Any 40+ pregnancies to keep me company?

[sequinednostrils]

Hello! Just wondered if there are any 40 and over pregnant ladies on here , or if there's an existing thread I've missed!

@Liveforholidays I was taken aback at how busy it was. I was there for 5 hours for their own dating scan and booking. I’m new to the area, was in London before. I was very nervous about a new hospital, especially now being fat and 40. I was expecting them to be shitty with me. But actually they were ok. Lots of “seeing as raised BMI and age” rather than putting it in a nasty way. Plus the midwife I saw was larger than me so so did actually say that she feels bad talking about raised BMI when shes often the biggest In the room. Cut my tension a little.

I’m about 45 mins away by car from BW. My nearest hospital is actually Russell’s hall but Christ, I’ve never known anywhere with so many serious maternity complaints, deaths and poor care. I didn’t feel safe going there, fat and 40 for my 3rd section!

I almost opted for Birmingham but because I live within Worcestershire I decided it may be easier for all of my routine appointments. I ended up at Russell's Hall a few years back (nothing to do with pregnancy) and they were very good but cannot comment on the baby side of things. Parking is the biggest nightmare at women's! I tend to park and ride and get the train in as it's only a 10 minute walk from the train station. Good luck with it all!

Angelasis21 yes I had to pay privately. It was nearly £600. It should be available on the nhs if you have a high risk 12 week test I think. My understanding is that it's pretty reliable for a low risk result. I decided not to have an amino / cvs off of the back of it.

I had no aftercare / running through my results privately either. I went with the Spire. Just bam there is your low risk result.

@Liveforholidays I'm 42. I have also been told I will be induced at 40 weeks. My other children have all been born on or before their due date so I'm not particularly worried. I'm already fed up of being pregnant to be honest!!

Hi @Liveforholidays..just interested why did other posts suggest that you would be better off with the amnio instead of NIPT test, which is non invasive? I know NIPT is 98 or 99% accurate for trisomies so not 100%, there is a tiny chance..amnio I think tests for other chromosomal issues which not covered by NIPT..were your NIPT results low ? I had my harmony test done privately as 45 and although they came back as low still worried..

Is it now a normal thing for induction at 40 weeks at 40+? I havent seen the consultant et but was going to ask for a sweep at 39 weeks as my last 2 deliveries were ugly, I think if I go over then Im just going to be worn out before it even begins.

@stairgates I was just told that as I was going to be over 40 at EDD I would be induced.
@fool11 I'm in a low papp a Facebook support group and a girl posted in there the information sent out by the fetal medical centre I think it was that suggested that if you have a higher than 1 in 50 chance from initial screening (but no other triggers such as 0.2 or below papp a, above 5 hcg and /or a higher than 3.5mm nt) then you may still want to consider an amnio/cvs to rule out other chromosomal abnormalities. If I'm honest I think age does have a big part in getting a higher chance initial screening result. The peace of mind from an amnio would be lovely now though!

hi @fool11 I am due in June and will be 47 in April, with my first (IVF) baby. I had the Harmony Test done at the Fetal Medicine Centre in Harley St, private, and both times that they took my blood it was inconclusive because there wasnt enough baby DNA to work with. I had my nuchal scan there as part of the harmony package, and the risk came back low, the doctor called me to say that they were happy with the result and did not feel they needed to test my blood again. I was really worried too, not having the blood results as well however the scan that I had was so detailed that I went with their advice. I dont think i will stop worrying about everything until baby is safely out. I have elected a c section, my consultant okayed this with me - age being the main factor here. It has take many many years to get here, and I couldnt deal with the anxiety leading up to a birth with an induction. Not necessarily everyones choice, but for me it is. Your results came back low, that is a good result :)

Oh thats good news, hopefully I will be told the same about induction, I think my 1st consultant appointment is in May so will confirm then. HAs anyone else been told they also need to have the glucose test as they are over 40? This will be a first for me and I am dreading it as I dont function well without breakfast

hamjul that is amazing news about your ivf:) Was it your first attempt?

@stairgates yeah I’m having the GTT due to age age weight.

I had it with both pregnancies - first I was only 22 but was fat then. Second I was 34 and Bmi was 25 but still had it as everyone at that hospital did.

Dreading it this time as it’s not lucozade you drink anymore, thanks to the sugar tax and it containing fake sugar rather than real sugar.

It’s glucose tablets dissolved in warm water. My friend had it and threw it up twice.

Thanks @Liveforholidays. I think my blood tests were fine, papp and hcg, I don’t remember the results..my nhs initial risk was 1 in 19, I think mainly due to age, nhs measured nuchal at 1.8m , private scan on same day did 3measurements 2.2,2.3&2.4mm..I was surprised how diff results they gave me. After blood tests the nhs adjusted risk to 1 in 387..when we went for 12w scan are Fetal med centre and they were discussing the harmony results they adviced me not to do the amnio,they said that nhs will prob suggest the amnio as I will be a high risk but they did just show them the harmony test results, it’s not necessary to have amnio. She also said that you can always have it later after 20w scan if needed.

@fool11 and @hamjul that's very reassuring, thank you both! I've had my 20 week scan and a doppler scan at 23 weeks and both were clear so I'm trying to be reassured by both of those. I haven't been pushed to do amnio by anyone. It's just been thinking way too much!

Congratulations @hamjul. This is also ivf baby, it was our first try (would be also the last if it didn’t work as I had to draw a line somewhere) and we were so lucky it worked..it’s been quite intense, I must say. I had my harmony at Fetal med centre in Harley street too, they are really nice. How many weeks are you? Will you have your 5m scan there as well? I’m seeing a consultant at 28w , I think they will discuss the delivery options with me then. I had my dd 5y ago at 39w, after I had a sweep as didn’t want to be induced at 40w..and thinking about suggesting the c section this time but not sure yet.

They do the GTT at my hospital for everyone over 39 I think...something to ‘look forward’ to 😄

Sorry about the typos..autofil..typing on my tiny phone at work..

@stairgates thankyou so much! yes first attempt with the ARGC in Wimpole Street, they literally perform miracles there...
I have been told that I need the GTT test when I next see my consultant beginning of April. I have seen him twice for doppler scan, but he was happy for me not to go back for 6 weeks. I'm still on clexane and aspirin as instructed by my clinic (I have been on so many meds!) and I think that has helped me greatly with the blood flows. I'm not familiar with what the GTT test involves, but I am concerned about Gestational Diabetes I literally have a penchant for anything sweet - which prior to being pregnant didnt happen at all!

@fool11 thankyou and congrats back to you too! It has been really intense for us too. In the clinic every day in the beginning months for blood tests, lots of treatment for my natural killer cells - really full on. But I am now 24 weeks, Im at the NHS for my 28 weeks scan although I think I might go back to the fetal medicine centre, you're right they are so nice the women who scanned me. My 20 weeks scan there was like 1.5hrs, so thorough it made me feel comfortable. Do you find that the weeks are flying by now??

I agree, they are very thorough si it’s kind of reassuring. My 12w nhs scan with a consultant (head of the department) lasted few min and the scan was so grainy I didn’t understand how could he see anything properly... I didn’t really like him, it was all rushed..I’m having my 20w scan next week and hoping it will be a better experience and also thinking going back to Fetal med for 20w too..it is expensive but considering how much money we already spent on ivf I think it’s worth it for a piece of mind..time is flying by and if all goes well I cant believe in about 3.5m baby might be here..what a journey. Do you know what you are having?

@fool11 no havent found out. Same as you we have spent an absolute fortune on IVF, once you're in the process you just keep going don't you and make it happen. So, that said, we don't see ourselves being able to go through this again and love the thought of surprise. As someone said to me, it's one of life's last surprises :) part of me wanted to at the beginning and I had the 20 week scan at the FMC on my own so could have had a sneaky peak! I would 100% recommend going back there for your 20 week, same as you the NHS one the following day was no more than 10 mins..

@stairgates I've also been told I have to have the gtt. My bmi is not elevated. But age plus the fact I previously delivered a 4kg baby means I need the test.

My nhs 20 week was really thorough. I was in there 45 minutes at least. I think maybe because I had a high risk for downs result and still hadn't had my nipt results back.

@sequinednostrils - just a thought - as I start to get more anxious for my scan on Monday - can I check whether your scan was an internal or external scan?

@Angelsis21 it was internal, empty bladder