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.

Because the term used varies.
Elderly/geriatric/ etc
Maybe it's time we looked at why the word "geriatric" has such negative connotations rather than the fact that doctors have used the correct medical word.

It was in bright red pen too😂

They use AMA (advanced maternal age) here in the East of England. Not particularly keen on that either tbh. They're also not very forthcoming with communicating about why extra appointments have been scheduled...

It’s twins.

Nah, I’m joking. I don’t have ultrasound eyes.

Geriatric is a horrid term but it is just a clinical term and in relation to pregnancy is entirely linked to risk.

It’ll be on paperwork but I enquired to my midwife about it (I had my first at 35) and she said they would never use the term directly to a pregnant woman.

It’s just a clinical term. And it’s not as annoying as “and how’s Mummy/Baby today?”, which so many in obstetrics seem to like. I find it twee and am incredibly keen on a definite article, as it turns out.

I was classed as a geriatric mum at 37!

42!

I had that on my notes and I was 29. 42 is old to have a baby. You must know that.

Don’t. Just, don’t.

Toto, we’re not in AIBU anymore.

We call pregnant women over 35 of Advanced maternal age. Even that sounds a bit rubbish

The term geriatric, whilst not exactly comforting, is at least better than 'elderly' which is what I was in my first pregnancy at the age of 31.
When my 65 yrs+, very traditional male consultant said it to me I had to bite my tongue to stop myself replying,
"Well you should fucking know, Grandad."
It was quite a long time ago now, I think they're a bit more sensitive these days.

Don’t. Just, don’t.
🙄

Are you saying 42 isn't old to have a baby? Medically. As that's what we are talking about. The medical notes of the OP.

I was called a geriatric mother when pregnant at 29 (mid-1980s)

I was 36 when I fell pregnant with DD. I was classed as a geriatric mother 🙈

Thay called me this at age 35. I was horrified and insulted 🤣

Think it's dated terminology tbh. I too had a surprise baby last year at 43, eldest is 22. At no point did anyone refer to me in that way and it wasn't stated anywhere in my notes. Asked consultant whether age was anything to worry about and she said no, far more common these days. Had extra scans but they were even happy for me to go over 40 weeks. Requested ELCS at 39 weeks just to be safe though. Don't worry.

I was a Grand Multipla...
At 42 with dc number 11.

I was a geriatric primagravida at 29! Twins in the end

Don’t be obtuse. Your post started with the OP’s age and many exclamation marks. Either it was designed to be rude or you’re ignorant to how that might make someone feel.

What we’re not doing, unlike you, is passing judgement on the age of an already pregnant woman. Read the room/thread.

But what I meant is that at no point was any term used to describe my age, I didn't assign any connotation to the phrasing?

Many exclamation marks?

I was referred to as geriatric with my 2nd at 38 but not with my 1st at 36. I guess that's what 2 years with no sleep does to you...

It's much older than it used to be. 30 years ago my friend was a geriatric mother because she had her second pregnancy at 30.

You surely knew that a pregnancy in your 40s does carry additional risk? They've just identified you as needing additional care.

If you're geriatric, then at 46 I must be archaeological

My mother was referred to as geriatric when she had a baby at 29 (40-odd years ago).

They said this to me and I was 36!