Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. A phone that grows with your child.

Meet the Other Phone.
A phone that grows with your child.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

Original poster

Trying To Conceive baby at 42 years old? Any advice or success stories?

57 replies

ThatGirlx · 14/10/2025 17:26

Trying to conceive baby at 42 years old? Any tips, advice, success stories 👶🏻

I've been tracking my ovulation the last few months and record this via the Clearblue app - which is super handy. My period / ovulation run like clockwork and me & my partner try and conceive everyday single day when I start to show high fertility right through to the 2 days of peak fertility I have a regular 5 day fertility window. I’m healthy, a non smoker, rarely drink and currently taking all the necessary supplements such a Pregnacare Max as well as additional B12, Folic Acid, Vitamin D and 400mg Ubiquinol.

im getting to the point of little hope now but am fully aware of age isn’t on my side and the low percentage of a successful pregnancy comes at my age. I am considering visiting the GP to see if they can offer tests and possibly IVF treatment (when I know stops at 43 on the NHS and you only get one round).

Any advice or tips that I’m not doing will be greatly appreciated 🩷

OP posts:
typicaltuesdaynight · 14/10/2025 22:43

Hi i had my ds at nearly 43 concieved naturally , but had 10 miscarriages before i had him

Original poster
ThatGirlx · 14/10/2025 22:44

PancakePatty · 14/10/2025 19:52

I was only allowed one round of ivf at 40 years old on nhs, the cut off point is 41 years old in my area (no nhs ivf for 41 and over)
Have you conceived before? If not I would suggest a trip to a fertility clinic to get some tests done.
I know plenty posters will be along to say they conceived easily in their forties but it doesn’t happen for everyone. If there is a problem, you don’t have time to lose if you do want to become pregnant.
Good luck.

Thank you 🤍 Do you mind asking if your one round of IVF worked? And how was the treatment for you? In my area they offer IVF up to 43 - so I have a year left, that’s if they put me forward.

I conceived 2 years ago which I am forever grateful for 🤍 but wish for a sibling for him 😢

Exactly like you say every woman is different but I thought it best to get things rolling on the testing side to see what’s actually going on x

OP posts:
MightyMort · 14/10/2025 22:44

ThatGirlx · 14/10/2025 22:41

I’m sorry you have been TTC for over 2 years 😢 it can be really soul destroying and tiresome but don’t give up 🤍 are you using the clearblue ovulation sticks? In my area they allow one course of IVF before hitting 43 - so I have a year if they offer it to me x

Show quote history

Do they still fund an IVF cycle if you already have a child? That’s quite unusual.

Original poster
ThatGirlx · 14/10/2025 22:45

KatRee · 14/10/2025 19:54

When I was doing ivf I read about a small study which showed that higher protein diets yielded much more successful ivf cycles- it was theorised that it improved egg quality, which I understand is the main cause of our fertility decline as we age. There are also studies linking various supplements to improved egg quality, but protein is one you can easily and cheaply control- I think the advice was to eat a minimum of 60g protein a day

Amazing thank you so much ☺️ I will definitely look in to this and will definitely start eating more protein as it won’t hurt x

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatGirlx · 14/10/2025 22:48

Pennyroses · 14/10/2025 20:00

I'm 39 so a little younger but we had been trying a couple of years and my partner was actually diagnosed with a low sperm count. I'm now 19 weeks pregnant and honestly what I think did it? We literally dtd every single day of my fertile window. We decided to just go for it before persuing fertility treatment and it worked! It's the only thing we did different that month so I definitely recommend it (if you have the energy 😂) Good luck! 🤞🏼

Sorry you had been trying for so long but glad you are now pregnant 🤍 Congratulations 🥳 That’s why I thought it best to get things rolling at our doctors and both me & my husband to get tests done. We are currently doing it every day in my fertility window and it does get draining and repetitive 🤣

OP posts:
badjeans · 14/10/2025 22:51

I’d be really surprised if you get NHS IVF when you already have a baby. I don’t know of anywhere that’s policy. Worth checking so you don’t have your time wasted in waiting.

Original poster
ThatGirlx · 14/10/2025 22:55

nettyy · 14/10/2025 20:00

Good luck 💖
I agree with pp that you need to take folate not folic acid. You could have a look at garden of life multivitamin or something similar. Lots of ubiqionol from a good source and make sure Vit D is D3 etc. check all supplements are the best (most biologically available) kind.
Also highly recommend fertility acupuncture. Could also try reflexology.
i would also recommend low stress. Even if that means continuing to try for a baby but also mentally making peace that you might not have one (the true acceptance and letting go often comes with a huge reduction in stress and for many that ends up being just the thing they needed to conceive!)
Also have a look into anti-inflammatory diet. My friend tried for years and then when she did this diet (which is admittedly very strict and limiting) she fell pregnant straight away

Amazing 🤍 thank you so much for your advice 🤍I will definitely get some folate rather than folic acid as wasn’t aware of that. And will look as the garden of life multi vitamins. I’m currently taking the Solgar Ubiqionol and am taking D3. Oooooo yes I completely forgot about fertility acupuncture and reflexology 🤍 I complete understand and agree with taking the pressure and stress off but accepting that it may not happen for it to happen 😊 I will definitely look in to the anti inflammatory diet also. Thank you so much x

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatGirlx · 14/10/2025 22:58

MudandMoet · 14/10/2025 21:19

Hi OP. I started trying to conceive at 40, I did manage to get pregnant but couldn’t hang on to them until I was 43 nearly 44 and then I got my miracle. She’s just turned one and more than the absolute dream we hoped for. I’m not suggesting you do this but I’d actually stopped taking the folic acid, pregnacare max etc a few months before as I’d given up hope but it was almost ingrained in me to still track. The month we got lucky we DTD three days before ovulation, the day before and then 2 days after ovulation. I’d drank more alcohol than usual around that time as we had been away for the weekend too. I also used clearblue ovulation kits and a million cheapies from Amazon. Wishing you the very best of luck.

I’m sorry you had to go through all those years trying 😢 but glad you got your miracle baby 👶🏻 Congratulations 🤍 it’s funny how sometimes we don’t need all these vitamins and tests to make it happen 🤣 I’m glad it worked out for you 🤍 thank you so much 🤍

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatGirlx · 14/10/2025 22:59

Gruffporcupine · 14/10/2025 21:22

My Mum had my youngest sibling at 48. There were a lot of us already and she thought that was it. Total surprise! Understand this isn't the norm but it does happen

Thank you 🤍 your family must have strong fertility genes 💪🏻

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatGirlx · 14/10/2025 23:00

BrunchBarBandit · 14/10/2025 21:32

It was either the drunken valentines night out or the mostly-inebriated weekend away for my 42nd birthday that resulted in DC2. We’d tried for 2 years and we’d come to terms some months earlier with the possibility that we were just too old and had given up - hence all the booze. I’d say we were the least healthy that we’d ever been at that point.

🤣it’s funny, maybe alcohol is the key 🤣 jokes! Maybe it took the stress off? I’m glad it worked out for you in the end 👶🏻🤍

OP posts:
Sarah2891 · 14/10/2025 23:01

badjeans · 14/10/2025 22:51

I’d be really surprised if you get NHS IVF when you already have a baby. I don’t know of anywhere that’s policy. Worth checking so you don’t have your time wasted in waiting.

Yeah pretty sure you can't get NHS IVF if you already have a child.

Original poster
ThatGirlx · 14/10/2025 23:02

Nickynackynoooo · 14/10/2025 22:39

A second vote for fertility acupuncture and a visit to a Chinese herbalist. My sister in law swears they are the reason she fell pregnant at 42 after a year of trying.
Give it a shot, what have you got to lose?
Good luck! 💐

Thank you so much 🤍I will definitely look in to both as completely forgot about these! X

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatGirlx · 14/10/2025 23:03

ChaliceinWonderland · 14/10/2025 22:40

Good luck had my son at 40. Its wonderful, but at 55 I am the oldest mum at parents evenings.....

Aww amazing 🤍 that maybe the case but you probably look younger than most 🤍

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatGirlx · 14/10/2025 23:04

typicaltuesdaynight · 14/10/2025 22:43

Hi i had my ds at nearly 43 concieved naturally , but had 10 miscarriages before i had him

I’m glad you finally got your miracle baby 🤍👶🏻 but so sorry you had to go through so many miscarriages along the way 🙏🏻🤍

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatGirlx · 14/10/2025 23:06

MightyMort · 14/10/2025 22:44

Do they still fund an IVF cycle if you already have a child? That’s quite unusual.

Show quote history

I’m not sure but I’m sure I’ll find out when I visit the doctors. That’s just the info I got from researching my local area x

OP posts:
Original poster
ThatGirlx · 14/10/2025 23:06

Sarah2891 · 14/10/2025 23:01

Yeah pretty sure you can't get NHS IVF if you already have a child.

Show quote history

I’m not sure but I’m sure I’ll find out when I visit the doctors. That’s just the info I got from researching my local area x

OP posts:
MusicalCarbuncle · 14/10/2025 23:11

Sorry to say but you are very unlikely to get NHS IVF if you already have a child.

The good news is you have already conceived and given birth to a child and not that long ago. The main determinant is going to be ovarian reserve and egg quality, and obviously sperm quality but then men can have children into their dotage unlike us women.

Good luck. I’d imagine you stand a fair chance of having another baby naturally.

Snugglemonkey · 14/10/2025 23:33

I became perimenopausal at 36. I had a LOT of ivf, one child at 39, one at 42. My second was conceived via a donor egg. All probably not what you want to hear.

However, my grandmother conceived naturally at 44 and 46 with no issue and then had a wee accident at 54!

It is just so individual!

MusicalCarbuncle · 14/10/2025 23:47

@Snugglemonkey 54??? Bloody hell. Did it result in an actual baby? Are you 100% sure it was her baby and not the baby of one of her daughters ?!?! 54 is really at the very very limits of viability. Wow!

Gettingbysomehow · 14/10/2025 23:50

DSIS had her first at 50. The other DSIS at 45 naturally.
I had mine at 21.
So its quite possible.

User0141 · 15/10/2025 00:01

I did 'everything right' to try to conceive at 39/40 - no alcohol, healthy diet etc etc. Took 12 cycles.

Never tried to get pregnant again. At 45 had sex once in the whole month, outside of what would have been my predicted fertile window, and conceived twins. To say it was a shock.is an understatement. (The pregnancy sadly didn't work out but that was due to a specific rare twin pregnancy complication and not due to my age - babies were genetically healthy).

peanutbuttertoasty · 15/10/2025 00:07

I’d recommend inessa pregnancy vitamins. Worked for my first aged 39 and now trying again. Really comprehensive and high quality, and a nice company

Snugglemonkey · 15/10/2025 00:12

MusicalCarbuncle · 14/10/2025 23:47

@Snugglemonkey 54??? Bloody hell. Did it result in an actual baby? Are you 100% sure it was her baby and not the baby of one of her daughters ?!?! 54 is really at the very very limits of viability. Wow!

Yes, it was my aunt. My mum went to the doctor with her, she was 14. My granny thought she maybe had a tumour because they knew someone else had similar symptoms and she died of ovarian cancer. She was still having periods and had unexplained swelling, nausea, vomiting. It was her 6th baby, so you would think she would know!

There are lots of photos of her pregnant and her 2 v v slim daughters at the time, so I think it is true. Plus, my mum spilled lots of family secrets when she was dying, I think she would have told me if it was not the truth.

Panamanian · 15/10/2025 05:51

ThatGirlx · 14/10/2025 22:34

Aww congratulations 🤍 maybe I’ll try the every other day method maybe. Do you have suggestions on a better quality vitamin? I’ll definitely look in to the natural folate as didn’t know that. I do eat pretty healthy but am guilty of probably no getting enough sleep! As my toddler frequently wakes in the night 😫

Show quote history

Thank you!
I take Biocare Methyl pregnancy multi nutrient, Bare Biology omega 3 and BetterYou vitamin D (based on a consultation with a nutritionist who specialises in fertility/pregnancy).

Neurodiversitydoctor · 15/10/2025 06:21

Snugglemonkey · 14/10/2025 23:33

I became perimenopausal at 36. I had a LOT of ivf, one child at 39, one at 42. My second was conceived via a donor egg. All probably not what you want to hear.

However, my grandmother conceived naturally at 44 and 46 with no issue and then had a wee accident at 54!

It is just so individual!

I do wonder about an accident at 54, natural conception is incredibly unlikely at that age. Could it have been her teenage daughter's child ? What year are we talking ?