Any 35+ mums just found out they’re pregnant?

[Lucylou37]

Hi, I’m 37 and found out I am pregnant this week! I’m in happy shock , but wanted to see if there was anyone else of a similar age, going through the same thing? Thought it might be a good space to share symptoms, experiences and any other info etc! Xxxx

Hey, congratulations!! Is it your first?

I'm 36 and pregnant with my first, but I'm already in my third trimester (will be 37 by the time baby is born). I will be happy to answer any questions xx

Congratulations Lucy! I’m 37 and pregnant with my first

@Peardrop2020 thanks for the congrats! Big congratulations to you too, how far along are you!!

@Bookworm83 yes it is my first! It was a real shock and i now realise I know nothing about being pregnant or babies! What about yourself? Is this your first? I know it’s still early days, so trying to keep grounded at this point x

@Bookworm83 sorry didn’t read the message properly! Congratulations of your first! How has the experience been for you?

I’m 34 but will be 35 by the time baby is born.

This is my third and I’ll be 12 weeks next week.

@lucylou37 I didn't know anything about pregnancy or babies before, so I can relate!
The first thing I did when I found out I was pregnant was buy this huge day by day pregnancy book and start reading. It's only a page a day so it's not overwhelming, but very informative.
Since then I have read several other books (more about childbirth than pregnancy), started a Hypnobirthing course, asked my friend (who has two kids) millions of questions, been to a birthing class and hired a doula. I'm the type of person who needs to feel as informed and prepared as possible, otherwise I get very anxious.
The pregnancy itself has been ok, I did have pretty bad sickness in the first trimester and have had a few other discomforts (most notably heartburn and backache), but all manageable. I was worried about gestational diabetes due to being overweight, but thankfully the test came back negative. I have really enjoyed my scans and seeing my little boy on the screen, and I'm loving all the kicks and movements, there's nothing more reassuring.
I'm 32+4 at the moment and starting to get ready for the big day!

@tinks2007 Oh wow! Congratulations :) how are you feeling?

@Bookworm83 that’s loads of really helpful information, thank you! I’ve just had a lovely chat with my doctor, who is wonderful, she said 37 isn’t seen as being old anymore and put my mind at rest about things. Trying to look forward to scan, which is in ten weeks! How was your scan at that stage?! X

@lucylou37 I was very anxious about my first scan because of the downs syndrome screening. The closer it got the more paranoid I was that the NHS results would not be reliable enough, so I got myself booked for a private Harmony test. It wasn't cheap (£395) but the peace of mind was worth every penny (and I also found out the sex of my baby from it, long before the 20 week scan!).
When it came to the actual scan and I got to see his tiny body for the first time, it was brilliant. That lightbulb moment "there really IS a baby in there!" was awesome and I think that was the moment I fully accepted the fact that I was pregnant.

What is a harmony test? My anxiety is the same too!

Hi I am 37 and 23 weeks pregnant with my first!

Hi, I’m 45 preg with my second 15w(ivf)...wish I was 35-37 😬

Harmony is a blood test, analyses DNA in maternal blood and gives indication (99%accurate I think ) if the Fetus is at high or low risk of Downs, Edwards, Patau. You can have it done at 10w..also find out the gender if you want. Best £400 I’ve spent for my first and second preg.

@Vilanelle thanks for posting! And congratulations, how have the past 23 weeks been? Xxx

Oh wow, that’s sounds good for peace of mind! Is it in place of the invasive tests you can get later on?

@Lucylou37 Not too bad!

At around week 10 I started experiencing 'morning' sickness (feeling sick from morning until night with umpteen food aversions) but that cleared after a few weeks. I am low on iron so have been given iron tablets, they also think I may be a carrier of the sickle cell trait but my doctor ruled this out, stating the results were because of low iron only.

I am now getting some pelvic girdle pain which can be really quite painful. Waiting to see the midwife to see if I can get referred for physio. That all said, my pregnancy has been relatively smooth to date!

I'm 37 and 12+6 with my first baby.... it wasn't planned and came as a massive shock but we're very excited

Yes, it can replace the invasive tests if you are a high risk for downs etc as non invasive..many clinics do a ‘package’, I went both times to Fetal med. centre so you get a 10w scan, test and 12w scan for £400 I think. Their 12w scan was much better and more detailed than one in my local hospital.

Hello! Yes! I'm 37 and nearly 10 weeks pregnant with my first. It still hasn't sunk in yet!

You sound exactly the same as me! Xxx big congratulations though xxx

@37TTCLeedsHey! Thanks for commenting, it doesn’t seem real to me either! not sure how I’m going to hide it from my friends for so long!!

@fool11 this sounds greAt, will definitely look into this, thank you for all the information

@sel2223 You sound exactly the same as me! Xxx big congratulations though xxx

I think this is the first Friday in about fifteen years I won’t have a glass of wine!

My 3rd baby just recently came on my 37th birthday ! All was well in pregnancy and my body has bounced back still although I did make sure I was doing pelvic floor exercises in my sleep lol , baby is healthy and I think I'm enjoying it even more and appreciate everything more too! Enjoy !

@Lucylou37 thank you and congratulations to you too.
Yes, the no wine thing has been a shock to the system....first sober Christmas and New year in over 20 years 😂