Advanced maternal age ( what a lovely label)

[Ellycook]

Hello ladies, I am feeling so old today, I look around the antenatal clinic and everyone seems so young, an elderly lady came in today the receptionist asked for her date of birth and she said 1936 - I laughed to myself and thought oh somebody else around my age 🤣 I doubt she was for the antenatal side though 🤦‍♀️ sometimes you have to laugh - anyway I’m just looking for others who are also in the Advanced group - I’m 38 and will be 39 in July for due date, 22 with my first and this pregnancy is sooooo much harder .... guess I’m just reaching out to see if anybody relates, and how you are feeling, do you feel good about it all or are you anxious like me ? I had a consultant who was quick to tell me that with age often comes complications ( yay) - none of my friends are pregnant so I really don’t have anyone that can relate 😩x

I'm sure the term used to be 'geriatric' about 20-30 years ago

I’m a grand multip (this is baby 5) and an old bugger at 40. It’s been 10 years since my last baby and it’s quite amusing how differently I’ve been treated this time! Not in a bad way just lots of changes in maternity care since last time plus my age gets mentioned most appointments!

I’m 39, baby coming next week! Had an easy pregnancy this time, literally no issues at all and feel great.

My consultant actually said to me last week that I’m still young and could easily have more children. It’s really not that unusual anymore and people don’t look at just age, other factors can cause more high risk.

Good luck!

Greetings fellow methuselah mamas! I’m 40 and expecting DC3. Had my other two at 35 and 37 and my age wasn’t mentioned at all. This time it’s been barely mentioned other than a consultant appointment. So far I feel pretty terrible, but no worse than I did 5 years ago!

I was 37 with my first and will be 40 if this one works out. I feel old looking at the ages in the mumsnet due date thread!

Methuselah Mamas is absolutely my new favourite phrase ever! @Aozora13

Alias can I ask what week you were induced? Thanks

Hi everyone!I had my first child,a baby boy,on February and i will be 38 in August.My pregnancy was a breeze even though i had GD and my blood pressure rose at 15 at around week 37.Had an elective c section.I underwent IVF because of male infertility and i am super jealous of people who can conceive naturally and have a bunch of kids.I constantly read about surprise pregnancies at 40,42 etc and i know this will never happen to me and it makes me so sad.I am immature,aren't i?

@DollyParton2

Alias can I ask what week you were induced? Thanks

They wanted to from 37 weeks but I pushed back so in the end was 2 days before my due date - I accepted because at my last growths scan the consultant was saying that the growth was slowing down and implying it was looking worrying, I mentioned this once I was there to be induced and they scanned me first, the sonographer was confused and aid that’s never been the case the growth has always been fine. Felt I had to go ahead by that point.

ill be 38 when number 1 is born! hubby even older! grandparents like old old haha....compared to everyone elses that is ;) mine turned 50 when everyone elses at school had parents turning 40! my mum was sad the other day when she was like oh i wont even be around for babys 21st :(
ive actually not had anyone bat an eyelid about my age, under continuity care team. it is nice to know other people who are this kinda age, everyone i know had kids late 20s early 30s so i always feel a bit geriatric!

I underwent IVF because of male infertility and i am super jealous of people who can conceive naturally and have a bunch of kids.I constantly read about surprise pregnancies at 40,42 etc and i know this will never happen to me and it makes me so sad.I am immature,aren't i?

My first two babies were ICSI due to severe male factor infertility. Told we would never conceive with 99% antisperm antibodies. Surprise baby no 3 due in October I have never been so shocked to my core about anything, I'm 17 weeks and still in denial/disbelief. The chances were millions to one. I totally get you though - we started TTC 10 years ago and I spent many years struggling with infertility and the way it affected us. The jealousy is awful - it changes you as a person.

I'll be 37 when this baby arrives. We started TTC at 26 as I wanted children young and had my first 2 at 31 and 33. Honestly I'm a bit worried about the age thing, not health reasons really more just the realisation that when I turn 50 this LO will only just be turning 13 and still early days at high school. I thought at 50 I'd have my life back!

I'm 41 and DS1 is 14, currently 34+5. Can relate to much of what you say, OP! Have definitely felt more anxious and emotional during this pregnancy than last time, even though my personal circumstances are a million times better than when I had DS. It's been compounded, I think, by having to WFH during final trimester. I don't have any pregnant friends either (don't actually have huge amounts of friends either tbh, but that's a different thread!) but hoping I might be able to meet a few at some groups once baby is born, now that things seem to be opening up a bit. In terms of feeling physically not great, I haven't had a bad time in comparison to many. Heartburn has been horrendous so am on omeprazole for that - also have to take 150mg aspirin per day, which has perhaps contributed to the heartburn. I don't remember being this uncomfortable in the final trimester last time either - sciatica pain in left side is real and worse after sitting too long and lower back pain when standing for any length of time makes it hard to get comfortable. Nighttimes are not great! I wake for loo at least once or twice and turning over wakes me as it's just so uncomfortable and I feel like a humongous beached whale!! I think I'm having a fairly straightforward pregnancy as far as they go but it's definitely a harder job than when I was younger! Would love to meet some similar age mums in my area but not sure how to do that as no antenatal classes or anything due to Covid. I do know one lady from work of a similar age and situation but we're not particularly friends and, whilst we've exchanged a few messages, I'm not sure about asking to meet up...

@WorkWorkAngelica

I underwent IVF because of male infertility and i am super jealous of people who can conceive naturally and have a bunch of kids.I constantly read about surprise pregnancies at 40,42 etc and i know this will never happen to me and it makes me so sad.I am immature,aren't i?

My first two babies were ICSI due to severe male factor infertility. Told we would never conceive with 99% antisperm antibodies. Surprise baby no 3 due in October I have never been so shocked to my core about anything, I'm 17 weeks and still in denial/disbelief. The chances were millions to one. I totally get you though - we started TTC 10 years ago and I spent many years struggling with infertility and the way it affected us. The jealousy is awful - it changes you as a person.

I'll be 37 when this baby arrives. We started TTC at 26 as I wanted children young and had my first 2 at 31 and 33. Honestly I'm a bit worried about the age thing, not health reasons really more just the realisation that when I turn 50 this LO will only just be turning 13 and still early days at high school. I thought at 50 I'd have my life back!

Wow,that's great!I am sorry you spent so many years struggling with infertility,don't worry about you being 50 when your child is 13.It is such a huge blessing!

Jealousy has really affected me,i've become such a bitter b^&%h.I've tried focusing on the good stuff but there are days when all i think is the unfairness of it all.

Jealousy has really affected me,i've become such a bitter b^&%h.I've tried focusing on the good stuff but there are days when all i think is the unfairness of it all

It's horribly, horribly unfair