Pregnancy in your 40's

[msdynamo]

I have just discovered I'm 5 weeks pregnant at 44. I would love any advice from women who have been in a similar situation.

I'll try not to worry, Takenoprisoners, although my mother taught me how to worry, and it's ingrained in me that if you worry enough everything will somehow be fine! Not worrying is even more worrying!

Congratulations to jules43!

I wish you all the very best with your pregnancies - I'm on no. 4 now at 38 so feeling like I've spent the whole of my 30's pregnant! Last year I had some health problems and saw a gynae privately, and when I said I'd love another baby but what about age, he was so positive and nice about it and told me I had no need to rush! He said he now very regularly sees women of 42-45 in his clinic and its not a big deal. I've had extra tests this time (a CVS) but that was my choice, certainly not something anyone pushed me into.

Both my grans had several children well into their 40's; I'm sure its only nowadays that we have become so freakishly obsessed with age. I really believe that women look after themselves so much better nowadays compared to a few years ago, with regard to diet etc. - I feel physically better now than I did when I had my first, and emotionally in a more settled place too. I wouldn't hesitate to have another after this but realistically 4 is enough ...

Wishing you all happy, positive and healthy pregnancies.

Try to worry that you're being calm enough, then !

I am 43 (but not for much longer!) and expecting my second child. I have a 5 year old DD.

Would love to chat to some other over 40 Mums - sometimes I feel a little bit lonely at the school gates with all the much younger Mums....

12 weeks pregnant and fine except for terrible morning (noon and night) sickness, much worse than last time.

Midwife at my booking in appointment was lovely, really didn't comment on my age other than to tell me to ignore all the scare stories about older Mums.

Hello Minnie - Congratulations on your pregnancy! We're all very poud of our bumps here! I have a 5 year old DS1 (plus 2 year old DS2 and 30 weeks pregnant)and I know what you mean about the school gates - in my particular area, there doesn't really seem to be many of us 'older' ones about. Like the others have said on here, though, our ages aren't in themselves a medical issue. I do feel I have to make a bit more of an effort with my appearance though, with all these younger mothers around! Am seriously considering a bit of 'work' this time next year, after I've recuperated enough from this birth! I feel a bit of collagen and/or botox beckoning, but the idea also scares me witless!!

Sorry you're feeling so sick at the moment - I had terrible morning sickness with this pregnancy, which eased off and is now back with a vengeance, as I think the baby is well and truly getting in the way of digestion now and making me queasy.

Be proud of being pregnant at 43 - it is an amazing achievement!

Takenoprisoners - thanks for the warm welcome!

Yes, I do always make sure that I have on a bit of "slap" at the school gates!

I don't think that you can colour your hair when pregnant, I will have to find out for sure, hate to think how many greys will peep through my November.

It is how my tummy will spring back (or not) that is worrying me, I am not as elastic as I was, slathering on Palmer's Cocoa butter in vain hope!

At least with the sickness I am not gaining tons of weight, trying to find something good about it.

Must dash and pick up DD!

Just wanted to add my congratulations Ms Dynamo to you and everyone else who is pregnant over 40 here. I'm 44 and trying for no.2 so it's really given me hope reading all these posts!

Congratulations everyone!

Hello and congratulations msdynamo!

Hello all in their 40s! Is there a pg in 40s thread? I would like one, I feel a little out of place on my antenatal board because they're all so young! I feel ancient somehow. Anyone else want that kind of thread?

I'm 43 and 19 wks pg with number 2. Have one ds who's 7. Took forever to get pg both times and an mc in between. Consequently am finding it hard to assume all shall be well this time!

Have had a very easy time so far though, hardly any sickness at all, very hungry and only feel a little sore as my bump grows now.

Am sleeping with a pillow to support bump and one leg which feels great.

I stopped caff tea for 12st trimester but allow myself 2 cups a day now.

I found the 1st trimester so worrying and am starting to relax a bit now!

Also, I think I'm going to have to wear some sort of surgical sling for my stomach after I've had this one or a wheelbarrow. And trampolining will be out for sure!

Have just started a morale-boosting thread for all of us!

Ms Dynamo - how's it going? Have you booked a midwife appointment yet? Hope all's okay.

Congratulations Ipanemagirl, btw!

I was only just 40 when I had DC3, and was by far the easiest of the 3 all round, but that was probably down to him being my third rather than my age but who knows.

My great-grandmother was 46 when she had her first child, and my grandmother is still going strong at almost 95 so it was a long time ago! Congratulations..

Hello everyone, great to see even more 40 something mums to be here, congratulations to Ipanemagirl and Minniethemoocher on your pregnancies. It really is very encouraging. I have no news today, except a new worry. I have bad gum problems which Ive been avoiding sorting out, and now I read (by accident) on the internet that premature births happen to mothers with gum problems. Great! So I'm off to the dentist next week sharpish. Still haven't booked a midwife, Takenoprosoners, but my BF is coming with me to look at the hospital on the weekend. Apparently there's no hurry. Wish I could fast forward 7 weeks

Thanks very much msdynamo and Takenoprisoners and Duchess too!

Yes Duchess! It is Noel Fielding's baby and it shall be born I hope in a fog of pink dry ice, flashed of silver latex clothing and the sound of Marc Bolan and T Rex booming across the labour ward! I am still in quite an extreme sense of denial and keep trying not to tell people and still hiding bump under hoodies with pockets etc!

How are you your highness of Norks??? Where do you lurk? Do you do the word game or are you a scuttlebugger Chat member of the nobility?

Takeno, where is the thread? I'll go huntin.

hi everyone - I'm 42 and 16 wks with 3rd child - I have 10 yr old twins so the gap is LARGE!

I'm absolutely ecstatic, feeling fine, although uncomfortable at night and really looking forward to September.

I certainly don't feel like a older mum - in fact at school there seems to have been a bit of an older mum boom!

Many congrats, msdynamo!

I am 44 on Monday and will be 36 weeks pregnant on Monday also, with our first baby. I have felt pretty good throughout this pregnancy but have gestational diabetes, which is well controlled by diet.

I've given up coffee for the duration but am drinking weak decaf tea.

At 37 I was a prima gravida and there were the usual concerns so did nuchal fold testing etc. But I was great - no morning sickness, had tons of energy, spotless skin and absolutely glowed. Same happened second time at 40 but I suppose I would have been like this even at 20. One word tho - it's after having the children that I feel absolutely shattered and think that maybe if I were younger it would not be so physically wearing.
Nevertheless, motherhood it so special - congratulations!

msdynamo - gum problems are common in pregnancy becuase of hormonal problems - mine were particularly bad and I am still susecptible to bleeding gums now.

Floss twice a day, and if brushing use a milder toothpaste (not so abrasive. For your own peace of mind - only use MN for looking up symptoms! You will frighten yourself if you look up every niggle you have during this pg - and on the internet there is unfortunately a lot of scope for scaremongering.

Hope all is going well otherwise! You lot have made me feel all broody

Sorry - should have read hormonal changes
not problems!

Hi all,
I will be 41 when Tiny arrives in September and in my third pregnancy. I do feel quite old in that I feel tired, but not too old to have another one.

My sister-in-law had her first at 45.

Wow Louiseann, first at 45 that's amazing. Did she have fertility treatment?

Congrats on your pg Louiseann, oliali and I are also expecting in Sept!

ipanemagirl - I am not sure if she had fertility treatment. She has found her ds very hard work.

My friend got married last year and is hoping to start ttc soon at age 41. I am sure she would be encouraged by this thread ! (smile)

Try again