Pregnant at 37

[tara205]

Hello ladies xx
Found out today that I am pregnant big surprise!
I have a 8 and 5 year old and I am so worried about being pregnant and what people might say etc 🙈.
Anyone else been pregnant at 37? Xxx

What exactly are you worried about ? My mother had me at 38. Now I’m pregnant at 38. It’s not that ancient... It’s common for women to be pregnant in their late 30s. It’s not unusual where I live at all.

I noticed at the booking appointment that the midwife had a checklist of potential difficulties during pregnancy. One was 'over 35 years old' which was obviously not an issue for me as I was a decade younger than this. An older mother (and her foetus) will face more serious issues than a healthy younger mother in her 20s. Hopefully OP will be ok!

The increased risk is small. It is far, far more likely OP will have a healthy child than not.

I had my first at 37 and age wasn't even mentioned. I'm 42 now and pregnant with my second and there have been a few extra tests and scans this time as I'm over 40 but nothing major. Nobody has made a big deal out of it.

Hi there I'm also 37 and pregnant this will be my 3rd child but first with my new partner

My mum had me around that age and that was in the 90s! I really don’t think anyone would bat an eyelid.

Also, if there’s any worries around age gaps, there is 9 years between my sister and I and we were always so close growing up and as adults. We have a lovely relationship.

Congratulations op!! I had mine at 31, and 34, and always said I wouldn't have a baby over 35. So, I do understand, because at 37 I would have felt the same. I however wouldn't now, especially not for a third dc as well. I am in my later 30s now, and know I'll never have my hyperthetical third, who would be 2 now, so a little jealous! I know for my situation though, 2 is best. If things were different I would have liked 3!

Oh and who will be able to tell your exact age at the school gates anyway, when splitting hairs over 3 years or so!

Thanks for that really helpful post. Good to know it obviously isn’t an issue for you as well!

All the women in my family had their first babies in their 40s so 37 seems young to me! 🤣

I'm 37 and TTC number 2. Aside from the tick of the "over 35" box my age wasn't mentioned in either of my booking appointments last year (although pre birthday so I was 36). The "over 35" box was used as part of the blood clot risk profile I had no other risks so was classed as low risk for blood clots and no blood thinners were recommended. I was classified as high risk but due to medication I'm on and my mental health my age wasn't a factor. This was the same as my pregnancy with my daughter aged 32

Both my pregnancies last year did unfortunately end in miscarriage, my age wasn't mentioned during this but as I'm over 35 at my hospital I was able to be referred to the reoccurring miscarriage clinic after 2 miscarriages instead of 3.

There are the odd thing in pregnancy where being over 35 might make a difference but it is a small factor and you and your history is the main factor in determining risk and what is on offer.

My nan had her 5th at 44/45 a total surprise!

An older mother (and her foetus) will face more serious issues than a healthy younger mother in her 20s.

It's not a given that an "older" mother "will" face more serious issues. I know of 3 women whose babies were diagnosed with developmental disorders in pregnancy. 2 decided to terminate, 1 kept her child (who had Down's). All were in their 20s at the time. The 2 who terminated went on to have uncomplicated pregnancies and healthy children in their 30s.

It's also not a given that females in their 20s are healthier; I'm far healthier and more active at 37 than I was as a 20-something, weekday career woman/weekend binge drinker! Yes, statistically the risks are higher, but even then the chances of having a healthy baby far outweigh the risk of "serious issues". And that's what screening is for! Age hasn't even been mentioned through my pregnancy so far, and my combined screening put my individual risk for all 3 conditions at 1:5000, the same as the statistical average for a 20 year old. The data is based on generalisations, but all women are individuals in terms of health and wellbeing.

Please note that I said a healthy younger mother, not unhealthy. I was comparing a healthy young woman and a healthy 'older' woman. As a woman ages, there's an increased risk of downs and other chromosomal disorders. I'm not sure why people are quoting me without reading properly.

All I said in my original post on this thread was that there weren't many older mums at baby groups, but there were a couple and they reassured me when I felt anxious (first time mum). They were really nice. Please stop quoting me now.

I was and had that baby - my second child - when I was 38. Easy pregnancy and easy (home) birth. That baby is late teens now and has been a joy and a wonder to us over these years.
Nobody has ever commented on my age when I had her to me or her. I did ask her a few months ago if she thought I was much older than her peers parents and she said some were probably the same age as me and some were probably younger. She was surprised I'd asked, I don't think that it's ever been on her radar of important things to consider 😁

Congratulations! I finally fell pregnant with my last ever baby aged 38 and had them when I'd turned 39.

Age is only a number.

@Babyybabyyy People are quoting you because of the way you phrased your point. Your exact words were "an older mother WILL face more serious issues", which simply isn't true. The significant majority will have no issues whatsoever (e.g. at 35, the risk a child will have Down's is 1:400, or just 0.25%)

Totally normal age to be pregnant or have a baby to me.

Statistically the risk of chromosomal issues rises with age, but with the new NIPT tests that are available, the risk is pretty much zero if you didn't want to continue the pregnancy.

There's lots of research that shows that children with "older" mothers have better long term outcomes in terms of education, emotional support etc.

Pros and cons to having kids at any age, and some people will have an opinion either way.

I had ny second at 37-normal age around here i think. I was worried about being an 'older' mum but was reassured by my GP that it was perfectly average nowadays!

I had a very healthy pregnancy, worked up till 2 weeks before the birth. Had a birth with no Interventions and recovered well. Only unusual thing was that he was 10 1/2 lbs, which was definitely bigger than I had expected!

I had my third aged 38 . All was fine but I certainly felt a difference with energy levels in comparison with my previous two who were aged 4 and 6 when number three was born . Congratulations.