Getting pregnant above 40

[Momddun]

Hi all,
Looking for motivation ... has anyone got pregnant Naturally in 40-44 and given birth naturally ... not feeling good today as GP today said I can understand your age 😞... these words just sometime go straight in ... I am healthy and ovulating fine

@NotTheGrinchAgain

I had a baby at 33, then didn't try to conceive again until I was 42, when I fell pregnant naturally quickly (within 3 months of trying). I really can't explain it but I somehow knew my body was ready to be pregnant, both times. I have a coil now, and tell DH that I would have been one of those women having a baby every year in the olden days, I just feel i know when I'm fertile. Is that even possible? Or maybe it's the confidence and feeling relaxed about it, that helps.

I made a decision NOT to obsess about a second baby due to my age but as soon as DH agreed, I was desperate for a baby. It is so hard not to want it.

My pregnancy felt like harder work than my first I guess due to age, but uneventful. I was consultant-led due to my age, but the consultant agreed I was as low-risk as a geriatric mum-to-be could be, so she saw me once (to recommend an induction at 39 weeks, just on principle) but then forgot about me. Forgot to book my induction, which suited me fine! At 38 weeks I phoned up to check what I should do, and they promised to book the induction... but things got busy...so in the end I was induced at about 40 weeks. That went really well, compared to my first baby (also induced) - I did hypnobirthing and got through on 2 paracetamol and some gas and air.

I know that's pretty unusual as birth stories in your 40s go. But I share the story because it IS possible. I'm 45 now and actually quite frightened I could be pregnant if I wasnt careful. I check that Mirena coil is still there, quite often.

I made sure that in the run up to getting pregnant I was very, very healthy - swimming at least twice a week, brisk walking frequently, doing heavy gardening a lot to build strength and flexibility; also eating very healthily (cut out processed foods and caffeinated drinks, drank loads of water, increased whole foods, dairy, protein, etc). And took a prenatal vitamin supplement. I'm not sure these steps helped me get pregnant, but I know they made pregnancy and childbirth easier.

I do remember my first trimester being overshadowed by a gripping fear of the baby having a developmental problem, but scans were fine and I relaxed in trimester 2 and 3.

Now - I've got a toddler and a FT job again age 45, which is really hard work! But I absolutely love it. If I didnt have my second baby, life would have been very different, but I like to think I'd have dealt with the grief and made the best of what I have like I have had to deal with other sad things in my life.

Good luck Op.

loved your story

41 and had my 4th baby last week. I have a 9,12 and 13 year old already so a bit of a gap.

Both Grandmothers had babies in their 40s,one was 44 and the other 47.

@GrimDamnFanjo

It's possible but I'd be seeking fertility advice from doctors, having bloods done etc right now if you want to conceive. Everyone has anecdotal info to share but it's your fertility here that is the only thing that counts. Don't leave this to chance unless you are genuinely not bothered if you don't have a baby.

Sorry to be alarmist but I have been down the road personally...

agreed and have booked initial consultation but seeing our previous exp fertility treatment bring sadness to the heart... i hope it will work out and I do wish it happens naturally like stories above and when i think of it my body fills with joy ... thx all for all the motovation

@MiracleBaby2022

Hi 👋🏼 its absolutely possible.

I was considered infertile - cause unexplained - never even had a period until I was 36. Then only 2-3 times a year. Had put all thoughts of babies and family life far behind me. Then suddenly at 43 years old I find myself pregnant. I'm 44 now and 31+1 weeks today. I never in a million years would have thought it possible, but it happened.

If I can get pregnant with my fertility issues, I certainly think you have a good chance!

loved this one also ... so happy for you

Hello! Yes I conceived the first month of trying at 39 (baby born at 40).

When baby #1 was 9months we decided to try for #2, thought it would take a while given I was still breast feeding and I was 40, but no, conceived first month of trying and baby #2 born when I was 41 (17months between them).

When baby #2 was 10months old, I accidentally became pregnant again (despite still breastfeeding, being 42 and only having sex once during what must have been my fertile period…). Baby #3 was born 6 weeks ago today. All pregnancies were straightforward and births natural.

So yes, with three under 3 at 43, I hope that I can provide you with some optimism that getting pregnant above 40 is possible!

Only 6 weeks but it was a complete shock and not planned. I'm 40.

I've also been looking at census returns this week and so many people with babies in their mid 40s. In the past I guess with no contraception, people just kept having babies well into their 40s, I bet no one batted an eyelid about it or thought it unusual. Really wishing you all the very best of luck!

@MomwithVibes thank you 🥰

@Thered

Only 6 weeks but it was a complete shock and not planned. I'm 40.

I've also been looking at census returns this week and so many people with babies in their mid 40s. In the past I guess with no contraception, people just kept having babies well into their 40s, I bet no one batted an eyelid about it or thought it unusual. Really wishing you all the very best of luck!

Thank you ... I so do wish I get surprise soon I am pregnant and I deliver a healthy baby

I had my first baby 6 months ago at 41. It took 6 months to conceive (after an early miscarriage with my first pregnancy - which took 6 months to conceive) My pregnancy was uneventful and I know quite a few people around my age who have recently had babies :-)

Hi @Momddun,

I feel for your situation. I have a suggestion that might help you, from what I’ve heard from friends, traditional Chinese medicine can help you conceive over the age of 40.

A friend of mine who also suffered from the same problem said this is what helped her in conceiving successfully over 40. I think she took some acupuncture sessions and was prescribed some herbal medicine. Still, if you need some more information, I’ve researched an interesting article, please have a look: tcmblog.co.uk/how-chinese-medicine-can-help-you-conceive-over-the-age-of-40/

Well I'm 40, 41 end of October. I was late on my period after covid messed them up again. May I only went 17 days for next one. So yesterday after going 33 days ( went 32 days in march ) I brought a test to rule it out. I've had a positive. I'm somewhere between 4-5 weeks. I've 3 boys, youngest 8 next month. I'm still in shock. Didn't want anymore kids. Happens for a reason. Xx

Some one just scared me saying that chances of Down syndrome in babies are more for women over 40.Is everything related to age only … feeling bit low today… also wanted to check I generally have 28 day period cycle on time always . It has been 29 days over . For past 2-3 months (I did not Joe dispenza healing session ) my cycle was 25 days . Now today is 30th day but pregnancy kit showed negetive … feeling low on all sides

Hi I am 43 and got pregnant naturally. I am 28th weeks now so it's definitely possible :) don't lose hope!

Hello,

Am 46 and 28 weeks pregnant naturally. Also had a baby last year who is now one, naturally as well. This is my 5th. So it's definitely possible

Yep. Pregnant in 30s but then again at 42 and 46! No problems at all. Good luck.

I got pregnant at 37 on the 2nd month of trying.

I’m 42 now, got pregnant after 10 months trying.

Both times we both took prenatal vitamins from pregnacare. After 9 months of trying now I also remembered we used a conception gel as well, bought it and next month, pregnant! I don’t know if it was that or just coincidence. It’s called Conceive Plus Fertility Lubricant.

I’ve also heard of other women getting pregnant naturally after 40, one even at 45.

good luck!

I conceived my second child naturally ,month one, at the age of 41 and had by elective c section at 41& 10 months.

First conceived month 2, emergency c section, hence elective section the second time. I was 39 & 5 months when he was born.
(small pelvis/big baby)

Thank you for so much motivation …

Yes here are higher chances of getting DS but nowadays here is a very good risk assessment, better than the combined test, called NIPT (non invasive prenatal test) that tests for genetic abnormalities.

It’s offered through nhs if you get high chances at the combined test at 11-14 weeks. Or you can do it private as well, private they test for more things than the 3 major ones, DS, edwards, patau, plus they tell you the sex.

It’s just a blood test, from 10-11 weeks onwards enough blood from the baby circulates in mothers blood, through the placental exchange. So that means they get 2 sets of dna from your blood and can test for these genetic abnormalities.

I’m 40 and currently around 8/9 weeks pregnant after 1 mc and not actively trying so big shock!! Both times - DD is 20 and DS is 17 😱😱
I’ll be 41 in December! I’m obsessively testing still but all good very strong positives before the test lines even come up! 🤦🏼‍♀️🤣 so it for sure can happen in our glorious glamorous 40s!! 💞💞