Big age gap?

[mindfulmotherhood]

I've had both my kids in my mid and late 20s (26 dc1 29 dc2) would've loved to have 3 by 30 but unexpected miscarriages before dc2 it hadn't happened.

Now expecting dc3 at 37 (surprise baby) and I'm 38 weeks however the tiredness, shortness of breath and aches and pains I don't remember from last time.

Is this difficult due to age? Or gestation stage? Been fine up until 36 weeks. Would love to know what others experiences are.

I am the same as you. Had DC1 at 25, DC2 at 28, and now currently 36 weeks pregnant with DC3 (surprise baby) at the age of 37!

I have struggled quite a bit with this pregnancy and definitely don't remember it being this hard in my 30's. I'm so tired, everything aches and I'm also really breathless!

@TooMuchCheesecake

I am the same as you. Had DC1 at 25, DC2 at 28, and now currently 36 weeks pregnant with DC3 (surprise baby) at the age of 37!

I have struggled quite a bit with this pregnancy and definitely don't remember it being this hard in my 30's. I'm so tired, everything aches and I'm also really breathless!

Wow almost exact circumstances! What do you have and do you know what you're expecting? The breathless is crazy although baby has dropped shouldn't that ease things?! Are the other 2 looking forward to a new sibling? I think it's a nice age where they understand and can fully appreciate it but worry this one will feel left out because of the gap...

Had my first at 18, pregnant with my second at 39. Not intentional, fertility issues and been ttc that whole time. I got pregnant naturally

I had first at 28 and currently 36 weeks with 3rd. Yes I don’t remember getting breathless like this before, and I also have gestational diabetes for first time which doesn’t help. No aches here but very fidgety legs when I get in bed at night which is strangely uncomfortable! I do spray magnesium on them but doesn’t seem to help

Forgot to say have a 15 year gap with first, I’m 43 now.

I am 35 weeks with my second. My DD is 10. I certainly do not remember half the struggles this time around with my DD!! I put it down to age - but I guess it could just be that every pregnancy is different.

I got pregnant and had my first at 23, I'm currently nearly 37 weeks with my second, got pregnant and will have him while I'm 27.

This pregnancy is so different to my first, my first son was a breeze, no sickness, no out of breath, no aches or pains, this one is the complete opposite, I'm breathless all the time, I'm so tired but can't sleep, pregnancy acne and hair loss, sciatica, muscle aches and leg cramps. I've heard second pregnancy are often harder but the labour/birth tends to be easier. Hopefully anyway 😂

boymummys are you taking pregnancy supplements and managing to eat well? Im only wondering if any of it could be linked to deficiencies as leg cramps can be for example lack of vitamin D or magnesium for example , but I do think hormones can unsettle things too . I empathise on the lack of sleep as I wake so many times In the night! (To drink water several times due to my diabetes!)

@GestationalDiabetes yes I've been taking my vitamin d every day, it's not even the waking up it's the going to sleep for me,
With my first I couldn't get enough sleep,
But this pregnancy I have insomnia, I got to bed around 10, I'm still awake come 1-2, I seem to wake up again every morning about 4 and stay awake till five, then I'm up at 6 to sort little one out for school. I bet you get no sleep with waking to drink and go the toilet, I really feel for you

my daughter and what I thought would be my only child is 11, I am 14 weeks along with my unplanned but very much wanted and loved second baby. My daughter will be 12 when the baby arrives but I am not thinking of it as a negative, she is at a perfect age to really bond with her younger sibling and will remember every aspect of both my pregnancy and her brother or sister growing up.

My mum and her sister have a 13 year gap and they are really close.

In terms of the pregnancy itself, first tri this time was harder than with my daughter. Time will tell what the rest of the pregnancy will entail!!

I had my first at 18. Second at 27, third at 30. Then a surprise one who is 4 weeks old now while I am 36! The pregnancy and recovery was by Far the easiest when I was 18. This last pregnancy was the worst and the birth and recovery. I think it’s just being older everything is harder on your body and you take longer to recover from things.

Age and third baby I think! I was pregnant at 20, 30 and 33 and the last was much rougher than the other two.

I'm 32 weeks with #2 there's over 14 years age gap between mine. I'll just say that when I'd previously heard women say they felt a massive difference between baby 1 &2 and there were a few years difference, I always thought hoe different can it be? Your body is doing the same thing as before...

Karma has caught up with me it seems.

From the first pregnancy being 16/17 and this second being 30/31 my god, I can't tell you hoe many times I've gone, I'm ill! This isn't right. This can't just be pregnancy!

I've been tired, awfully hormonal. If I'm not shouting I'm crying. My body hurts so much! I've been walking like I've not made it to the toilet since about 4 months!
I've needed naps, lots of naps the whole way through!
It's apparently just wear and tear on our bodies which is more noticeable cos we're a bit older than the first time

@NinaJames

I am 35 weeks with my second. My DD is 10. I certainly do not remember half the struggles this time around with my DD!! I put it down to age - but I guess it could just be that every pregnancy is different.

Every pregnancy is different they say but not sure seems like age plays a factor from other women's experiences too. And I thought mid-late 30s was still young 🥺

I'm 15w with my second. My first is 21 in November

I just stumbled here by accident but thought I’d post a wee message. I had my first at 31, second at 33 and third at 42. Ds3 was actually my easiest pregnancy but with the first two I was working in a short staffed, acute hospital ward and had to work as long as I could because mat. leave was much shorter then and I went to 42 weeks with both of them. Ds3 was an elective c/s at 38 + 6 and I was working in a clinic where staff actually cared for each other so it was very different.

The best thing is that, having done it all before and realising what’s important and what’s not, ds3 has had a very chilled upbringing. I’m less likely to bow to pressure from other parents, teachers and professionals and knowing how short a time each stage lasts made it easier to sit back and enjoy it.

Enjoy your lovely babies x

I had a 23 year age gap between my dd's
I'd forgotten how to change a nappy or make a bottle 😂
Dd2 was definitely a surprise arrival.

First two in early twenties third one at 37 when other dc were teens. (Imagine the hormones!!) way harder in thirties I'm permanently exhausted and now at 43 I'm peri menopausal 😩😩

@Threeboysandadog

*The best thing is that, having done it all before and realising what’s important and what’s not, ds3 has had a very chilled upbringing. I’m less likely to bow to pressure from other parents, teachers and professionals and knowing how short a time each stage lasts made it easier to sit back and enjoy it.

Enjoy your lovely babies x*

Thank you for this lovely reassurance. I definitely second about pressures that I felt with ds1. I was thinking the same with this one, hoping it'll be much easier and chilled. The first child was like messy experimenting mixed with so many advice and opinions of others but hopefully now I'll know what to filter out.

I had my three at 30, 35 and 40. Yes I probably had a bit less energy at 40 BUT I had lots of help from the older kids. I love big gaps personally, nobody feels like they have to compete and as adults they get on really well. As a bonus my third was born in 45 minutes from first pain to birth as opposed to the 17 1/2 hour labor with my first! Enjoy your baby x