40 next week.
We went for the NIPT 2 weeks ago and the results came back within 4 working days, all low risk thankfully.
I’ve been so tired this time, falling asleep on the sofa in the evenings and then waking up before 5am and not being able to get back to sleep. I also have zero patience which is not like me!
Got my NHS first scan tomorrow so hoping everything is still ok. I feel massive already though, last time I got to about 16 weeks before there was any sign! That was 4 years ago though!
Good luck to you all.

MrsPoopyPants · 09/04/2018 12:56

Forgot to say that at my first MW appt, she told me that as I wasn’t 40 on the day of the appt I’m classed as low risk still!

lilacandlavender · 09/04/2018 13:38

So sorry to see your news, Petra. It’s so hard.

Good luck to those having early scans this week! It’s such a nerve wracking time.

I’m getting the harmony test at 10 weeks purely because of my age, (I’m 45) assuming the NHS one would come back high risk - it’s great to hear Airedale that yours didn’t.

I’ve been told I’ll be induced at term due to my age or possibly have to have an elective CS due to a complicated delivery last time. I see a consultant at week 18 and will find out more then. If I get that far! (8w 5d at the moment)

Great to hear from everyone who’s out of the first trimester and all going well!

Original poster
Cleozeta · 09/04/2018 14:14

Congrats all! Fingers crossed we all continue on a good path! Just because we are over 40 does not mean it can't work for us.
Jojo did you get you blood test results back today? How did it go?

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JoJoyorker · 09/04/2018 14:35

No they are not back yet 😩 well I think they might be but the doctor isn't in today and I think they like to view and comment before releasing. I'll try again before closing but think it will be tmrw.

AaaaaaarghhhWhereAreMyKeys · 09/04/2018 14:36

Hey :-) I'm approx 6-7 weeks and am 41. Already have 2 DCs but they're teen and preteen now so it's been quite a while for me.

So far I've been doing my best to stay calm and not get too excited/attached as am worried about MC...I previously had an early MC/chemical pregnancy. I have an appt with the GP next week but to be honest I hadn't even thought about extra scans etc as I can't quite believe this is happening! (It wasn't entirely planned).

Sorry about your MC Petra, thought I'm totally admiring your positive attitude - DP's Nan had his DF at 45. You have time yet.

kitty1013 · 09/04/2018 16:44

Oh thank you Dinosaur for that comment- very interesting- I'll ask the midwife what the criteria are at my next appt! My DC4 was 99th centile at birth- I wonder if large babies trigger the extra scans as well as small ones!

JoJoyorker · 10/04/2018 11:31

Congratulations aargh. I think that's the best way to be trying not to get attached or excited! I had my blood test results and are 1661 which I think is ok. Online says between 18-7340 at 5 weeks so it's a big range. Had my 2nd one today so get those back Thursday and hope to see they've doubled every 48-72hrs. Back for midwife booking in appointment this afternoon. I do have some nausea today which pleases me!

Original poster
Cleozeta · 10/04/2018 14:09

Sounds good jojo! But as you say, that's a massive range! I guess it's more about the increase than a single figure. Fingers crossed for Thursday, looks like you'll be fine though Smile
Great news about the nausea (never thought that would be a good thing but it is!!) I've not had any major nausea yet, I just seem to get extreme hunger quickly. Still tired and still sore boobs. 6 weeks tomorrow so that's a mini milestone. Can't believe how slow it's going!!
Good luck with booking appt. Thats very early! I have to wait another 3 weeks for mine. Let us know how it goes!

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TinyTerror1 · 10/04/2018 15:43

Hi all. I'm 14+2 and turned 40 the day after I found out I was pregnant (first time). It's been a rollercoaster already. I spent the first 12 weeks worrying about mmc, was so relieved to see an actual baby at my dating scan, then had a high NT measurement of 3.8 so with that and my age got a Down's risk of 1 in 5 (1 in 372 for Edward's/Patau's). Had a full scan at the hospital on Friday. They didn't find any abnormalities but I had the CVS and came back today with the all clear. So I'm finally going to relax and enjoy my pregnancy, for the next few weeks at least! Good luck to everyone else xxx

Original poster
Cleozeta · 10/04/2018 16:09

Congrats tiny! Sounds like a rollercoaster! Bet you are so pleased to be past all that and you can try to relax and enjoy your pregnancy now

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Treacletoots · 10/04/2018 16:16

Ladies. Moving forward to the end of your pregnancy. Please keep an eye on yourself ;) I was almost 39 when I had DD and thought I was absolutely fine...and refused to accept anything but. Towards the last two months I started struggling to go to the look and thought I was just dehydrated. I also had bad headaches, again put it down to dehydration.

It turned out I had preeclampsia and should have been in hospital :/

Anyway. You may be fine but this is more stress on your body than if you were 20. Take it easy, consider leaving work earlier than planned (I didn't get a choice!) And look after yourself. Exciting times

JoJoyorker · 10/04/2018 16:23

Thanks Cleo! I was surprised my booking appointment was so early. My age wasn't really mentioned apart from me asking questions. She said I'd have the same amount of appointments as a first time
Mum due to age but that's fine with me. Midwife was happy with hcg so that's good. Yes only mild nausea for me too and the tiredness! Oh it's good to get to another week isn't it! We were talking about harmony, which she recommended, and I asked if saw more problems at my age and she said not at all and most they've seen recently have been with 20 yrs old. Also said has a lot on her books over 40 and even though the risk is higher she's not noticed more.
What a worrying time for you tiny 😞What a relief now though and you can relax a bit and try to enjoy it.

Original poster
Cleozeta · 10/04/2018 18:32

Thanks for the tips treacle! Yes I will be keeping an eye out for that, my mum had it in her last pregnancy and was in hospital for 3 weeks or so. Hope all worked out ok for you in the end?

Jojo that's reassuring to know your midwife has not seen any more problems with our age group. Fingers crossed for us then! I'll have had my early scan by the time I see midwife so hopefully I'll be relaying news of a good scan... can't wait to get to 7 weeks...

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Treacletoots · 10/04/2018 19:26

We are perfect thank you! I was in hospital for 10 days as we had to let my liver function return to normal, BP still plays up to this day (over a year later) but that could be hereditary. I also lost a lot of blood as I had a CS and they accidentally caught a blood vessel or something. But honestly this is all I can complain about. Hospital were great.

I can't reiterate enough. Don't be superwoman. Leave work a month before you planned. You'll be glad you did

Original poster
Cleozeta · 10/04/2018 20:10

Glad all ok in the end, must have been scary! Will make sure I take it easy, good advice, thanks

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penguingirl · 11/04/2018 19:55

Hi all! So happy to find this board! I'm 43 and a quarter hehe! Am currently 5+5. I had a miscarriage last year at 6 weeks, which was my first pregnancy. I had more or less given up hope of falling again so am so happy and excited. This is of course mixed with a good dashing of worry and being super analytic over every symptom, or perceived symptom! I had been obsessively knicker checking, but then loving the joy of post-pee clean tissues Grin and was very worried because the extreme boob pain lessened over the last few days and I felt a bit 'less pregnant'. However today has been wonderful as I have felt very 'gaggy' and had a full on wave of nausea in the car driving home from work!

JoJoyorker · 11/04/2018 20:05

Ah congratulations penguin! I am 5wk 5d too 😊 it's such a worrying time isn't it and more so if you have had a miscarriage in the past. Are you able to get an early scan? It can be a little reassuring I think. I think symptoms come and go I'm constantly worried I don't have enough symptoms.

Original poster
Cleozeta · 11/04/2018 20:29

Congrats penguin! I totally understand where you are coming from with the worry and checking everything all the time, I do that too. If I'm not feeling utterly crap then I'm freaking out that its gone wrong! My symptoms come and go, sometimes I feel completely fine, then I'm feeling crap again. Such a worring time. Especially when I can't stop reading negative things and 'how it all goes wrong' stories on the internet!!

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penguingirl · 11/04/2018 21:10

Thanks so much JoJo and Cleo! Sorry to hear you're both suffering with the anxiety around possible issues/miscarriage. I love that there are so many positive messages in here though, it's very reassuring. I do keep looking at my local private provider of early scan, but it's a lot of money (to me) and only gives you reassurance at that moment. I may cave in when I get to 7 weeks though! I've been avoiding any negative stuff online as I know it won't help me. Although that's easier at the moment as I just started a new job on Monday and the training is full-time and very intense so I barely have the time nor energy to spend time torturing myself reading horror stories on the internet! I'm just really looking forward to getting past Friday as that will be the point at which I miscarried last time so it feels like that will be a real hurdle to have passed.

Snorebrown · 12/04/2018 07:58

Hello everyone can i join please? If all goes well i will be 40 on my due date. Trying to stay away from scary statistics but its hard not to let me in to your thoughts. 2 mc before so one day at a time atm :0)

Original poster
Cleozeta · 12/04/2018 08:15

Congrats snore! Penguin you are doing the right thing keeping busy and avoiding the horror stories. I thought I was helping myself, preparing for the worst, but last night I had the most horrendous nightmare about misscarrage. I woke up freaked oit and terrified. No more horror stories for me!!!

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Snorebrown · 12/04/2018 09:07

Thanks cleo