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!!!

Wow...johnworf...you've had the lot! Have to say I think I'd take the c-sec after-pains over the 3rd deg tear anytime

Yes, you can take pain meds while breast feeding..I also had IV anti-biotics for several days....and all was fine with that. Definately try and get a breast feeding cushion. If not - then two nice pillows at an angle. Take your own...hospital ones are made of concrete and horsehair I didn't have those staples....just dissolvable stitches. And as for help afterwards....MMmmm, that's my concern too. I'm just gonna SHOUT and MOAN if I need help.

There are LOADS of us on the thread....it's soooo pleasing. Well done all of us lot. Hey, I bet we look pretty good too ....collectively we're probably a cross between Halle Berry and Salma Hayek x

LOL jeanjeanie! I wish I looked like those two lasses but even I don't think I want boobs as big as Salma's! Are they real?

I'm starting to get a teeny bit nervous about delivering this one. My last labour was late so induced by pessary and I tore a bit, don't know what degree. But I mentioned to a friend which hospital I'm booked into and she started hyperventilating and saying 'just refuse just refuse!!' I won't mention which one because I've said so much that would identify me. But suffice to say it's a London hospital with all the problems those hosptials have. I had ds in another London hospital and it wasn't too bad! But everyone I know has had babies at my local hospital without many problems, the mws seem hugely experienced and it ain't gonna be as clean as the Portland but I'd rather have a short journey and know there's an ER nearby! Oh well, it really threw me that she was so negative!

Any way hello all, I love this thread.

Hahah ipanemagirl...I mourn for my lovely little 34b knorks (a distant memory) now a whopping 36G.. Dread to think how big Salma's must have been preggie Bought a mag yesterday and there was a whole fashion spread on bikinis.....I laughed...then sobbed!

Gosh it sounds like London hospitals seem to throw up so many problems. I moved from SE London 2 years ago to just outside M25....and local hospital here(despite midwives being VERY miserable) is excellent, although the maternity is closing at end of year and moving 25 miles away.....such a shame.

If it's any consulation...I have loaded friends who've not been thrilled with Portland....seems maternity care care be so pot luck.

All this talk about giant boobs is making me feel inadequate! I'm only an A cup- but not for long hopefully

On the hospital front, I'm considering going private, partly because it's my first pg and partly because my local NHS hospital, although excellent medically, is always so oversubscribed it feels like a war zone in a third world country. I'm thinking about St Johns and Elizabeth. Anyone else been there?

Hi there, I'm 40 and pregnant (goodness sounds like something you'd say in one of those group therapy sessions!!! LOL). This will be my 3rd, have 2 boys age 5 1/2 and 3 3/4, I'm convinced my broodiness kicked in to prove to myself I was still young, have 12 week scan tomorrow - well actually dating scan as have no idea when I conceived. I am a little worried as feel I am still in denial - but I am sooooo tired all the time I'm now starting to feel my age!.
Anyway great to meet you all, and lets hope we can be an excellent support network for each other.
Macca

Well ladies, my trusty milk machines aren't that much bigger than when I started and the old 'spaniel ears' are just about inflating enough to make them look presentable once more - much to DH's delight! I'm sure they'll be up to the job in the end though

Thanks once again jeanjeannie for your excellent tips and advice. Feeling much better now and hopefully won't wake up at 4am tomorrow in a cold sweat

amy123 good luck with your scan tomorrow. Always makes me cry when I look at the screen with the LO jumping around. Dunno why.....mind you, anything makes me cry these days.

Glad I had the choice of only 3 hospitals close by and luckily, when I checked the one I wanted out it came up as excellent. Link is here if you want to look up your local hospitals if you have a choice:

2007ratings.healthcarecommission.org.uk/patientsandthepublic.cfm

Hopefully you'll be able to find one with a decent rating that doesn't have MRSA/C Diff and/or rats running around

Actually, just noticed that there is a link just for maternity services here:

2007ratings.healthcarecommission.org.uk/patientsandthepublic/healthcarefocus/maternity.cfm

Thanks johnworf that's a brilliant link.

Just confirmed that my 3 nearest NHS hospitals in London get the lowest rating of 1, least performing!

It's a wonder that anyone is born alive today in London. We may have to all move to the country.

hi all im 40 and on baby number 7 he is due in july
in answer to nancy66 question i did concieve naturally 2 of my children when i was in my 20,s i needed fertility treatment for but it seemed as soon as i got to mid thirties it all changed for me, i needed no treatment and this was very much a suprise baby but a very much welcomed one

I am 40 too this is my fist baby (second pregnancy had late miscarriage along time ago) due in Middle July. I had actually give up and thought this was the menopause I'm on my own too Lou so you will not be the only 40+ single Mum.

My parents did not initially react well (I am 40 for god sake not 14) but Mum is better and Dad has stopped being objectionable. I have a fantastic GP who is really supportive and looked so relieved when I smiled and said of course I wanted to keep the little monster an most recently so disappointed when I told him I was hoping to move. A wonderful Midwife who is part of a great group who are all supportive.

All my friends know how much I have wanted this and are fantastic, As have college been.

oh dear msdynamo that's not very encouraging that all 3 of them are rated least performing! What will you do? Are there any other choices?

Welcome to disneystar and kaz1967

Hats off to baby number 7 (and I thought I was brave on my 4th)

kaz1967 strange that your parents reacted so badly to your pregnancy news. I would have thought they'd be ecstatic after giving up hope of being grandparents to your children. I'm sure once it's born they'll be all over it like only grandparents are

Interesting to see how the NHS services can be so hit and miss all over the country isn't it? Are we all playing that popular game of 'Post Code Lottery'?

Hi Ladies , Quickie q how much time did your doc say to 'rest' as not lift weights etc after cvs ? Had wierd dreams last night about cvs ..am not looking forward to it 1st one was not nice its next week btw.

Congratulations all fellow pregnant 40somethings! Think I'm the granny of the thread, am 46 and my second baby is due this week. Have had a great pregnancy, no different from my first, 23 years ago, except this one is bigger and I think livelier - I'm definitely at the getting-slightly-fed-up-of-having-my-internal-organs-battered-and-would-like-to get-this-baby-out stage.
Nancy66, good luck, mine was natural conception, I do recommend the younger man (my dp is 33), and lots of sex.
Wahwah, loved the link, though unfortunately I don't have the established career and financial security - I decided to start a new career three years ago, and am currently a penniless student.

Does anyone else love their pregnant body? I dread to think what it'll look like after the birth, but at the moment I love the way my previously saggy middle aged middle is all firm and lifted up.

Hieveryone, can I join? I'm 41 and on my second pregnancy. Ds (aged 15 months) was conceived using IVF but I'm delighted to say that this pregnancy has happened naturally!

Didoreth, congratulations! I recently discovered that my Gran (who died a few years ago) was born when her mother was 46. She lived a long and healthy life!

Good morning everyone - great to see lots of us out there!

Wow Disneystar - that's amazing! I'm due on Independence Day - July 4th - when in July are you due?

I see you're due in July also, Kaz - I'm glad you've got some good support with your friends and college.

Hello too to Didoreth - yes, I can agree about the saggy belly lifted up - but I'm sure in my case it will sag down even further after delivery, so I'm making the most of it, and wearing 'form-fitting' maternity wear and sticking my bump out!

Hi too to TheApprentice and congratulations on your pregnancy - I'm on Number 2 as well, and both IVF.

Right, off to the midwife now for my check. Have a nice day everyone! TNPx

Hi didoreth rosa and TheApprentice

I definately feel much different than my last pregnancy 17 years ago! I pretty much sailed through all of my 3 previous ones (apart from a bit of pre-eclampsia toward the end of them). This one it seems I'm playing 'what-can-go-wrong, will-go-wrong' Bingo. I was already on meds for high b/p which is ok at the moment. Recently I was told I have gestational diabetes (a first for me) and I'm injecting insulin now.

Still, it's all worth it in the end.

I'm starting to feel like the baby of the bunch on this thread and hey, I aint complaining

this is a lovely,friendly thread! Take no Prisoners, how lovely that you have also adopted. Its great that there are so many different options for having families nowadays.

Those of you who are due very soon, good luck! (Im currently 25 weeks)

takenoprisoners im due july 17th

johnworf i also hve GD and inject insulin to im now on 14 units twice a day the baby is growing huge and ive just had a growth scan and he weighs just under 3lb and im 28 weeks but i had this last time i was induced at 36 wks and he weighed in at 9lb 40z
apparnatly they are looking at inducing me at 36/37 wks now so only 6 or 7 weeks to go and that doesnt seem possible

kaz i know we are on the due in july thread to
just wanted to say i thought i was going through the menopause to i hadnt seen a period in nearly a year and my husband took me away for my 40th birthday last october and now little samuel is nearly here not that im compainin about that
i am more relaxed with this pregnancy in iteslf much more than my daughter who is 22 and is pregnant as well
so older mums do benefit
i think being through before i can speak up for myelf i know what i want and what i dont want and i make my views known to to the medical staff that is
i really wanted to go full term with this one but i have been pointed out the dangers and have decided in a way they are right but induction i do not like but what can i do.

Hello all, am running out door so can't welcome everyone by name but congrats and welcom.

We could do a name/due date list if people wanted to?

Ipanemagirl - Due 16 September

Hi all,

Johnworf - Due 15 September
Ipanemagirl - Due 16 September

I've put my 'true' due date down although reading through disneystars post on gestational diabetes I'll be having it in August sometime!!

I'm having a growth scan along with my 20 week (although I'll be 21 weeks) next Tuesday and I'm already carrying a huge baby bulge around with me.

I'm currently injecting 8 units just in the mornings but that is showing borderline glucose max results. Got a feeling it'll be increased at next weeks clinic.

Glad I'm down for a C section if I'm giving birth to Moby Dick!

disneystar what's it like being pregnant at the same time as your daughter? Mine is the same age as yours and has absolutely no intentions of having a baby - she'd rather have a pug dog.

I think it sounds quite cool both being in the club at the same time

Afternoon all...and hello and congrats to everyone joining in...away for a few hours and suddenly more of us!

Yep - think we need a 'who's due when' list. Start cheering everyone on as they get closer.

I've quickly scouted through the thread and grabbed dates I can see. Add yourself to the list ...and we can get knitting booties

Wahwha - CLOSE!
Shulli - ClOSE!
jeanjeannie- 30 May
takenoprisoners - 4 july
Disneystar - 17July
johnworf - 15 Sept
iapanemagirl - 16 sept

LOL at didoreth your tip for conceiving naturally is the one I used...sex, sex, sex and a younger man....way to go

Hi girls - can I join you? Due 4 Oct - a week after my 40th! First after a lot of bad luck with mcs over last 5 years Now 17 weeks and keeping fingers crossed all will be well with this little one xx

Hi again, this thread is lovely! My due date is 15 May (although would quite like an extra week, as I'm just not ready!).

Re conception question, husband is 5 years older than me and I have fallen pregnant EVERY time we have not used contraception. As this isn't the usual picture painted in the media of older women's fertility, I thought I would speak up. I get so sick of hearing women blamed for 'leaving it too late'-as if we all decide these things on our own and have the means to go ahead at any time we want!