Older mums support thread

[Purplebeach]

Hi all
I’m 18 weeks pregnant at 45 with a DD of nearly 3. I thought it would be good to set up a thread for mum’s over 40 (or there abouts) due this summer. It would be great to get support in all things pregnancy related and navigating the early days as an older mum.

Hi @Purplebeach, I'm happy to join you! I'm 42 and am 17+3, so due 14th August.
How are things going?

Im 46, and pregnant with twins through ivf. Im 7w4days. I have no children, all going well they will be my first

Hi 👋

I'm 42 and just over 37 weeks pregnant now with DD2.
DD1 is 4.5 years old

Hi id like to join although I'm not pregnant 'yet'. I'm 44 in a couple of weeks and all being well, will be having FET in the next cycle 🤞🏼

Hi I'm quite similar...45 and 14 weeks preg, DD is 2...The sickness has been kicking my butt and although it's better it's still coming and going. I would love my guts to calm down. Had a lot of loss before having my DD so even though I know it can work it's still a tough time. Good to "meet" you all! The hardcore crew!!

Ps mumsnet can be really judgy on older mothers!!.

Oooooh can I join? Thanks so much for starting the thread.

I'm 21 weeks and age 47, so possibly win the "oldest pregnant lady" award for the thread!

For us it was a massive surprise, we had no thought of having a baby at all, I would have assumed I was far past that point. We were using pull out method which obviously failed, so here we are.

We have 2 teens already, 16 & nearly 13, so have plenty of experience. I'm more worried about health things really now that we've committed to the pregnancy. NIPT & anatomy scan came back normal which is great but I still worry a lot about my body, risk of prematurity, random rare health things that could be wrong with baby and so on.

Sending solidarity and love to everyone on here, it's a nervous road to travel but hopefully a really rewarding one as well :)

There is an active Late 40s thread here OP if you want to join (not that 45 is late but it's near enough!)

Hi all - great to hear there are lots of us about. It can feel as if everyone (mums) around me is early 30s.
@DejaMooo - we are due at a similar time. My due date is 6 Aug but I’ve elected for a c section as had to have a previous one as DD was breech so it will likely be a week earlier. I was 42 with DD and had a smooth pregnancy apart from GD at the very end and her position. I actually found my C section recovery fine too so am hoping this one is similar. How are you feeling?
@bluebella2 - twins are very exciting! I hope the sickness hasn’t been too bad for you this first few weeks?
@sel2223 - you are really close to the finish line. How are you feeling?
@TTCNO2AT44 - Good luck with your FET. I had my DD and this pregnancy via ivf.
@Babycatsarenice - Sorry you have had a lot of loss. I can relate. I also had morning sickness until 16 weeks in this pregnancy so feel your pain! Last time it went away at 12 weeks so I was annoyed I had an extra month of it. I also feel more tired and am not sure if that’s running round after DD or my age!
@CrepituErgoSum - I also worry about health issues. It helps a bit having DD as I know I got through it last time as an older mum. Really glad your tests were fine and the 20 week scan is a great hurdle to pass. Mine is coming up next week and I feel a bit nervous. Like you say, you will be going into it all with good experience and confidence with the day to day stresses like feeding and sleeping.
@noraheggerty -thanks for the link. Hope all is going well for you.

I was late 30s with my last, but my great great grandmother had seven children after she was 40. The last, my great grandmother when she was 50. They were all fit and well.

@Purplebeach - yes, very close due dates! I also think I'll be brought in to have the baby early. I had low papp-a with my daughter (who's now 4) and have it again. My daughter stopped growing so they induced me and they've said that it may happen again. I've already said I absolutely won't be put through induction ever again - so if there's a risk to my baby I want a c-section. Hopefully I'll have a nice consultant when I see them 😄 ...I just really don't see them letting me go past my due date and letting labour happen naturally.

I'm doing ok though thanks, I hope you are too. In that weird limbo period at the moment where I don't really feel pregnant. Had really bad nausea and so I'm glad that's gone but it was also weirdly reassuring. I've had some losses too and so definitely been a bit more anxious this time round. Looking forward to feeling some kicks soon hopefully!

Somehow I always end up in the hardcore crew, involved in some hair-brained scheme 🤣

@Purplebeach I've been nauseous but not actually sick, I hope it stays that way! I can't cope with illness 😂 I had a scare with bleeding but a scan showed both are still there ❤️

@Purplebeach

Yes, on the home strait now - 37+4 - I'm hanging in there, just, thank you for asking.

Got an ELCS booked in 12 days time but part of me thinks (maybe even hopes!?!) she'll come earlier.

She's dropped now and is partially engaged. I'm having lots of Braxton hicks and pelvic pain, back ache, cramps, pressure and heaviness down below etc. The insomnia is back with avengeance as I'm constantly either needing to get up for the toilet or just struggling to get comfy. I'd forgotten how tough this end bit is.

On paper, this pregnancy has been easier than my first where I had pre-eclampsia and was in hospital at this point but I have found it hard with a 4.5 year old. I've also had sickness and heartburn the entire time this pregnancy as well as severe anemia which causes black outs. It's been pretty exhausting but don't think that's necessarily an age thing.

Anyway, sorry if that sounds like I'm moaning. I do find being pregnant tough but I know how much of a gift it is and can't wait to meet our baby girl.

Wishing everyone on this thread a healthy happy pregnancy

15 weeks here now and praise the lord the sickness has subsidised, I can brush my teeth again without yakking! Hurrah! Now really got to rein it in as have gained a few kg extra in the first trimester. I am now on no sugar to try to avoid gestational diabetes which my doctor said is a risk for me due to age and PCO. It's OK but makes me want to snack on all sorts of other yummy foods instead which are probably just as high in calories!

@Babycatsarenice oh what a relief! When did the sickness start for you? I've been feeling nauseous but so far haven't been sick! I'm 8w1

Finally have a midwife assigned that deals with twins, my booking in appointment is 23rd, Sunday.

Hello,

Hope it's ok if I gatecrash. 45, just had my baby at 37w+3.

@mummytrex congratulations! What did you have? How are things going? X

@bluebella2 thanks! Congratulations to you (and everyone else). May all your pregnancies go smoothly.

I had a little boy. I clearly need lessons changing nappies as he is a little assassin...Very different to changing a girl!

Touch wood all is going well. Relieved the pregnancy is behind me (had gestational diabetes and high blood pressure. Also history of preterm labour which is why i delivered at 37w).

He is my second successful pregnancy, but very much feel like a first time parent - the newborn stage is quite alien to us as my daughter was a micro preemie having arrived at 24 weeks.

Hope the nausea settles asap!

@Babycatsarenice I also have pco. This website was really helpful to me when I did develop gestational diabetes www.gestationaldiabetes.co.uk

Hey everyone, I’m 41 and pregnant with my 3rd, due last week of August. Although a much wanted pregnancy I’ve struggled with regret of having another one at my age when my peers are moving on. Doesn’t help that the pregnancy has made me extremely fatigued. Anyone else feeling this?

@bluebella2 I think it was nausea from 6.5 weeks then sick - not that often but maybe once every day from 8. Everyone is different and every pregnancy is different, I hope yours isn't too bad!

@mummytrex congratulations!! Thank you so much for the GD link, I am going to use it for diet tips, it's a little tricky following a healthy diet for me then cooking all sorts of high cal, carby meals for my toddler! Have to remember not to eat her leftovers! I've been trying to be lower carbs but that's meant I've been higher fat and my digestion is still so sluggish that it's making my tummy upset. Off to buy some lean proteins tomorrow like fish and lean chicken!

@anxious25 yes regrets I started so late. My friends had their kids 10 years ago and have been having tweakments and boob jobs and look amazing now while I've got my head down the loo puking !! On the plus side my relationship is a lot less stressful than a lot of theirs, as we took our time settling down and value each other a lot and I think stability is a good thing for children.

Hey how is everyone doing? @Purplebeach i had a reply to you that I forgot to press send on, I'm sorry for your prior losses too. How are you feeling?
I;m doing well except a bit down about how much weight I gained first trimester which is neither healthy or attractive.