Anyone else in late 40s?

[noraheggerty]

Yesterday on my 47th birthday I took a pregnancy test "just to rule it out" as I had waited a while for my period to turn up thinking it was the start of peri. And... it was positive with weeks indicator saying 3+ (so no chance of the false positive menopause thing, the level of hCG is far too high). Never been pregnant before.

It's quite a shock, although not an accident. I had pretty much resigned myself to being childless but still held out some hope. Long story short, I thought I didn't want kids, until I met my current partner a few years ago and changed my mind. We've been TTC on and off thinking it was probably too late.

It would be good to hear from other expectant mothers in late 40s - first time or otherwise - just to know you're there really, cos it's all feeling totally surreal right now!

Congratulations, I remember that feeling well! I had my first and only when I was 44. I thought it would never happen.

The pregnancy was text book physically but I worried tremendously about things going wrong.

Take your folic acid and other vitamins and try and enjoy it!

Wow! Congratulations OP, wishing you a very healthy successful pregnancy.

I am 42 and due to have my second in the next few weeks and it's not easy physically but I've had a pretty normal pregnancy up till now and she seems to be doing great.

Good luck to you

Hi all
I am 45 and 18 weeks pregnant! It’s ivf and my second pregnancy. I have an almost 3 year old. I’m really tired this time round and finding it harder but not sure if it’s age related or just running round after a busy two year old! It’s great to connect with other older mums! Hope you are doing well and congratulations on your pregnancies.

I'm v 45, third baby and being induced tonight.
To say I'm shitting myself is an understatement!
I haven't told anyone except the hubby obvs 🙄

I thought my she would be a problem but they said no, they had a last fell pregnant naturally and delivered very well at 48

Good luck @nodramaplz very exciting you will meet your baby soon!

Congratulations @nodramaplz and I hope it goes smoothly!

Thanks
I'm here and so nervous at what lies ahead.
I feel like crying 😢

Thinking of you. I hope you are being well looked after.

Do you mean you haven't told anyone that you are pregnant? Or just not told them it's tonight?

Yes me! I'm 47, currently 21 weeks with a random surprise. We also have 2 teens so it's been a bit headwrecking at first but we're used to the idea now. I've felt ok really, a bit tired but nothing terrible as I don't have toddlers to run after. Well not yet!

You should probably arrange a scan asap. I did once I realised what was happening and I was 13 weeks! That really matters as we are Irish and if we had wanted a termination the limit in this country is 12 weeks so we would have had to travel. We did all the testing (NIPT) and had about 3 scans and all looked ok. Just had the 20 week scan yesterday and all was good there too.

Best of luck from a fellow 47 year old!

Hi @CrepituErgoSum ! Haha look at us "medical marvels"

Congrats on getting to 21wks and getting through the NIPT etc! From where I am it seems to far away, like I have to cross a minefield to get there...

Currently I keep wondering if I got a false positive, I'm scared to do another test, I just really can't believe I'm pregnant, it feels surreal even typing the word! It doesn't help that I'm having no sickness, just sore boobs & a strange feeling in my belly. And fatigue & mood swings, but that could be from just thinking I'm pregnant! (I am prone to emotional fatigue).

I've been reading about early scans and I'm going to call the maternity helpline in a bit and see if I can get one on the NHS because of my age. But otherwise there's a place that do them for £75 and will do an internal one if the external doesn't show anything.

However I keep reading about people scanning too early and ending up stressed out because there's nothing there yet. It's only just over 6 wks since my period so maybe I'd be jumping the gun. I'll see what the helpline says.

I'm finding this really hard, I've just posted about all my symptoms suddenly vanishing, which I know can happen, but it's terrifying.

I've booked an early scan for Monday morning, had to go private.

I'm regretting so much that I didn't do this earlier in my life. Because if I lose this one, I can't just try again. It's my one and only chance. Which is so stressful.

@noraheggerty im 13+5 and have had so many random days of my symptoms vanishing. They always return at some point and can come and go x

Thank you for the reassurance @Fashionlover123.

I need to pull myself together! If this pregnancy works out it's a bonus. I was ok without a baby before it started and I'll be ok without one if that's how it ends. If I get into thinking any other way I'm just setting myself up for emotional disaster. Also, if I'm going to lose it it's much better to be now than further down the line.

Hmm am I managing to convince myself? Not sure it's working

Congratulations! I am 47 and 38 weeks currently. Very much planned pregnancy but still a big surprise because I miscarried in my first trimester a total of 9 times after I turned 43. It’s my third child and the other two are young (pre-teen). Wishing you all the best!

@CortieTat Wow!! I'm so pleased for you. What an amazing story. Are they going to induce you soon?

Yes they wanted to induce on the due date but I have refused. It’s a low risk pregnancy, I have no medical indication for induction. I plan and qualified for home birth, my second was also born at home.

@CortieTat that sounds brilliant.

I may not be as brave - it's my first!

I had my first in the hospital as well (was also offered an induction, refused and she was born when ready without any interventions) and I think it’s a good decision, the first time takes longer and I wouldn’t also be willing to do it at home.

I really recommend doing a hypnobirthing course. It sounds like total woo-woo (which I hate) but it’s actually not woo-woo at all, you learn breathing and relaxation techniques that are very useful no matter where you are. Nothing to do with hypnosis.

@CortieTat thank you, that sounds like good advice. Currently I'm not thinking that far ahead as it seems like such an obstacle course ahead of me. I'm having an early viability scan on Monday and am thoroughly prepared for it to be bad news. I'm still in disbelief!

I’ll keep my fingers crossed 🤞. Those early scans were very stressful for me, they had always come out inconclusive.

I refused one with this pregnancy and waited till the one at 12 weeks. We couldn’t believe our eyes when we got to see an actual moving baby at that appointment, we were so used to hearing only bad news by then.

I think it's bad news. The fetus measured 6 days behind and I know the exact date I conceived. Have made a new thread about it for more traffic because I want to hear reassuring stories but I'm not hopeful

Sorry it wasn’t better news OP. Really really hope the pregnancy continues and is okay 🙏🏼

Oh no really sorry to hear that @noraheggerty but don't lose hope, there can be issues around when implantation took place or growing at different rates and so on. I'm sure there will be lots of those on the other thread. Sending love, its such a stressful time when you don't know for sure xxx

Also discrepancy with sac. The sac measured as expected for 6+5

Just spoke with early pregnancy specialist and apparently it's not such a bad sign as I thought.

I need to do something to manage my anxiety I think