Any positive pregnancy over 40 success stories?

[Liissaa]

After a mmc with my first pregnancy at 40 earlier this year, I would love to hear any success stories of any over 40s who have achieved a successful pregnancy! Xx

@Catconfusion check this out
academic.oup.com/humrep/article/18/9/1959/708200

@Sef89 I think they’ve both had full fertility investigations. No problems were found and test results good. No previous children. They’ve been trying for a year with a mmc on the first try. I do wonder if they quote harsh statistics to scare couples into signing up for IVF. Although I guess if ttc for a while and it hasn’t happened, maybe it is best. I don’t know, obviously not a doctor.

My GP has been really positive with me about ttc again. I think statistics are problematic because fertility is such a personal thing. My friend is menopausal at 38 so we all are different. As long as test results are normal, there’s every chance it could happen. I will certainly get a repeat of the tests I had before ds if nothing happens. My problem is my 50 day cycles, although it hasn’t seemed to stop me conceiving 4 times, even if 3 didn’t work out.

Thanks for sending over the study. I’ll have a read of that. Xx

@Catconfusion has she had a hysteroscopy.....maybe her womb needs to be looked at properly...also other than the standard tests as she's not had aive birth, but a loss maybe some more tests along the repeat miscarriage route, like killer cells etc..
1 percent is the statistic they give at 45 normally I believe, but exactly everyone is individual 1 percent of women will have early menopause so luckily a small number average age now is 51 in comparison to earlier in the century when it was 49, yet they will still getting pregnant in their 40s xx

@Sef89 I’m not sure, she says she’s had all the tests. I think miscarriages generally should be investigated sooner. I worry a bit about my womb after having a c section last year. It’s major surgery yet there’s not really any check ups after. There could be scar tissue etc. I think I’ll talk to my doctor this week. I have a feeling he’ll say just keep trying.

The study you sent is really encouraging. It seems some couples are really unlucky but most get there in the end. I do wonder if in some cases it’s a timing issue. A positive opk is not always proof of when ovulation happened and day 14 is not always the day. Some of the apps don’t help by predicting when the fertile might be. Obviously a temperature rise and raised progesterone is the best indication of when.

Exactly, my friend had a baby at 45 and fell pregnant first try so it’s such an individual thing. I do wish there was less scaremongering for older women ttc. The media seems to love the shock headlines. Xx

@Catconfusion I think the tests you get are actually quite basic, probably just Amh test and scan and sperm test.....none of which will rule out any mechanical issues, like scarring or blocked tubes etc, I had a hysteroscopy last year, because I was scared of scarring, if I've not conceived in the next 3 cycles I'll have a hycosy.
I hate the way the media make it like a ticking time bomb, try reading this..
www.newstatesman.com/lifestyle/2015/06/whats-wrong-older-mothers-nothing-time-dispel-fertility-cliff-myth
Xx

@Sef89 that’s a really good article. I remember when I first fell pregnant at 39 I was shocked by the NHS website. It was basically saying that women needed to fall pregnant before 35 to help prevent negative outcomes. Yet I couldn’t really find any evidence that the risks increases that much. I did lose that pregnancy at 12 weeks but the hospital were really encouraging and didn’t seem to think it was particularly age related, just that miscarriages are generally common across all ages.

At 40 my pregnancy with ds was relatively uncomplicated. No preeclampsia or gestational diabetes. I did have hyperemesis but that’s not age related. He was big at 99.8 centile and a massive head which I’ve heard can happen with older mums. I’ve since been told more likely genetics as big babies run in our family.

I think the scaremongering needs to stop. I read somewhere that more mums in their 40s are giving birth than teenagers. Support should be provided rather than words of caution.

Good to hear you got checked out. Hopefully you won’t need the other test and will get good news soon! Xx

@Catconfusion unfortunately there's a professor who's heading up a campaign in schools to scare children to have completed their family by 35, so it may get worse, similar to the campaign in the 60s or 70s that scared people hence why most people had actually completed their families in their twenties, they got scared into it. Yes its not useful at all. How long have you been ttc for so far.....xx

@Sef89 that’s shocking. One danger is women having babies with the wrong man because they are worried about waiting. I was 38 when I met the right person and I’m so glad I waited.

This last cycle was the first one with monitoring ovulation and timing it. Ironically last cycle we dtd once and had an accidental pregnancy and early miscarriage. It’s obviously early days in our ttc journey. Just want to touch base with my GP and see what our options are if we get to the 6 months mark. The cut off for fertility support is 43 in our area but not sure how having a baby affects that. Sure I wouldn’t get ivf and wouldn’t want that anyway but hoping I could get Clomid to sort my cycles out as it surely can’t help ovulating so late, even though we had luck with ds. Xx

There was a very unhelpful article in the DM 🙈 about celebrities giving false hope to women having babies over 45... ooh F off...
on a few groups and there are many stories of success.. I haven't given up hope in my advancing years.. I'm still ovulating, af still on time and many women had and still have change of life babies.. it just doesn't make a sexy story as scaremongering

@Chatbash72 this really winds me up too. Of course celebrities can afford surrogates and IVF etc so they don’t have to keep trying. This doesn’t mean they’d basically be infertile without money due to age. It might take them longer but still chance of natural pregnancy. I’m sure many celebrities still have natural pregnancies if all is ok. Xx

Hello all, so just wanted to share a couple of positive stories for you. My uni friend is expecting her 2nd baby on her 41st birthday next month, and my cousin is due her 3rd a month before her 42nd birthday later this year. All naturally conceived. Lockdown baby fever eh!

I'm still single, turned 41 last weekend and locked down like everyone, but these stories are so inspiring and motivating. I really do think mental health and mindset are so important. My uni friend said that it's not unusual for doctors/midwives to see age 40+ mums and it's more overweight and other illnesses which can affect pregnancy. She also said she was less stressed during lockdown because she didn't have to commute.

Hope all are well and stay positive! X

Just to clarify my uni friend was told those things about overweight etc. from doctors/midwives, she didn't make it up herself!

I know I got ways to go but I would pop champagne if I could today. My 12 week scan went great and now just waiting for the blood test results. I didn't think I would get this far, so ladies don't give up. Because of my low AmH and my age 41...my IVF doctor said I had 1% chance of getting pregnant. But here I am.

Lovely news @VanessaT ❤️ also more positive news this week from Alex Jones, baby number 3 at 44.

Thank you @Annie078. Blood test came back all good, so I finally feel like I can breathe after 13 long weeks of worries.

Hi Ladies

Just thought I'd check in and see how you all are xx

Wondering if I can join?

I turned 43 last month, have had 2 mc's in the past year, the last one just on 14th February and have had one AF cycle and got a (albeit faint) BFP on an IC on Sunday at CD28 after having a slight bleed on CD26 which I assume was IB.

I'm super nervous and anxious as I'm not sure how I would cope with a third loss! I have a DD who will be 8 if this one sticks and am with a new partner who turned 50 in December so its a big thing for us!

Hi @gizmo167, sure you can join. I was in a similar situation in January when I got super faint BFP. I was a nervous wreck until the 7 week scan. Fingers crossed 🤞for you.

Hi did you use your own eggs ? As I’m neatly 46 and was told I was to old or ivf
Any feedback would be appreciated 🙏

@Soniaspahiu - hi, from what I know, most IVF clinics won't even do a fresh IVF cycle with own eggs after the age of 45 but maybe you can find one that does. IVF didn't work for me, as I was a poor responder to stims with low AMH. I ended up getting pregnant naturally at 41.

Thankyou so much

Hi I’m 46 trying for a baby all my tests have come back good for my age any positive stories of anyone over 45 conceiving naturally or ivf with there own eggs? 🙏

@Soniaspahiu my friend got naturally pregnant at 45. She had type one diabetes as well so it was amazing news. Her ds is adorable and perfectly healthy. I know you’re a year older than this but I’m always encouraged by this story as she was really worried it wouldn’t happen. Good luck! Xx

@Soniaspahiu

Hi I’m 46 trying for a baby all my tests have come back good for my age any positive stories of anyone over 45 conceiving naturally or ivf with there own eggs? 🙏

I recommend The Impatient Woman's Guide to Getting Pregnant by Jean Twenge It's very reassuring and following its largely common-sense advice, I conceived after 4 months trying at age 42

@FleurDeLotus

Just an update my little lady is 8 weeks old..all is well...labour was fine normal birth so if I can do it at nearly 45...it shows all is possible.

Spreading baby dust to you all.