Pregnant at 40+ years old

[Moni81]

I thought it will useful to start new thread for women who are currently pregnant and in their 40s. Especially those with established families and older children.
I sometimes feel lost in hyper drama conversations of young mums to be lol feel like dinosaur.

A bit about myself, I'm 42 years old, have 10 and 13 year old daughters and currently around 7 weeks pregnant with surprise baby.

Congratulations on your pregnancy. What do you mean by "hyper drama of young mums"?

Congratulations. I envy you. I'm much older than you but I had DS at 45 and it was a joy. 😊

AlienSuperStar thank you, I meant we are at different stages of our life. Especially being pregnant before and having growing teenagers at home makes this journey so different now. Also as older mums to be care and and pregnancy related issues may be different do I would like to share those.

@MintJulia thank you and wow congratulations to you too, thats even more impressive, as I thought in my age is like miracle already lol. How was your pregnancy?

Probably the many posts of “I’m 7 weeks pregnant and ate some Philadelphia and then I read that I can’t have soft cheese. Will my baby be okay, I’m so worried, should I call my midwife?”

I’m not in the same boat as you OP, so just bumping in the hope that your boat-mates find you.

Hi @Moni81 congratulations on you pregnancy! Xx
I'm 41 yrs old and had a baby in October 👶😊❤

@Moni81 First off congratulations!
I'm not quite in the age bracket (almost 38) or pregnant yet (had ectopic in October and am now back in the ttc club) but just wanted to ask how your older kids feel? (If you've told them yet). My DD is 13 and if anyone even mentions the possibility of another sibling (she has a primary school aged sibling at dads) she gets very irritated and defensive 🙄 I'm sure if it happens she will be fine in the end but ita kind of gnawing away at a small part of my brain.

Easy. Honestly, I'm not trying to be annoying, I didn't feel sick at all, no issues, rather slow labour but got there in the end. Then bf for a year. DS was a cheerful inquisitive baby.

The fun started on return to work, when they 'made me redundant' first morning back. But I suppose you can't have everything 😀

Good luck. You've done it before so at least you know what you are about. I hadn't a clue.

I'm 40 and a 18 weeks pregnant with my second!

I have another child who is 3 so not older but is at quite an easy stage and in full time preschool. So it kind of feels like starting from the beginning.

@JD90 my girls acted shy when I told them, 13 year old cheeky one asked how it is even possible in my age 🤣then they started to search for names lol at some point my older one asked if my tummy will grow big, I think it's still unreal for them until shows. I'm sure your daughter is also just a bit shy and if you get pregnant she will be excited.
@MintJulia sorry to hear about your work, it's really mean thing to do. Good to hear you had straightforward pregnancy, have they offered you induction and did you have obstetrician appointments through pregnancy?
@Summer2424 congratulations on your baby 🥳
@AlienSupaStar oh I forgot that, just avoid shellfish and soft cheese like brie, blue cheese etc....actually crave Philadelphia type of cheeses and cottage cheese right now. I think we are ok with those.

I'm 40, very nearly 41. I've two DDs aged 2 and 11 months, and had an IVF transfer two days ago.

Hi, I had my 2nd DD at 41. I felt so much more relaxed through the pregnancy and afterwards, as I saw her as an unexpected but complete blessing. It's harder as you inevitably have less energy, but easier as you're more self confident and experienced as a mum. Good luck and enjoy every minute.

@IVFbeenverylucky how exciting, fingers crossed for you that everything goes well. You must be very busy and brave, 2 toddlers is hard work as I remember, hope you get lots of family support. When I had mine I had noone to support me and working arond my partners hours, it was though.

'Have they offered you induction and did you have obstetrician appointments through pregnancy?'

They did offer to induce me, but I chose not to. 9am on my due date, everything was finally ready and I'd just sat down. The community midwife phoned and said 'come in for a sweep, we need to get you moving'. I didn't want to, I wasn't overdue, I didn't have any problems, blood pressure was fine (and she was bossy & rude). She tried to insist, I got annoyed and said no. Went into labour 40+4, DS born 7.45 am 40+6.

My GP was great though, kept an eye on me. I had an amnio because of my age but all fine. No hospital obstetrics appts, just scan at 20 weeks, weekly blood pressure checks after 28 weeks. Occasional blood test. It was all vey low key at rural surgery with practice nurse.

I've just turned 40, have a 14, 11 and 8 year old and baby is 9 months. I am just loving this little baby so much and I'm cherishing every moment that I definitely didn't do when the older ones were babies. Also it's great as once baby goes down for the night me and hubby can sneak off for a walk by ourselves and leave the 14 year old with the baby monitor! It's fab..

@MintJulia from what I read with older women placenta tends to age faster and there is higher risk of stillbirth if overdue, maybe that's why they are so pushy about it. I had sweep with my first pregnancy, yes it was longer as build up contractions were progressing very slowly, about 15 hours in pain until they finally were so close apart they let me to come to hospital.
So far I only have my booking appointment date and it's not in my GP but by hospital I picked. I guess I find out then how my care looks like as I understand it varies depend on location.
@baxtersm that's great support network you have, I hope my 13 year old daughter will get involved. So far I'm only starting on house chores training with my girls, I hope this pregnancy will teach them some responsibilities.

Hi all, I’ve found out today that I’m pregnant - period not due until Sunday so very early. Have had a runny nose all week but no cold, now I’ve done a test it makes perfect sense - had the same with my 16 year old. I’m 44 so wrongly assumed the possibility was very minimal!

@44andpregnant exactly same here, I took guards off, but I guess all is needed one good egg and here we are 🙈 I was even more naive, had very bad flu right before Christmas, then when my period was late I put it down to sickness, also my sudden coffee aversion I though because I'm still relatively unwell. Then 5 days late and feeling funny I thought it's not like me with regular 28 days cycles, tested and it came strong positive right away.

“I faced towards a radiator earlier that was switched on and I’m so worried the baby got too hot and is going to get spina bifuda.”

“I ate a chicken leg that had only been in the oven for an hour, it was off-white. I’m going to get sick and kill my baby aren’t it? 😫”

I mean, there’s touching levels of FTM anxiety and then there’s a complete lack of brain engagement.

I'm nearly 19 weeks and I'll be 42 in a few weeks. I've been OK really. Nervous for my 5 month scan soon. Solidarity with everyone else!

Ooh I've been looking for a post like this!

Im 41, nearly 42, with two sons -10 and nearly 7 and almost 13wks pregnant with my 3rd.

Feel a little put the loops too and anxious about the logistics and dynamics of a 3rd baby at my age... Feels like everyone else my age is moving in to the next stage of their lives!

Would love to stay in touch x

I had my second at 42 when my eldest was 13. She was not overjoyed by this at all! 11 years on, they have a lovely close relationship and having a baby later in life has been a challenge and a joy. I wouldn't change it.

Good luck

I’m 40 and 31 weeks pregnant, would love to squeeze another one in after this one but we will see

I'm glad to see so many of you in similar situation, it makes me more confident. On the other hand looking around my estate, there are lots of young couples, pregnant women, babies and toddlers. In way it's good thing, there will be kids to play with. On the other hand I'm worried how I will fit in all of that. I'm completely out of touch with young generation, playgroups etc, that sounds a bit surreal at my age.

Hi all! So period was due tomorrow! I’m really shocked how dark the lines I’m getting are considering I’ve not missed my period yet! In previously pregnancies, my tests have always been light until week 5. The down line on the photo is the pregnancy line! Hope
everyone is doing ok? X