Is 48 too old to get pregnant naturally?

[FatyCat]

Hi all I am 48 years old and have been trying to get pregnant for the last 5 years. I have had 2 miscarriages. I am regular and ovulating. My hubby is 50 years and we have 2 girls 18 and 16. Is it too late for me? My hubby does not want to get checked as he thinks we are too old but deep down I know he would love another child but does not want to go down the ivf route.The GP has checked my bloods and says I have not reached menopause yet but my AML levels are high for my age (got checked privately). He said if my hubby's count is low nothing much can be done.

It’s up to you I think it’s a bit late considering you have 2 children already

It’s not just about getting pregnant at this age but also keeping a pregnancy. With 2 children already, I think I agree with your husband.

Enjoy the children you have. 48 and 50 is tough to be having a newborn. I was just 40 when I had DS3 (new partner from my boys who were 7 and 5 at the time) and I really, really felt the difference. DS3 is 9 now and I'm still exhausted.

I think if you've been trying and failing to get pregnant for the last 5 years, that's a pr

I think if you've been trying and failing to get pregnant for the last 5 years, that's a pretty big clue that it's not going to easy. Sorry.

Also, I know it's hard to think about but you'll be around far less time for this child- I wouldn't fancy being 67/68 when they're 18.

Even though you're not menopausal, I suspect your eggs are too old for many of them to be viable, hence no success in the last 5 years. Sorry OP but I think its highly unlikely you would conceive naturally at this point.

You are statistically very unlikely to sustain a pregnancy in late 40s and those who do via IVF are using donor eggs.

It sounds like that ship has sailed now OP. If you wanted another baby, you'd have been better having one 10 years ago. I wouldn't have a baby at your or your husband's age, it's not fair on the child.

You could potentially look at fostering or adopting an older child, although I appreciate that's a big decision to make and sometimes a lot easier said than done.

I'm sorry but I also agree, the ship has sailed...enjoy the family you have and in another ten years, who knows you could be a grandma! That sounds more appealing than still doing the school run when you're pushing 60!

I think clinging on to the idea that you will be the rare woman who gets pregnant naturally at almost 50 is a cruel hope.

I think it's very unlikely, sorry, OP. There are other opportunities if you feel like you have time and love to give that might be worth exploring if you feel it's something you would like to do.

My friend had her second set of twins at 47. Her DH was 50 and her first set of twins had just turned 17!

I think it's too old and considering the circumstances I would abandon trying and get on with enjoying life. Any reason that you've been trying for 5 years and not before?

It’s not impossible but the chances of a live birth at this age are very low. Even if you get pregnant, it’s unlikely that you’ll carry to term, unfortunately. The fact that in 5 years of trying nothing has happened, shows that the odds are stacked against you and diminishing by the month.

Sorry OP. Hope you can make peace with this and enjoy your existing children.

I think you should both go get checked out and then you will know for sure. That would be better than wondering. Do I know people who fell pregnant at your age? Yes quite few - including my old landlord who has a suprise baby at 49 and my friends' step mum who had a surprise baby at 55. BUT its not that common. I had IVF in my 30s and also met women older who were trying and there are things you can do to improve your situation like have acupuncture to regulate your cycle, get your bloods done to see if you are missing crucial vitamins etc, get a cranial oestopath to check your pelvis is not tilted etc etc (I had IVF). Don't give up because strangers on an internet forum told you to. Get the right advice from a specialist.
And of course another option is you could use a donor egg. Do I recommend running around after a toddler in your 50s? Not for me but everyone is different. My mum in her 70s has more stamina than me and delights in running around after her grandbabies 24/7.
Good luck to you.

Hi @FatyCat

I'm sorry from your losses I've been there and its horrible to have hope given then crushed. From a realistic point of view all indicators say the chances of you catching a good healthy egg are low.

If I was in your position and I would do ivf with donor eggs or make peace with the idea of no more babies. The reason being the odds of chromosomal abnormalities were scary for me at 36 and even more scary at 40. Like others pointed out the risks of miscarriage are very high. I had two miscarriages at 35 before my current pregnancy. I took a lot of supplements in high doses to improve my eggs quality (ubiquinol, proceive max, myo-inositol) I also need low dose aspirin and progesterone support to sustain this pregnancy.
The risk of miscarriage beyond age 45 is 75- 95% based on maternal age alone. The fathers age and other individual factors can increase this risk further.

The risk of miscarriage doesn't drop off until past 20 weeks for women in the 40s whereas it drops off a lot earlier after the first trimester.

It's selfish to try and have a baby at 48.Far too old imo sorry.

Technically it’s possible, but as someone else said it’s being able to keep the baby as miscarriages are higher in older women, then there are the risks of birth defects. There is an added chance of multiple babies at this age, something to do with multiple eggs being released as we get older.

If your fit and healthy and really want to go through it all again then keep trying. I’d love to have more, I’m 46 but physically I couldn’t handle it again my youngest is 4 and I feel like I’m bloody 80 at times with her, but I have a lot of health problems other women my age don’t.

P.s I don’t think your selfish to have a baby at this age, I think people who are saying this and judging women who have babies later in life are the ones who need to look at themselves.

Unfortunately I would agree with others that the outlook is not good for you.
You have to decide if you are willing to keep going through the heartache of negative tests and miscarriage with the slim chance of getting a baby at the end.

I've gone through similar much younger and endured it to get rewarded with newborns. I think I would call it a day if it were to happen in my late 40's though, it would kill me a little bit inside but if the body keeps saying no you have to listen eventually.

Thanks for your comments everyone much appreciated.

Why would you even be considering this and putting yourself and your family through this at 48?? You might be ovulating and AMH be ok but over age 45 something like 99% of your eggs are expected to be chromosomally abnormal? Is there a reason why you decided you wanted another child at this age?

I had a ds at 43 2.. I had a mmc (8 weeks) at 45 and an early mc at a month off 49!!
What a shocker that was!

It’s objectively extremely unlikely and the fact it hasn’t happened in five years is indicative that it won’t happen.

Sorry that is not what you want to hear.

Hi OP, secondary infertility (and failed IVF) here 👋

My gynaecologist told me when I was 39 was that the biggest problem would be the age of my eggs. The body releases the best eggs first, he said, starting around age 13. By a woman’s thirties (or forties) we are dealing with the leftover not-so-good eggs. After 35 the egg quality begins to decline much more rapidly and the womb lining starts being less good too.

I was advised that if you want to get pregnant in your forties, it will probably need to be by egg donation. Most of the celebrities who you read about giving birth in later life will have used donor eggs.

I’m sorry not to have better news OP.