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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Age scaremongering...

42 replies

GeorgieGirl66 · 22/08/2018 09:47

Hi,

I was wondering what everyone's opinion was on age and pregnancy problems. I'm 36 (and turning 37 in a week), pregnant for the first time and everything I read seems to be doom and gloom and saying this or that could go wrong, all because I'm over 35.

Is it all a bit of scaremongering or is it true?

I don't feel that old but according to these articles and books, I'm over the hill. We could have had kids younger, but it never happened, and now it has. It's quite early days for me, I haven't seen a doctor yet even, so half the time it doesn't feel real and the other half it's terrifying.

Thank you for your thoughts

OP posts:

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PurpleFlower1983 · 24/08/2018 07:08

I’m 35 and I’ve not read anything too negative, just that risks can be slightly higher for some things. You can find negative things to read on everything if you try so best to not bother!

doodles1234 · 24/08/2018 14:36

HI, I am 40 and will be just 41 when I am due with my 1st, I am absolutely petrified with the all things you read about anything 35+.

The information about screenings and which ones to choose, what you should be concerned about etc is totally freaking me out.

I know plenty of people that have had normal pregnancies and no issues but still I am very concerned.

BlueBug45 · 24/08/2018 15:28

@doodles1234 the risks of certain things increase significantly if you are 40+ rather than if you are 35-39. This is why the NHS does particular things for women 40+ but not to those under 39 and under. For example if you are 40+ you induced immediately after your due date in my area even if you are low risk, there as if you are 39 or under you are not. If you are 40+ in my area you are automatically told to take aspirin while pregnant there as if you are 39 or under you aren't. Things like this are only done after research.

In regards to tests in my area they use this test if they decide you are at risk - www.theguardian.com/society/2017/nov/09/doctors-develop-transformational-new-reflex-dna-screening-test-for-downs-syndrome

butunlikely · 24/08/2018 19:29

No adverse comments to me - I'm 35 and will be 36 when baby is born - in fact midwife was terribly apologetic and rolled her eyes when she had to refer me for an automatic GTT test because that's the hospital policy for 35 or over.

MermaidTail7 · 25/08/2018 22:37

I am 36 and currently 31weeks with my first. DP is 8 years older than me. We had issues conceiving due to me having PCOS rather than my age. All my notes list me as a geriatric mother (charming!), but other than being given a few more tests like gestational diabetes as standard, and being encouraged to have the optional blood tests to check for chromosome abnormalities at 12 weeks, none of the health professionals have ever really mentioned my age since I first conceived.

I purposefully avoided reading too much about the 'risks' of being over 35 and pregnant as I knew it would make me worry more than I probably needed to. What has been very interesting is hearing how many expectant mums around my age and older who live in the same town as me but are at a different doctor or hospital a tree are all having very different experiences as a rest of thier age, so it seems quite postcode driven...

BlueBug45 · 25/08/2018 22:40

@MermaidTail7 you mean financially driven. I reckon some maternity hospitals have been sued so have become more risk adverse.

MermaidTail7 · 25/08/2018 22:50

BlueBug45 I'm pretty sure I meant postcode driven, but I was unaware of what you outlined in terms of potential lawsuits resulting from related cases in maternity hospitals, so can see how that could be a contributory factor.

badgeronabicycle · 25/08/2018 22:58

I had DC1 at 36 and DC2 3 weeks before my 40th Birthday. I was low risk for both and despite being a little older, my second pregnancy was way easier than my first. I wouldn't worry.

3girlmama · 25/08/2018 23:09

I have just had DD3 and I was 36 when I became pregnant with her and 37 when she was born
DD1 is 10 and DD2 is 8
I definitely felt more tired this time round but it might have been due to working plus having 2 children to look after.
Could have been my age
Not sure really
But my bp was perfect all pregnancy, all my checks were fine... delivery was fine - the best out of them all.
I think it's a scaremongering thing tbh x

Dinosauratemydaffodils · 25/08/2018 23:27

I was a month shy of my 41st birthday when dd was born and 37 when I had my first. In neither pregnancy did they make an issue of my age. In fact the only difference was that I had a couple more scans. When I made a joke about being old in my last pregnancy, I was told I was "young enough for a couple more"...in fact I was refused sterilisation at the same time as what was meant to be an elective section on those grounds.

I wasn't offered the GTT or told to take aspirin.

Both mine ended up as sections but that's because dh's family all have giant heads and I have a sub optimal pelvis. DD might have fit given her head was relatively small at 35.5 cms (for dh's family) but I wasn't in the mood to gamble. However I bounced back from both far better and faster than all the younger women I know who have had c-sections.

Women have been having healthy babies in their mid/late 40s for a long time. My poor Great Grandmother had her last at 46 nearly 90 years ago so really 37 is nothing. Yes, there are risks to all pregnancies and statistically on a population level those increase over the age of 35 however that doesn't mean you are a disaster waiting to happen.

Shopkinsdoll · 25/08/2018 23:31

I was nearly 40 having my daughter, great pregnancy, 20 min labour and delivery. I worried I’d be the oldest in the playground, not at all. All different ages. I was worrying over nothing. Don’t worry, mums come in all different ages xx

kirinm · 25/08/2018 23:31

I'm 40 and nearly 39 weeks pregnant. I've not had anyone say anything rude about my age. The only thing that has been said and I don't consider it scaremongering is that they would prefer not to let me get to 42 weeks due to the risk of the placenta / cord deteriorating and slightly increased risk of still birth.

Newbabyat47 · 25/08/2018 23:39

As my user name suggests, I had my DD in March at 47! She was conceived naturally and apart from amazement at that I was treated no differently to when I had my first three children at 27; 32 and 35 years of age. I did have GD but this helped me keep my weight down so wasn’t all bad.

My baby is a beautiful bouncing 5.5 month old - she came two weeks early on Mothering Sunday 😄.

oldmother44 · 26/08/2018 07:41

I'm 44 and 6 week pregnant. I had my others at 37 and 38. I got pregnant first time with all 3. I'm yet to tell anyone or have any appointments but am a little worried about what people will say.

yummyeclair · 26/08/2018 07:49

Had my sobsat age 41 abd 42- all healthy and fit. Trust your instincts- good luck!

yummyeclair · 26/08/2018 07:49

Sons!

flumpybear · 26/08/2018 07:52

Had DD at 36 and DS at 40 - non scaremongering though my obstetrician did suggest a section at 40 weeks, I was having s planned section anyway as my babies don't engage, and she said she'd offer it st 40 but wouldn't insist like she would with other mums around 45 as incidence of stillborn goes up post 40 weeks at that age - other than that ... which was just fact... nothing

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