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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Positive stories of pregnancy at 40 and above

37 replies

40andprettybored · 20/01/2023 00:54

Hi everyone.

I googled getting pregnant at 40 last night and it seemed to suggest that there's a 5% chance of getting pregnant at that age. I didn't like those odds.

I was wondering if you could give me some positive stories about getting pregnant at 40 and above.

OP posts:
Moonriver79 · 20/01/2023 01:11

Watching with interest

ILoveMyCaravan · 20/01/2023 01:20

First pregnancy at 37, second one at 40 and which happened quickly after deciding to try for another. Despite underlying health conditions incl endometriosis, huge fibroid, chronic bladder/kidney/bowel problems, and reoccurring SPD. Really not the easiest of pregnancies and a planned section due to huge problems the first time.

Cmini · 20/01/2023 01:37

Unplanned pregnancy at 41, gave birth at 42. Textbook pregnancy. A lovely surprise.

ohblahdeeohblahdahlifegoeson · 20/01/2023 01:41

Hi!
41 here, 42 in May.
I have a 9 month old girl and actually find it surprisingly easy to fall pregnant...it's the staying pregnant that's the hard bit!

I had a chemical pregnancy last month and have just had another positive text this morning at 8DPO.
This one feels like it might be successful as it's already darker than my previous month at 13DPO 🤞🏻

Do you track ovulation?
Once I understood how that all worked it was a big help in terms of timing when to try and conceive.
I also take a range of vitamins and supplements but who knows if they help or not!

Positive stories of pregnancy at 40 and above
Hoping23 · 20/01/2023 02:58

I’m obviously still very aware that I could miscarry but I just had my 8 week scan and the baby seems good, strong heart rate and good size, in the right place etc.

I conceived just after my 41st birthday. It is my first pregnancy. I was off the pill 2.5 months before becoming pregnant. The first month off the pill my husband and I actively avoided pregnancy as we were due to travel the next month. The next month when we were travelling we didn’t try to get pregnant but we also didn’t try not to. Looking back we missed the likely ovulation period. When we got back we paid more attention to the cycle and made time for regular sex. We got pregnant right away. So far so good.

I was also really disheartened by the statistics and expected to be trying for months and ultimately look at IVF.

Ragwort · 20/01/2023 04:12

I had my first (& only DC) at 42 wasn't actively 'trying', my DH was much keener than I, didn't track my fertility or anything like that ... no problems with the pregnancy.

giggly · 20/01/2023 04:27

First at 38 and second at 42, both easy pregnancies and deliveries.

DifficultBloodyWoman · 20/01/2023 04:30

Multiple miscarriages. Gave up. Got pets instead. Then had a wonderful surprise at 43. 😁

We got lucky.

2021mumma · 20/01/2023 04:47

First at 37 and second at 40.

It took a year to get pregnant first and 6 weeks to get pregnant the second time. (I have endo and had a laproscopy before trying with the second, I put this down to falling pregnant very fast)

I used clear blue ovulation sticks, vitamins, and also fertility lubricant. I found out first time the apps monitoring my cycles were completely not right when I compared this to the ovulation sticks.

Good luck

takealettermsjones · 20/01/2023 05:38

A good friend of mine got pregnant naturally at 46, having tried multiple fertility treatments and long since given up. She gave birth to her daughter about three hours ago ☺️

pelargoniums · 20/01/2023 06:05

41 and 5 months here, with a newborn on my chest keeping me awake right now! Second baby; had my first age 38.

Moonriver79 · 20/01/2023 06:19

takealettermsjones · 20/01/2023 05:38

A good friend of mine got pregnant naturally at 46, having tried multiple fertility treatments and long since given up. She gave birth to her daughter about three hours ago ☺️

Absolutely love this!

Moonriver79 · 20/01/2023 06:20

ohblahdeeohblahdahlifegoeson · 20/01/2023 01:41

Hi!
41 here, 42 in May.
I have a 9 month old girl and actually find it surprisingly easy to fall pregnant...it's the staying pregnant that's the hard bit!

I had a chemical pregnancy last month and have just had another positive text this morning at 8DPO.
This one feels like it might be successful as it's already darker than my previous month at 13DPO 🤞🏻

Do you track ovulation?
Once I understood how that all worked it was a big help in terms of timing when to try and conceive.
I also take a range of vitamins and supplements but who knows if they help or not!

Congratulations on your positive test!

Surfsenior · 20/01/2023 06:31

First baby age 34. Did a “get fit for turning 40” thing and walked/swam a lot, then fell back and put a bit of the weight on again aged 41 although still fit and eating healthily. Then decided to try for dc2. Took vitamins and Stopped contraception. Was pregnant without any special effort within 2 cycles. Bit shocked as had assumed wouldn’t actually happen at all, based on Googling statistics. Straightforward pregnancy although was terrified of the risks, and a good labour, easier than at age 34. Baby a little bit small but absolutely perfect.

Toddler years and sicknesses do feel much harder in your 40s.

Statistics don’t tell you everything. Look for family history of geriatric pregnancies and late menopause. I swear in my family it is genetic - my mum had me as a surprise at 40, and her fertility and health was best in her later years.

SchoolTripDrama · 20/01/2023 06:41

My mum had me at 40 and I'll never forgive her for it. Everyone thought my parents were my grandparents and they were already tired - too tired to play properly like all the other parents. We were so different. Couldn't relate to them at all.

bumpyknuckles · 20/01/2023 07:01

Had my first at 37 and my second when I just turned 41. It did take longer to get pregnant the second time, but the pregnancy and birth were very similar (and while I had problems, they were not due to age!)

I'm happy to report that I am no more tired than any parent of a 9 month old who hates sleep. And I have plenty of energy for my 4 year old. Loads of the mums at my 4 year old's nursery are a similar age to me too. No one has ever thought I'm my children's grandma!

Ignore people like the pp who say 40 is too old. It's nonsense. I can't say my parents played with me much and my mum was 28 when she had me! We also didn't / don't have much in common probably because my life consists of nappies and Mr Tumble and they're permanently on holiday since they retired.

takealettermsjones · 20/01/2023 09:50

SchoolTripDrama · 20/01/2023 06:41

My mum had me at 40 and I'll never forgive her for it. Everyone thought my parents were my grandparents and they were already tired - too tired to play properly like all the other parents. We were so different. Couldn't relate to them at all.

That's sad. It may just be a personality thing though.

My MIL had my SIL at 40 and was and is very active. She's now in her sixties and runs, climbs and goes down slides with her grandchildren. She was at a trampoline park with them over the Christmas break.

I hope you can connect with your mum. She might have been desperate to have you for a long time.

Mummytobe43 · 20/01/2023 10:23

I’ve just joined this forum today having just found out only this morning that I m expecting at age 43! It will be my 3rd child and first with my partner. So, to OP, it can happen!

joanneligthelm · 20/01/2023 10:53

Had my boy at 43 was 42 when i got pregnant with him, it wasnt easy i had 4 early losses before him range from a chemical preganancy to, early loss shortly after seeing a heartbeet. The chance of pregnacy lowers and risk of miscarage increases. On my 5 pregnacy they.put me straight on progestrone and asprin ..... i now have a wonderfull little boy worth all the strugges and Emotional rollercoaster.

kirinm · 20/01/2023 10:57

I had my daughter at 40 and nobody has ever suggested I'm her grandparent. I live in south east London and I think there are quite a few 'older' parents around.

pelargoniums · 20/01/2023 10:58

SchoolTripDrama · 20/01/2023 06:41

My mum had me at 40 and I'll never forgive her for it. Everyone thought my parents were my grandparents and they were already tired - too tired to play properly like all the other parents. We were so different. Couldn't relate to them at all.

This is terribly sad but I think may be specific to your family, or circumstances, not to age. Most of my friends became parents in their late 30s/early 40s and I don’t recognise this idea of 40-somethings as tired or mistaken for grandparents.

NB. 44yo DP is currently on all fours being a donkey while our 3yo leads him round the house shouting “faster, pony!”

Original poster
40andprettybored · 20/01/2023 23:33

Thank you for all your replies. It certainly has made me feel better. I'm probably healthier at 40 than I ever have been. Non smoker. Non drinker. Lost a couple of stone. Eat very healthily, I do have an app for tracking which I'll keep an eye on. Let's see!!!

When I was young I thought 40 was proper old. But now I'm 40 it doesn't seem like being old. And if I live till 80 I'm still only half way done! Grin

OP posts:
HildasLostSock · 02/02/2023 20:14

I had DC1 at 39, had a fertility check up a few years after trying for DC2 (to manage my expectations more than anything). I was given a 2% chance of conceiving (just conceiving mind, not carrying to term) as we had some fertility issues. DC2 decided to join us after when I was 45. (Couldn't afford IVF, got lucky naturally). Pregnancy was fine, baby is healthy and happy. I do wonder where the stats come from as who is tracking/asking women in their 40s whether they are trying to get pregnant and recording the outcome/how did they get this figure? I thought that it wouldn't happen for me, glad to have been proved wrong. Good luck OP, hope you fall into the 5% x

AnnieApple123 · 02/02/2023 21:48

Surely you mean a chance 5% per cycle not 5% chance overall from age 40 onwards?

Room4onemore · 02/02/2023 22:05

I’m 40 and I’m 34 weeks pregnant, we only Dtd once in the month I fell pregnant as hubby wasn’t well. Baby is fine, growing nicely, the only thing I notice more this time is that I have way more heartburn lol.