Just got bfp at 42 - do I contact midwife straight away or wait

[TulipsTwoLips]

Hi

Turning 42 this week so obviously will be classed as an older mother with increased risks etc.

As the bfp is still very faint (15dpo) should I still wait a few weeks to contact the midwives, or will they want to be monitoring me straight away?

Thanks

Awww congratulations! Well, I’m a few years older than you and have found that no one really have a monkeys about my age. I saw the midwide around 10 weeks, actually maybe closer to 12 and had first scan a week or so later. I’ve not seen a GP or anything, so just sort of counted the days to the midwife ....

Oh congratulations! I had my first BFP at 41 and visited the GP all excited but they are not really interested. I had to book in and wait until week 10 (which will usually be 6 weeks after a missed period) to meet a midwife and even then it was just paperwork. I'd call your surgery to discuss it but this is almost certainly what they'll advise. My midwife didn't think at 41 I was particularly old at all. I'm now close to 44 with a desperately hoped for BFP and like you I'm wondering if I would qualify for any special attention as it all feels to precious.....but I seriously doubt it. At your age you'd be consultant led which means a few more scans later on but otherwise it won't be any different to being pregnant at any other age. They won't give you early scans on the NHS but you could get a reassurance scan at around 7 weeks at a private scanning place.

*gave a, not have a

Tequila...how old are you?

I’m not even consultant led.... in fact I’m lucky if I’ve seen the same person twice and I’m 34 weeks now.

45 < mortified>

I did get asked for ID in Tesco last year though 🤣

They won't want to see you any earlier. The reason they don't want to see women until at least 8 weeks (and they usually try and make it a bit later) is so you're over the highest period of miscarriage risk - and that is, sadly, the period where no one can do anything at all about it if you are losing the pregnancy. They see you early for a scan if you have a history of recurrent miscarriage but that's for your mental health, not because they can actually do anything to stop it happening again.

Thanks everyone, that’s good to know. I’ll wait a few more weeks before contacting anyone then.

Theres absolutely nothing that either can be or needs to be done in the first trimester. There's the dating at 12 weeks but all that happens before then is history taking to set up later appointments.

You can contact midwife now but, tbh, I might personally hold off a few weeks to make sure the pregnancy is going to stick and I'd prefer to deal with an early m/c myself than have to call and cancel my appointments.

And congratulations to everyone else too! 🎉

I do think it's worth while contacting your GP now though rather than waiting! My community midwife has quite a waiting list, so it's probably best to inform them sooner rather than later! I'm under consultancy now for various reasons, but getting a midwife appointment was difficult at beginning.

Next question, sorry! I have rh neg blood. That won’t cause a problem yet will it?

I’m not really one for fuss so happy to wait to see anyone, and like people are saying, this may not stick anyway.

Rh negative wont affect things now. You may have anti-D injections later in your pregnancy if required.

Congratulations!

While I agree with PP that they probably won’t need to see you any earlier due to age, if still make contact.
Here they struggle with getting appointments in time and to get a booking in appointment, which triggers the dating scan, you need to get in their system ASAP.

I’d not if!

Tequila. You might be mortified but I think it's inspirational! There are so many women over on the TTC over 40 thread who would say so....

Awww thank you Petra. That’s lovely of you to say so. I’ve definitely found it a bit tougher going since my last baby ( who is 10 now) but I know I’m lucky and have embraced the situation really.

Hi ladies, I'm 42 and currently 6weeks pregnant with no.4! I've emailed the midwives last week to register, and have a booking in appointment scheduled for 25th...time really drags in the first semester. I'll probably need to see my doctor at some point to discuss the delivery, as I've had the tvt-tape installed few years ago (when I was supposed to be finished with making babies!) Anyone else have the same surgery before getting pregnant? I'm wondering if I need a elective section this time because of it?

Oh and congratulations Tulips! When are you due?

41 here (was 40 at conception), first DC and no-one has mentioned my age yet - apart from the need to take aspirin from 12 weeks to reduce pre-eclampsia risk and a consultant appointment at 30 weeks.

I had usual booking in appointment and then the usual scans although we paid privately to have NIPT which was 100% worth it for peace of mind.

Now 17+4.

Congratulations - there are plenty of us at it in the over 40 club :)

Hi, another one here newly pregnant aged 41! I'm going to wait a few weeks before seeing the GP, if the pregnancy doesn't make it I'd rather not have to unbook everything. Will almost certainly have the harmony test privately at 10 weeks and I might even wait to go to the GP until then. But this is my 3rd pregnancy so I kind of know the things they say and go through, I don't think I'd leave it so long if it was my first.

Thanks @Ameliel . 15th Dec if all goes well.