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!!!

mrsjupiter I am very disappointed too. I thought it was for some disneyworld type extravaganza where you had little guinea pigs and mice dancing. Human guinea pigs are not so interesting at all!

Welcome mrsboogie. YOUNG MAN alert! You are a feisty mumma and no mistake. Also I was like that with DS (now almost 21 months) and didn't buy anything until near the end. Superstition.

Important breaking newsflash for anyone who read my posts from yesterday... the rogue crayon has been located. I can breathe easy once again.

Have been to M&S and bought gargantuan sized knickers that could hold a rave. Also very granny looking bra. If we were ever to have sex again, DH and myself, I must be sure to wear this alluring underwear

Good afternoon!

Yes, feeling much better, now 16 weeks, like mrsboogie I have no sign of a bump, someone asked me to lift something heavy today, and I told that that I wasn't going to lift it because I was pregnant and they looked at me as if I was lying!

My Due date is 5th November - could be some fireworks that evening!

I am having a c-section - just how big do I need to buy the big knickers? I am rather partial to boy cut short type knick-knicks, I suppose that we are talking Granny pants, al la Bridget Jones?!!!

Definately going to invest in some top class smellies for my stay in hospital though, if I start saving know I may just about be able to afford some Jo Malone, well at least a bar of soap...

how do those of you having c sections know you are going to have one in advance? Are you allowed to choose to have one?

mrsboogie despite the efforts of Victoria I'm too posh to push Beckham advocating CS's, you don't get a choice with no good reason - well not at my hospital anyway! I'm having an elective CS due to a few reasons...3rd degree tear on last baby, gestational diabetes and high b/p.

I'm not sure I would choose one if I didn't think it was necessary

hi all, i am a newbie on this thread. just found out i am pregnant on thurs morning, tested using an internet cheapie. tested again this morning using first response and got a very dark line positive! so am more reassured...

still keep going to the loo to check for bleeding. keeping thinking the witch might get me!

how do you get through the first 3 months???
i had forgotten what i did when i was pregnant with DS! it was 4 yrs ago!

johnworf I had a third degree tear with DD, hence advised c-section safest to prevent fecal incontinence if I was unlucky enough to tear again - shame really as apart from the tear, I had a good birth experience...and not looking forward to the section!

Heron23 I had a 12 week scan, which I had to pay for, round here NHS only offer triple test at 16 weeks, I was meant to have a midwife appointment at 15/16 weeks, ie now, but midwife on hols, so had to make do with blood pressure and urine check at GP, who did not have a doppler, so I will not see/hear baby again until my 20 week scan which is a month away!

So not overly impressed with ante-natal care at the moment, I thought that as an older mum they would want to monitor me a little more closely.....

Hello again lovely fellow fabulous mothers and mother to be. Just a quick note while the boy is being entertained by his father before the bath.

Baby Wahwah is fine and doing well (much to the midwife's amazement, she didn't lose any weight, just gained steadily). She's still hairy, but looks a bit less like a monkey. I'm finding looking after her fairly easy compared to her brother and even the constant breastfeeding doesn't seem as all consuming as I remember. I have healed really quickly and seriously have very little bump left at all - I didn't expect this to be so easy.

However, my son is even more of a handful and really hard work and my husband and i have about ten minutes to ourselves before we collapse exhausted on the sofa, so there is balance after all!

Good luck to everyone and I'm in awe of Didoreth's big baby!

hi minnie, hmmm, i am not impressed with the antenatal care you are getting either

i am just planning the scans and tests i am going to have. i am going to have the dating scan at 7-8 weeks - just to make sure everything is ok and not ectopic. and then at 12 weeks going to have CVS done. after that, it will be just the regular 20 week scan. i will be breathing much easier after 20week!

i am nervous about the CVS though... has anyone had it done?

i had a c-section with DS as he was breeched. so i will have another section i think

Hi everyone, we have been busy today . MrsJ I am really disapointed about the guinepigs I was waiting for the video of the 100m dash in the olympics.
Heron23 welcome (have I seem you on the 40+ conception thread?). My ds was a breech last time and I am hoping for a VBAC and the hospital & mw have been pretty supportive so far..So if you want to try for a vaginal deliver this time you can. I'm a bit scared cos I never had a labour last time but I don't want another cs unless i have to.

I have twiddled with the list, it's getting pretty long girls.

Didoreth - DS 11th May
Wahwha - DD 10th May
Shulli - ClOSE!
Christie1 - May 29
jeanjeannie- 30 May (it's not long now!)
Jules43 - 15 June
takenoprisoners - 4 July
Disneystar - 17July
Jackie77 - 17 July
Kaz196 - 18 July
Fortified - 12 August
johnworf - 15 Sept
iapanemagirl - 16 sept
Mrsboogie - 18 Sept
LouiseAnn - 23 Sept
Lexysmith - 1 Oct
Hedgepig - 4 Oct
Babycakes - 4 Oct
mrsjupiter - 7 Oct
Minnie the moocher - 5 Nov
Rosa - 11 Nov
Pwcbird - 1 Dec
fruitbowl - 17 Dec
msdynamo -24 December
Heron23 - waiting for EDD

jeanjeannie I'm off on hols tomorrow and will not be back online before you big day, I hope it all goes swimmingly well . I have been thinking of things I wish I had after my cs so far I have
Prunes - you will most likely be constipated so drink loads and eat prunes.
Face wipes - you won't be able to get up and about until the next day so you may want something to take the shine off! (my photos of the 1st day are awful)
Netty knickers - knickers made of net (most attractive) which allow the air to the scar so it can heal better. (NCT sell them I think)
Earplugs - you need your sleep
Apart form that just the normal stuff for after birth. take care H

Hiya,
I haven't read all of this thread as it's ENORMOUS! But I'm 41 and thinking of trying for a second DC. My first is age 2.5. Is that list you just posted Hedgepig a list of everyone's due dates? Is anyone on the thread trying to conceive or all you all up the duff alread?. It'd reassure me to see the ages of all the Mums on that list so i can see the proof that I'm not too old!!

Hi peasoup we are all up the duff already so it is due dates. On conception boards there is a "40+ trying to conceive" thread of which I and a few of the others are graduates. here
We could add our ages to the list I wonder what the others think?? I'm 41 and will be 42 next month.

Evening all..just got back online - DP has been tinkering with laptop all day..Grrrr.

hedgepig BYEEEEEE...have a lovely time and thanks for the list. I got my HUGE knickers today.I reckon they'll fit up under my ears if i pull hard enough

It's been busy today...so many posts

GUTTED about the guinea pigs mrsj real life people....where's the fun in that?

wahwah HELLO! You've had a cute little monkey...bless. What's her name? And no bump...Mmmm, not sure i want to hear about that

mrsboogie WELCOME! And you WILL cave in on buying stuff...happens to us all I didn't decide on a c-sec until 34 weeks...infact the hospital said to think about a VBAC. We did but all decided as I'd had such a bad infection previously and it was only 18months since DD was born (can't keep off each other ) then the scar may be at more risk. As it happens it's moved into the back-to-back position which our hospital feel isn't conducive to a VBAC anyway. I think all policies are very different.

heron23 I had a CVS - I'd got a 1 in 2 chance of edwards and downs after nuchal scan and bloods. It was quick and just felt odd -over in 30 secs but doubt if i'd done it unless I'd been given a high risk.
The risk of the possible abnormalities were higher than the CVS itself - so we went for it. Had it at fetal med centre - very £££ - but blo*dy brilliant! All came back clear

johnworf I think DP is having a crisis.....bless him. He's too scared to have sex in case it brings on baby....I have to wait till next thurs night apprently...as it won't matter by then. And before DD1 was born he asked at our first NCT class how soon we could have another... and yes, I'm the only one out of the group to be heading for #2!!

Do i want a bag of crisps before I go to bed? Or a digestive biccy???

peasoup we're all up the duff - and you're not too old. It was celebrating my 42 birthday (with gay abandon ) that got me dc#2 on the way next week just 18 months after DD1... GO for it! x

jeanjeaine It was Valentines Night for me...

johnworf I think that it is an old wives tale that sex brings on labour, didn't work for me when I was overdue, neither did the currys, hot baths or exercise....

wahwah congratulations!

We could add our ages but do I want to be reminded I'm the oldest hottie on here? Not really

Had my booking appointment with MW today. Do they usually use a doppler? Mine didn't. Am anxious as the countdown now begins to the 12 week thingy. Just want to know now!

mrsjupiter, LOL about human guinea pigs, although so disappointing. Honestly did think it was some weird chinese cultural tradition involving little furry creatures.

msdynamo I didn't have a doppler at my booking in. I've had one since but I don't think it's a requirement.

So glad to see wahwah posting and that her LO is doing so well - not to mention mum sounds like she's doing pretty good also

jeanjeannie the countdown to your DD is looming I see. I'll be on holiday when your LO arrives (hopefully if on time) so I'm going to post an advance 'congratulations on your darling little boy/girl' (delete as applicable) and as I've said to you before, I demand ALL the details, especially of the CS

minniethemoocher I was refused a CS on the grounds of my previous 3rd degree tear alone and it was the diabetes that swung it. I must say this is my first one and I'm not relishing the fact that it's on the cards. But I'm a game old lass so I'm just going to suck it and see.

Oh, and thanks hedgepig I'm scouting out netty knickers as we speak What a fantastic idea!

I see the list is gaining momentum. Nice to see so many names there. Huzzah for us old bag mums

Morning all,
So many posts - I don't know where to start:

heron23 - I had my 12 week scan last week - such a relief to finally see the baby and know all is well and get through those first 3 months of worry. Anyway, I was planning a CVS - had discussed with DH and going ahead. Was sent to Kings where they do them there and then. However I was given good results of my nuchal fold and bloods - 1:1200 and so the dr basically told me I would be nuts to have a cvs as the odds of mc are 1:100 and therefore a much higher risk of losing the baby and advised me not to have the proceedure. They say there (at Kings) that unless your odds are 1:300 or worse they don't really advise a cvs. Of course it's up to you and if I had pushed for one I think they would have done it - but to be honest I was a bit like you and nervous of it so was relieved not to have it. It does mean that I don't know 100% but with good odds I'm going to take the risk.

jeanjeannie I can't believe you're contemplating sex... how can you manage it?? I was like an elephant at the end of my pregnancy with DS and even if we'd got the Twister floor mat out I don't think we could have found a way.

hedgepig too late now but have a fab holiday.

minniethemoocher can't believe there's no sign of a bump - must have been all your poorly-ness . I'm only 13 weeks this weekend and think my stomach is sticking way out. Am sending DH to the loft (may leave him there ) to retrieve my maternity clothes from DS as he was a summer baby so hoping to find some nice things to take on my holiday. All my waistbands are getting tight!

hedgepig enjoy your hols! Wish we could all come with you!

pcwbird your scores were amazing. Most of my 40 something pg pals had 1:250 or 1:350. Hope I'll be as lucky as you

Truth is I'm undergoing unbelievable anxiety at present. Several of the younger girls on my antenatal club thread have had mcs in the past few weeks, a couple of them silent ones, ie only revealed at the 12 W scan. It's very upsetting.

Try not to worry 'msdynamo' though I know it's easier said than done. I worried the entire 3 months and also compared to DS - am I feeling sicker/more tired/less tired etc. I still wouldn't believe it until I saw the baby. I think it's entirely natural because of upsetting things that you hear and you so want it to be ok. Just remember that the chances of things going/being wrong are small and the chances of things being right are big - the odds are always on your side. You'll be fine!

afternoon all

Can I ask a question of those around the 24 week mark? Since dinosaurs were roaming the earth when I was last pregnant I can't remember how much movement I felt at different stages and I'm not entirely sure what the mw meant about feeling "ten movements a day" by 24 weeks. i.e did she mean ten single movements or ten episodes of activity?

My LO seems to have started a pattern of being active around late morning, late afternoon and late at night. These periods usually last for about half and hour and in between he is quiet. I don't really feel kicks - more like wriggling motions. For the last two days I have only felt the odd movement and these have not been very strong. I'm think I am fretting a bit because I still have no bump at 23 weeks (my normal flab is just a bit more pushed out than normal (IYKWIM)so I have no evidence that he is growing.
I know that if I didn't have this to worry about I would have to find something else...

Oh and MissDynamo - I wouldn't expect the mw to use a doppler on you before 12 weeks (if even then) It can be too hard to find the hb. Mine tried at 12 weeks - couldn't find anything and because I had been bleeding earlier I ended up being sent to the EPAU thinking it was all over. It wasn't but I wouldn't recommend a doppler either at home or at the mw before then.

Mrsboogie found this on babycentre.co.uk. Thought you might find it helpful.

QUOTE
I haven't felt my baby kick today, should I be worried?
If you are concentrating on something else, you may not have noticed your baby's movements. If you want some reassurance, here are some ways to encourage your baby to move:

? Lie down on your side (with support under your bump) and stay still
? Put your feet up and relax
? Play music to your stomach.

Not so long ago, women were advised to monitor their baby's movement with a fetal kick chart, where you kept a record of the times of the movements until you had noted ten kicks, hopefully by roughly the same time each day. But these charts are used less and less now as they were easy to forget about and the kick patterns didn't always match up, which caused unnecessary concern among women.

Midwife Sally Sago says, "The advice we give now is to get used to your baby's pattern during waking hours and if you feel there is a change in that pattern, inform your midwife straight away. If you are concerned we can check you out and reassure you immediately."
UNQUOTE

To get baby moving, eat something sugary or something cold like ice cream.

I'm 24 weeks now and up until 3 weeks ago, I was hardly feeling her move at all (I hired a doppler to make sure there was indeed a baby in there!). Now she's kicking the life out of me. But all pregnancies are different. Also my placenta is anterior which makes it harder to feel.

I also had my last child around the turn of the 19th century. Well............17 years ago

Evening all....eaten loads of cake today and am now watching Eurovision with laptop on knee...who says Saturday nights are dead

pwcbird - oh I AM the size of a house....but I do feel very horny in pregnancy (well, once the sickness has gone)perhaps it's to do with being needy

mrsboogie don't panic.....didn't even feel this one move till 22 weeks...and even then was quite sluggish till 28-30 weeks. Mostly felt it during morning with my illegal cup of coffee....then not until the evening. Having a bath is quite a good way to feel it....and giving it a prod too!

msdynamo there's no doppler at the booking appointment where I am. I had a scan at 8 weeks - but because of a severe haemorrhage - otherwise it's the horrid hanging on till 12 weeks. I know - it's stressful.

I think the nuchal scores are luck of the draw. With dd1 (I was 41) and I had a
1:3,000 and with this one(i'm 42) - 1:2 hence the CVS. I'd definatley advise crossing that bridge once you've got your scores....maybe just not worth having the procedure at all if the scores are really good.

Hope you're all enjoyin gthe BH break x