I’m really hoping someone will rule out the likely hood that I’m pregnant...

[Myheadispickled]

Hi all, please be kind.

I’m a 41 year old mum to 3 wonderful DD’s who are all either in secondary or the about to be.

I have a wonderful husband and we have a good and full life and know for a fact he does not want any more children.

I have the copper coil and it’s been a great form of contraception for us and has never let me down!!

I am however 4/5 days late have managed to get thrush (my first sign of pregnancy with my last baby) and what I thought was my period coming on Friday turned out to just be a bit of blood specked discharge (sorry tmi) and there has been nothing since.

I wondered, seeing as it’s been such a long time since I have had to think about the “could I be” and “what if’s” if anyone could look at my dates and reassure me that the chances of pregnancy are slim.

Last period started on 21st/22nd of Dec, had sex on the 31st (I know this for sure as we had visitors the whole of Christmas and new year and this was the only afternoon we had to ourselves when DGP’s took DC out for the day!) period is normally every 30/31 days.

I do not even want to think about what conversations we are going to have in the coming weeks of it turns out I am pregnant and could definitely use some support.

Unlikely. But not impossible. Get a test and put your mind at rest.

Do a test?

It's really impossible to give advice. Go and get yourself a test this morning and you'll know either way... We can be on standby with the advice and experience if it's not the result you want... X

Why don't you just take a test? No one can tell you on here if you are or you aren't.

I have the copper coil and have been late a few times.

I actually have no means of getting a test until Friday at the earliest, I agree though this is the best way forward and will update when I know.

Till then I wouldn't stress you could just be very late happened to me couple of month back and I was convinced I was pregnant but just turned out to be nothing and I come on 3 weeks late, and if you are then one more addition to a wonderful family wouldn't be such a bad thing I'm sure you'd get used to the idea sooner ;)

If you order online, some places will deliver tomorrow (like Amazon).

Oh gosh OP I can see why you're worried but it could just be a glitch in your cycles. Can you not order a test from Amazon and get it delivered? Friday seems a long way away if you're worried.

To be honest, I know it's not what you want to hear but I don't think it would be that impossible.

With an average cycle of 30 days, let's say you normally ovulate at 15 days (obviously varies but just for hypothetical purposes) then potentially ovulated on the 5th. Sperm can last in the body for (I think) 5 days, so definitely would be possible. Especially if you did ovulate a day or two earlier.
I do also know a few people that have gotten pregnant on the coil (not sure if copper or Mirena).

However, it is also normal to be late on the coil so I wouldn't worry just yet but I would try get a test as soon as you can

Can't get a test until Friday? What? How?

@Myheadispickled

I actually have no means of getting a test until Friday at the earliest, I agree though this is the best way forward and will update when I know.

Are you somewhere you can get one diverted from eBay or Amazon? The cheap strips from eBay fit in a normal envelope and can be with you next day usually.

I don’t think it would be the end of the world for me, on the contrary but my poor DH has been absolutely adamant since our last DD was born that he was done, he’s the main bread winner and works so hard to give us all such a lovely life...

This is why I think it will be such a confusing and conflicting few weeks of it turns out I am.

I don’t have the car, DH is a way with work until late on Thursday night and we have a shared Amazon account with the teenagers.

I think Friday is quite a good time, a few days to see if my cycle catches up and panic over or more likelihood to what answer I’m going to be getting.

I think its quite important that you do a test as copper coils give you a higher than average chance of ectopic pregnancy, better to know. In the meantime please look out for the signs:

a missed period and other signs of pregnancy

tummy pain low down on 1 side

vaginal bleeding or a brown watery discharge

pain in the tip of your shoulder

discomfort when peeing or pooing

More info here www.nhs.uk/conditions/ectopic-pregnancy/

@Magenta82 thank you, I’ll keep alert for any of these symptoms but I don’t have anything like that so far.

I do have a heavy/period feeling, no cramps more just that horrible tightness that comes at the time of the month which make me think I might just be late.

Don't you have any shops you can walk to? Or order online with boots or lloyds. Or you can delete amazon purchases after you order them. I wouldn't be waiting until Friday personally as like a PP says with a copper coil it's important to know as early as possible.

We are fairly rural and nearest shop and back is a good couple of hours busses etc and also have youngest to pick up from school in the other direction so not really.

I’ve looked at ebay (WOW pregnancy tests are so much cheaper than I remember) but most are 3 day delivery which is Thursday anyway and know Im in town on my own on Friday so can wait the extra day.

I feel fine, and do have a very local Dr surgery so feel quite confident in the respect.

You can hide orders on Amazon, so your teenagers wouldn't know. Our last baby arrived when I was 41. I stood in the shower one morning, looked down at my boobs and thought "they haven't looked like that since I was pregnant with our DS".... and went to do a test. She's 3 now, nearly 9 year age gap. I'd had a mised period a few months before, which I just put down to pre-menopause.

If you'd rather it was negative, then I hope it is. The age gap can be brilliant, but can also be a git at times.

I’d be getting a test before Friday as you need to know ASAP if you have a coil. Do you not have a local shop or pharmacy?

How do you take your children to school? Will you just be at home every day until Friday?!

@Yumperwumpee if the tread title was scrutinise my day/routine you’d have a point but as it’s not can you give it a rest.

It’s quite simple, shops where I could buy a pregnancy test are far away and not possible until until Friday.

My GP and DC’s school are not and both walkable!!

@PineappleWilson Ahh I’m glad it worked out! I will have 16 years between youngest and oldest if this turns out of be a pregnancy...

Did you find it harder work being a mum in your 40’s?

@Myheadispickled have you had your booster jab recently? That’s definitely been linked to delaying periods.

Ooo not my booster but my 2nd dose of vaccine...

Could that be it?

@Myheadispickled it may well be! The coil is pretty effective so although pregnancy is not impossible, I’d say it’s rather unlikely. Though absolutely be alert to any signs of ectopic pregnancy.

I wouldn’t rule out the vaccine delaying your period though tbh.

All 3 of my vaccines (2 AZ last spring & 1 Pfizer last Nov) knocked my usually very regular cycle way out. It was very marked - think every 28 days for decades then 45+ days for each cycle following a jab.

I'm a lesbian but if that hadn't been the case as a 46 year old with a family considered complete a decade ago I would have been very concerned 😬

Good luck OP, I hope things work out ok for you 🤞🏻

My money is on the vaccine messing with your cycle