Docs class me as a geriatric mother

[helmel1979]

Hi all, thanks for welcoming me to the group.
I am pregnant with my 3rd child, complete surprise but a good surprise. Thought my baby days were over. I have 2 older children aged 14 and 8.

Docs class me as a geriatric mother because I am 42. Should I be worried about this????

Also, I'm confused with how pregnant I am. My last period was 18th March. However my periods are always all over the place because I have polycistic ovaries. I did a pg test beginning of last week which was negative and then a week later I've done them and they're positive. I did a clear blue which said I was 1 to 2 weeks? Can anyone shed any light please.

It's a horrible term! But it's just risk. At 42 your risk will be higher but that's statistical and doesn't mean that you won't sail through and be fine.

If it helps my mum had me aged 28 in the 70s and they said the same to her!

Congratulations.

It's just the term they use as a blanket term for anyone Over a certain age. Albeit not a very nice term.

Hi OP, yes, tricky to date your pregnancy but from the negative to postive tests it sounds like you're around 2 weeks from ovulation. They usually add 2 weeks to that, assuming your period is 2 weeks before ovulation (in your case not!), so my guess is you're about 4 weeks along in standard dating terms??

Not a doctor so take with a pinch of salt 🤣

I'm feeling sick and faint and my boobs are so sore. Is that normal so early on???

I think 35 or over classes as geriatric pregnancy.

Mine were also sore that early, but then it's also a PMS symptom. My earliest weird symptom was gagging whilst brushing my teeth. Still doing that at 27 weeks but never had morning sickness!

Could be that you're also further on than 4 weeks but HCG levels aren't high enough to show 2-3 or 3+ on the clearblue digi. Hate those things anyway.

Yes, my consultant said they hate that term, but I believe it's used from 37 onwards. I'm 40 and currently 5 1/2 months pregnant, I have to take asprin daily due to age. From 28 weeks I'll be having growth scans every four weeks due to age, which I think is to make sure the placenta is working as it should. They also don't want me to go to term and looking at induction from 39 weeks, but this is also due to having strep B and a previous fast labour so it's to ensure they have time to give me antibiotics.

Congratulations

I fell pregnant on my second IVF… the doctor referred to me as an ‘elderly primagravida’😑!

I was 30.

Its just a term for anyone usually over the age of 35 who is pregnant. Nothing to worry about! I remember my midwife writing '40!!!!!!', in my notes in the ATTENTION box of the inside cover, and circling the 40 vigorously for good measure. 😂😂😂😂. My pregnancy, birth and resulting child were all perfectly normal.

Yep 35 or over.

It's a medical term. And it means they will be extra vigilant with you, so take it as a positive.

I was a 32 yo geriatric primagravida it's just a medical term

If you had a negative test last week then you must be about 4-5 weeks? I think clearblue measures from when conception would have been, but the ‘proper’ dating way would add two weeks on, giving the 4 ish weeks.

What did the dr say though?

That made me properly laugh man

its just a blanket term OP. Don't stress about it.

They called my mum that at 25 when she had me first baby but 40 odd years ago. I think it’s a horrible term. When I had my first son at 22 I was ‘very young’ etc ffs I had my own home was a trained nurse with a job, married etc yes young.

my mum and step mum both had babies aged 43 35+ years ago. At one of DSMs appointments the consultant was teaching students and described my mum as a geriatric vagina. I think she let him know in no uncertain terms to never describe a woman as one ever again 😤

My mother was classed as “elderly primagravida” at 33. It’s just medical speak - and if it means you get more attention/the appropriate medical care, then all to the good, surely?

A friend of mine got very upset at medics constantly referring to her age when she was pregnant. But she was 42. She and the baby were absolutely fine, but it would’ve been pretty negligent for them to ignore it and/or treat her as if she’d been 22. There’s no judgement implied.

@Matchingcollarandcuffs do you really mean "geriatric vagina"?

Anyone over 35 is classed as "geriatric" it's such a negative term isn't it? They should change it.

In all likelihood they will want to put you under consultant led care as you are over 40 and will want to induce you by 40 weeks.

If I were you I'd be reading Dr Sara Wickham's articles and books to get the evidence you need so you can make informed decisions.

Yes I do. He was wearing a bow tie

I really hoped you'd typed it wrong. Good for your mum telling him off!

I was 35 when I got pregnant and 36 when I gave birth this year and none of my notes mention the term geriatric! My age wasn't mentioned at all other than a midwife who said 35 was the perfect age to get pregnant 😅I wonder if some NHS trusts use the term and others don't?

I was classed as a geriatric primagravida when I was 38 and having a baby after an 18 year gap.

I found it really funny, I nearly asked them if I'd be a virgin again if I abstained for 18 years.

Our NHS region doesn't use that term. In fact no has mentioned my age (36), there's nothing in my notes, etc. I think the 35+ geriatric thing is quite old-fashioned now and a lot of trusts have stopped using it.

A quick Google suggests they consider 'older maternal age' as above 40.