I’m looking for some stories, encouragement or maybe a reality check about getting pregnant at age 42 plus. My husband and I were married when I was 35, but for various reasons including Covid, moving countries, moving house, we didn’t start properly trying for children until I was 38.
At the time, I was hopeful as we were both healthy, I had regular cycles and it seemed like it should be possible for us. It didn’t work right away, but I started tracking my cycles and had the usual medical checks. Everything looked normal and after 11 months of nothing at all happening, I got pregnant. It was a textbook pregnancy and I had my beautiful daughter just after I turned 40.
I wanted to try for a second, and I knew my age would probably work against me so we started TTC again when my baby was 9 months old (I was almost 41). It’s been 11 months since then and, again, there has been no hint of a pregnancy whatsoever. I was hopeful that it might work in a reasonable time as I now know what I’m doing. I track LH spikes and EWCM. I know my expected ovulation dates (usually CD12-14). My luteal phase is 12+ days. I take 200mg ubiquinol, Pregnacare Max, and sometimes Vit C, Vit D and NAC. My husband and I are both at healthy weights and don’t have any medical issues.
I know that this not an ideal time to try to have children, but it is the only time I have so I’m trying to make it work. Everything has crept a year or two later than I planned. I’ll be 42 in October and I’m starting to feel like maybe I missed the boat. I always thought I would either struggle to get pregnant and have no children or it would work and I would have two. I didn’t expect to have an only child and it’s breaking my heart a little.
I feel sad that I might have missed my chance for two by just a year or so. My Mum had my sister at 41 and doing it around 40 seemed possible in my mind. The statistics that you read about pregnancy over 40 sound so awful though. I know they are population statistics and don’t necessarily apply to individuals but it’s hard to ignore them when they are everywhere. I’m going to keep trying for the time being, but I’m starting to lose hope. I know I should feel grateful for the baby I have as so many people struggle to even get one.
My next step is to go back the GP for more checks (probably should have done this before). I don’t think we want to go down the IVF route, but might try IUI if that was suggested. Am I crazy to hope for a second at my age? I know it happens for lots of people but are they just the lucky ones?