Any older expectant mum's out there?

[45andfine]

I'm 45 and rather unexpectedly having a 5th child. It all seems more scary this time around, familiar, but with other worries.

@45andfine first few days were a bit of a blur had forgotten how tired you are with a new baby. My advice is enjoy every minute of been pregnant it's so special and although it's great when they arrive and are safe in your arms it's a little sad that the pregnancy had ended. Also get as much sleep as you can now and rest rest rest because days go so quickly with a newborn something so small brings a whirlwind to the house but they are so worth it. I'd also forgotten the pain of baby crowning ow isn't the word, also make sure you do your pelvic floor exercises I didn't due to low lying placenta and I'm struggling with feeling anything at the minute !!x

@dipsy77 brilliant advice... I've just installed Kegal Excercises App! Have totally neglected my pelvic floor, I don't need it collapsing and suspect it's yet another thing us older mum's will suffer from!!!🤦‍♀️

@ginny1234 it does make sense doesn't it. Made the mistake of reading about uterine rupture- I don't want it!! Generally I'm feeling physically great. I just look fat rather than pregnant so no-one really knows still. I'm getting quite breathless though and still feel like I have permanent PMT. Grumpy and short tempered with DP as he just doesn't seem to understand pregnancy... Not that I even know what I want him to understand 😂😂

@megan2018 how are you doing?? You must've had your baby by now? ❤️

I had growth scans purely because of my age so you get to see baby a few more times which is a bonus plus time seems to go quicker as you have more appointments. I also had aspirin and the induction on due date!
On a plus side one week on and I weigh less than I did before I got pregnant and I have no stretch marks , I have a bruised belly though as I have to have anti blood clot injections every night for ten days due to my age which I'm sure my OH is enjoying giving to me due to the fact I brought on his rsi in his wrist due to hand squishing and squeezing during labour

I haven’t been on for awhile.
I’m being induced next Wednesday. Will be 37+4 weeks.
Bit weird thinking this time next week I should be in labour.
Us older mums can do this.

Good luck @Em39ma exciting times! Are you all packed and ready to go? Xx

@Ginny1234 nearly. Last few bits to get and snacks. I’m a fruit bat, so can only put them in at last minute.
Hopefully I’m not to sick, with the HG and I can get sick when I’m in pain.
Going to up my meds in the run up to Wednesday, hopefully that will help me not be to sick.

@Em39ma why are they inducing you? I've been thinking lately of asking to be induced at 39 weeks! I'm only 27 weeks now but I'm due Xmas Eve! They have already said they won't allow me to go far over 40 weeks so will more than likely be induced anyway! If they induce at 39 I'll be home for Xmas!! Rather than being brought in after Xmas with only staggered staff in.

@starflake
I’m being because of having too much fluid. I’ve been measuring 6 weeks over due for a few weeks now. I also have extreme hip and pelvic pain.
Also I have been messed around so much. I’ve never seen the same doctor more than once, each time they say something different to the last. We sort of had a go and said we had enough of being messed around.
They originally said I would probably be induced around 37 weeks any way because of my age. Trouble is I think each region said something different to how far they let older mums go.

I suppose the positive is you get to meet baby sooner & no more pregnancy, all plus plus. Yes I find it very annoying not getting the same doctor Also, constantly repeating yourself over & over.

@starflake yes the not being pregnant is a big plus, not sure how anyone finds it enjoyable.
But then maybe I would of it wasn’t for the HG, poly, hip and pelvic pain.
I don’t any of these have anything to do with my age. My mum and nan both HG and Poly, so I think that’s just genetics. And my hip and pelvic pain can be put down to my love of skiing, surfing and because I was a nanny for 24 years, the carrying the children around on one hip.

Im 39, due for c section October 17th with a girl, I have one boy who is 7, ive found it all so stressful and emotional - 4 miscarriages before this one

Hi everyone! I'm 43 and just found out I'm pregnant with DC number 4! Been 12 years since I was pregnant so feeling very anxious especially as I have had some light bleeding this week. My partner is 17 years younger than me and will be his first (and last haha) but we are both super excited! Really appreciate finding this thread as not telling a soul until 12 weeks so it's great to have some like minded ladies to chat with! Hope you're all feeling well and enjoying your pregnancy journeys so far!

@Mystie you found us.
I’m awake as usual, the hip and pelvic pain is now pure agony.
It is going to be long last few days.

@Em39ma sorry to hear that you are in so much pain, I hope you managed to get back to sleep ok. I've woken up to a toilet full of red pee, not that hopeful sadly as I feel like bleeding is getting heavier each day but still no pain so we'll wait and see. Keep your fingers crossed for me x

@Mystie oh no. How many weeks are you?
If over 7 weeks, I would give your local Epau a call and see if they will scan you.
I had a miscarriage this time last year, but my bleeding didn’t start until sometime after. In this pregnancy I had a bleed at 6 weeks, but it was next to the baby and we could see it. Then the little flickering heartbeat next to it. So it’s not always bad news.

@mystie how are you? I had bleeding ( and lumps tmi??) in my 4 previous pregnancies, without pain, and they all progressed to term. It's so scary, I do hope you're ok. Many years later I had a miscarriage at 7 weeks which started with period type pains then bleeding, then full on cramping/ contractions.

Some hospitals will scan you as a self referral, worth phoning for peace of mind?❤️

I'm now 21 weeks pregnant at 45, a traditional menopausal "bonus baby" I still can't believe it.

@em39ma Good luck for next week!!! Hope you do manage to get sleep before now and then! Assume you've got the maternity pillow? I'm using mine already to help relieve various pains! They are expensive, but I used mine after birth too to help feed and prop baby, and stop it rolling etc etc

@45andfine thank you so much for your kind message. I am actually feeling a lot more positive. The bleeding seems to have stopped and I haven't had any real pain. We won't know for sure if there's a HB until 7th October which is only just over a week so I'm going to to try and get on with life as normal as there isn't really anything else I can do.

Really appreciate your account of how your miscarriage developed, that's very reassuring. Everything I have read has said that a miscarriage will almost always get heavier rather than lighter and usually accompanied by pain.

It's so nice to know there are other older mums out there on the same journey, how old are your children, are they excited to have a new brother or sister? My daughter will be 12 (around my due date) and I know she is going to be such a huge help and just love it! Not sure my boys will be quite so enthused!!

@Em39ma thanks for your message, I'm feeling a lot better today, the bleeding seems to have stopped and I'm not in any pain. I know there is still a good chance something could go wrong but for now at least I feel a little bit more relaxed! Hope you had a better sleep last night and have a nice weekend planned x

@mystie so relieved the bleeding has settled. It's such a hard time, those early weeks.

My girls are 17,15,13 and 11. They're not excited or enthusiastic. Their Dad and I split up 5 years ago and we don't live with my new partner, so it's all a bit of a threat to them. I'm literally taking it all one day at a time and focusing on it all falling into place perfectly... Eventually!!😁 Life is a funny thing.

@45andfine yes I have a pregnancy pillow, unfortunately it made my pain worse. Putting it between my legs just stretch my pelvis and hip and put more pressure on it. I sleep with a normal pillow under my bump now. They are hoping when she comes out next week the pain will just stop. I’m not so sure, some of it they think is caused by 24 years of being a nanny and carrying the kids around on that hip. When I have my physio, the hip is 3 inches lower than the other.
They massage and exercise it try and put it back into the right place.

Can I join? I'm 39, turning 40 on 7th October and am 35+5 with my first baby after 3 miscarriages. DH is 58 so we're collectively pretty ancient . We've had a relatively smooth pregnancy but I have gestational diabetes and baby's head is measuring on the 90th percentile so they're possibly looking at inducing when I'm 38 weeks. I woukd rather not have an induction if at all possible but I guess it may be inevitable in the circumstances :(

Hi everyone, can I join you? Lovely to find somewhere that's so positive about older mums.
I'm 44 and 7+3 with my 4th pregnancy. I have a 2.5 year old dd and have had 2 previous miscarriages.
I'm fairly terrified that this one is not going to be viable, have a scan booked in for next week.
I'm fit and healthy, and my gp has no concerns, but the negativity in the media and amongst friends can be very demoralising.
Lovely to read so many positive stories on here.