Pregnant, 40+ and Proud: Fabulous Mummies Sign Up Here!

[Takenoprisoners]

Following Ms Dynamo's wonderful news of her pregnancy and all the rest of us who are coming out of the woodwork ...a new, morale-boosting thread for those of us in our 40s currently going through pregnancy.

Come on, sign up: we are 40+ and FABULOUSLY PREGNANT!!!

Takenoprisoners: so glad you are looking into tandems - I shall be interested in what you get. My DS will only be 2.3 when new bubba arrives so think will have to get something and everything looks so huge - I can't think I'll ever get into or out of a shop again.
One buggy question - a lot of lightweight pushchairs say only up to 15kg but you often see children of 4 lounging in them in the shopping centre (well you do in Croydon anyway!!!). I want to get a lightweight for my DS (20 months) - we're going on holiday at the end of May all being well with my scan etc - and don't want to buy one if in 6 months it's no use. Girl in Mothercare (when I was looking at the Mclarens) said not to bother worrying about it. Anyone got any views?

Added myself to list too:
Didoreth - 30th April
Wahwha - 15 May
Shulli - ClOSE!
Christie1 - May 29
jeanjeannie- 30 May
Jules43 - 15 June
takenoprisoners - 4 July
Disneystar - 17July
Jackie77 - 17 July
Kaz196 - 18 July
Fortified - 12 August
johnworf - 15 Sept
iapanemagirl - 16 sept
LouiseAnn - 23 Sept
Hedgepig - 4 Oct
Babycakes - 4 Oct
mrsjupiter - 7 Oct
Rosa - 11 Nov
Pwcbird - 1 Dec

I have been told by my Consultant that it will be safest to induce at 38 weeks. The reason he gave was that the placenta starts to break down earlier in older mothers. I think he will also recommend a c section but, to be fair to him, he wants to wait til 36 weeks and see how we are both doing then. My first delivery was horrendous, following induction at 42 weeks, and ending in a forceps delivery so I am still uncertain as to which way I want to go. Does anyone have experience of induction for a second birth?

disneystar thanks for asking. I rang the diabetes clinic today with my blood results since Monday and they are happy with them. Will review on Tuesday when I'm next at clinic.

So far on 8 units each morning. Not too bad I suppose but I'm just going into 21 weeks so not sure if it's good or bad really

jackie77 both my first and second pregnancies were induced. Like you, my first was a forceps and episiotomy. Second was fine and all over bar the shouting within 4 hours. 5 minutes of pushing and a couple of stitches. GREAT!!

Wish it was so easy this time around

johnworf thanks for that but I'm sorry you are not having it so easy this time around

If I'm honest I am a bit scared of a normal delivery - I do feel as though I am pushing my luck to the limit already and don't want to take any chances.

Not sure how I feel about winning both the age and age gap prizes but maybe one is compensation for the other!!

Hello ladies,

I'm 41 and 7 weeks pregnant with dc3 (am due on 21st Dec). I have 2dd's aged 3 and 2.

Am feeling a bit sicky and tired but generally O.K.

I had my booking appointment on Monday and have got a dating scan on 13th May. I intend to have a CVS - did for both dd's.

Looking forward to be on the journey with you ladies - I'll now catch up on the postings.

(grin) - can't do emoticons as dd1 poured a drink on the keyboard and the keys are now sticky - and some don't work! (Dp was supposed to be keeping an eye on her!)

Jackie77 a section is not a easy option for Mum or baby it has risks too. I would have good chat with our Midwife and consultant so you have all the facts to make the decision with.

Arabella11, my midwife at booking in appointment said they probably wouldn't let me go past 40 weeks due to age. I was induced last time at 39 weeks, which turned into a bit of a nightmare and ended in emergency c-section. Haven't decided whether to go straight to c-section this time or screw up my courage and try VBAC. I've heard they don't induce after a prior c-section - anyone know if this is true?

johnworf, is a gestational diabetes diet very hard work? I'm going for GTT test next Friday and a bit worried 'cos I'm addicted to Toffee Crisps.

DD will be 2.7 when baby arrives. I was thinking of doing without a double buggy. Anyone else managed this at similar age? We don't do a lot of walking really. I use the pushchair more as a straightjacket at the moment to stop DD running amok in the shops!

Hi jackie677. I wasn't complaining really about this pregnancy. I'm feeling fab actually Just that I'll be down for a C Section, which I did in fact ask for. I'm a big fat scaredy cat!

Fortified the GTT is ok. You fast for 12 hours beforehand then drink a glucose drink. They take blood before and then 2 hours later. I got my results the next day and took it from there.

I was 16 weeks when I had my GTT..not sure how many weeks you are fortified.

I see the dietician each clinic. Also an endocrinologist and a diabetes midwife. I was left to diet alone (low GI) and I measure my blood sugar 4 times a day (the old finger pin prick).

Unfortunately my sugars weren't being controlled by diet alone (nothing to do with toffee crisps!) so now I inject insulin each morning.

I'll probably get a dating scan on Tuesday with my anomoly scan and again at 28 and 34 weeks.

Honestly it's not as bad as it sounds and you do get used to it. Just hope LO isn't a whopper when I get scanned.

I still have to watch what I eat and the portion size..I do miss pizza, chocolate, and basically anything scrummy Only 3.5 months to go. Huzzah!!!!

Fortified no they don't induce you if have had a prior section because it increases the risk of a uterine rupture.

Fortified you might find these website helpful www.vbac.org.uk www.vbac.co.uk www.radmid.demon.co.uk/vbac.htm www.aims.org.uk www.aims.org.uk/Journal/Vol14No1/VBACWhoseTerms.htm www.babycentre.co.uk/pregnancy/labourandbirth/labourcomplications/vbac www.caesarean.org.uk

HOW MUCH FOR A BAG!!!!!!

I need to go and lie down

seriously they look lovely - but I'm more of a rucksack kinda girl, I have a very nice Burghaus day sac and a travel change mat which is great.

I had a cs last time (breech + other stuff) and I am desperate not to have another one so I'm reading everything I can on VBAC at the moment. I saw a consultant last week and she was pretty supportive, I have to go back a 32 weeks to see how everything is going

Hiya Nancy66,

I can only assume that you are born in the same year (1966???) and I conceived naturally - baby Angus arrived in December and is now almost 5 months old.

Best tips for TTC - DON'T use contraception LOL! (And do it on a whim!)

best of luck,
Moose xx

fortified I think the induction after c-section depends on your hospital policy. I know at mine it's a huge no, no. They will break waters...and that's it...nothing else. According to my consultant they stopped doing it just over a year ago as it resulted in so many emerg CS. I read it's to do with the ferocity of the onset of labour as it does nothing to help the scar site. They do encourage VBAC here...but it's got to be with no intervention except monitoring.

The buggy choice is quite hard...they scare me! When I had dd1 I was sure that would be it, at my age....can't believe 17months later I've just bought an el cheapo, 2nd hand EBAY Phil & Teds Thought I could lay the baby at the back (must remember not to put the shopping on the top of it!) and dd could play drivers up front!

pwcbird hahaha you make Croydon sound just like High Wycombe....4 year olds being wheeled around in tiny buggies....and here they get to suck coke out of baby bottles

jeanjeannie - I didn't mention of course that they're eating a McDonalds at the same time. Seriously.

fortified - I'm addicted to eating toffee crisps too. I hadn't eaten them for years and the last couple of weeks have been having to buy those packs of 10 snack sized ones. Trying to limit to 1 snack size per day - though today had 2 (oh - err... along with some maltesers). Ooops! It's the chewy, with the crispy and the crunchy all at the same time. Had a twix yesterday. My chocolate thing has got reeeeaallly bad.

sulks in the corner hoping for a twix crumb

Yeah, I tried the snack size ones too, but ate the lot in a day. I have to limit myself to buying them one at a time now. I think its the psychological effect of wearing elasticated trousers. Sorry johnworf - won't mention che again!

Thanks all for the section/VBAC/induction advice.

Sorry johnworf . It wasn't kind. Though I should be more careful actually as I'm no skinny minny. Fat and 40! I keep wondering about a tummy tuck once this pregnancy is done. Maybe entire plastic surgery - liposuction, tummy tuck and botox. Hmmm....

I mean che.

TWIX!! TWIX...who mentioned TWIX??? STOP now.

It's been a Twix-crazed pregnancy. DP had to go Costco and get me a catering size box....you think I'm joking?! Honestly, with 4 weeks to go the craving has only just gone (as have the contents of the box) and now.....as I'm on the road to recovery.....you mention the double fingers of chocolate joy

Why can't they do liposcution / tummy tuck when performing an NHS c-section?

Am not pregnant,so big congrats to all of you who are,but I am 44 with a just turned 12 monther and a three year old.Am agonising over trying for a third when my periods come back (still bf).Both were easy peasy to conceive so don't give up hope anyone trying,DD2 was literally a first time conception.My only tips would be ignore all the negative stuff that says your eggs are shrivelled old walnuts and have sex when you are ovulating(duh! but lots of friends seem to miss this one).good luck with your babies all you gorgeous over forties!

Hello everyone, am now 40 weeks +2 and sadly still nothing happening here. Some interesting comments above about early inductions for older women - one doctor did suggest I have an induction at 40 weeks, but I refused, as I'm not convinced there is evidence to justify it. I had growth scans at 32 and 37 weeks which show a big, well nourished baby, who has been, and still is, very active, so I'm happy that a placenta thats been working very efficiently is not suddenly going to combust because I've passed my due date. (I will have an induction if I get to 12 days over though).
I'm probably a bit stroppy about being treated as high risk just because of my age - I'm also booked for a home birth, and have had a lot of eye-rolling from the obstetricians about that.

Hi again. I had heard a lot about inductions from friends over 40 at one London hospital, where they insist on them at 40 weeks. I asked my consultant obstetrician about this and she said it is not the policy in the (also big London hosipital) I am at. She does not believe that placental failure is age related. So, it seems to me that it really depends where you end up, and what the policy is...
I was booked for a home birth for my first, aged 40, and no-one thought it was a big deal. I had the support of GP and midwives. It's weird because at 40 I felt I was old and the health professionals didn;t think it was a big deal. Now I'm 45 I think I was a spring chicken back then.
Good luck with your home birth didoreth! It's exciting to think you are so close.

Won't they be able to do a trace on the baby's heartbeat and tell what the placenta is doing?
I would have thought there'd be signs of distress if placenta was failing?

Don't worry about the choccy girls, I'm just jealous (drools at the thought of a large box of twix from Costco).

Was wondering if you were ok Didoreth! Glad to see you're still knocking around but baby hasn't budged I favour gardening, curry and sex, in that order to get things moving

PMSL @ shrivelled old walnuts hellymelly.

And for the ladies who were talking about liposuction, my DH has already asked me if they'll do lipo/tummy tuck straight after my C Section and he'd pay!! Knock a girl when she's down won't you. I told him NOT, however we could arrange a vasectomy without anaesthetic for him afterwards

Not sure if anyone saw this article about the increase of pregnancy in the over 40's but HERE it is for those of you interested