Can the mama’s over 40 who conceived naturally please give me hope…

[Wingingitlife]

I’m 41, I’ve been trying to get pregnant since June 2025 when I came off my IUD. (I already have three kids from two pregnancies but my partner hasn’t had any kids). I had one chemical pregnancy the first month we ttc and then nothing since 😞 my partner has had sperm analysis and all is fine. I’ve had lh & progesterone tested at my gp, lh was fine but I haven’t seemed to get the timing quite right with the progesterone, one was fine and one was low. I’m waiting for a referral with the fertility clinic and all they’ve offered so far is a telephone appointment in November. I feel like they aren’t taking me seriously because of my age and the fact I already have kids. I’m considering going private but I’m not sure I want to go through IVF.

so… as the title suggests please give me hope! If you’re over 40 and conceived naturally, please tell me your stories! How long did it take? What did you do?

I think it's luck of the draw. Will your eggs fertilise successfully or not if ttc. I had poor egg number/quality on failed IVFs, and three miscarriages (all natural conception) but also conceived naturally at 37 and 41 and had my beautiful DC. I had an appointment scheduled at a donor egg clinic the morning I got a positive result at 41. Best wishes!!

Had a dc at 43.2..
Gave up tea and coffee
Gave up fizzy drinks..
Lots of veg especially leafy greens.
Took folic acid.
Ttc for 3 cycles only .

Already had dc but dh didn't.

I had 3 children in my 30's (plus 1 miscarriage) and got pregnant first time each time we tried, I didn't do anything apart from have sex. We are very fit and healthy though anyway, exercise, healthy weight, don't drink loads (we do drink some though). I think it's partially down to being healthy and luck.

Then at 42 I accidentally fell pregnant, we had sex once that month and for the first time since we had our 5 year old stupidly threw caution to the wind! I have been having menopause symptoms for nearly 2 years too. I'm due to give birth soon aged 43.

You already have children, how long did it take to conceive them? That probably isn't a good indication with you being with a new partner, there could just be an issue where you can't get pregnant with him, rather than you can't get pregnant. It is mainly just down to luck though, some women will struggle over 40, some women can still get pregnant easily, much like any age really, but biology obviously comes into play once you are the wrong side of 40.

We had our 3rd +40 yo. It wasn't planned though.

I had my second at 41 almost 42 , it took nine months to conceive her (very actively trying , my husband hid a few times 😂) was peremenopausal and was told I had negligible oestrogen from a test. I was very healthy , was taking all the pre pregnancy vitamins but my periods stopped for about 4 months I was devestated . I read an article on how women in perimenopause had periods return after taking high doses of pro biotic I went to my local chemist bought the highest dose I could periods came back within a month , again came month two , pregnant with now 6 year old month 3.

I had two miscarriages at 38/39 then my LO born Feb this year. She's now 7 months and I'm 6 weeks pregnant again. I'm 41 in a couple of weeks. All conceived naturally within about 3 months of trying. It's possible!

I had my first at 40 - totally unplanned pregnancy (had spent all of my most fertile years being on the pill as wanted to wait until everything was perfect before having a baby and for me, that didn’t happen in my 20’s and 30’s).
I became pregnant accidentally at 40 and loved being a mum so much I wanted to have more. I had 3 miscarriages and we decided to stop trying, but I became pregnant at 45 and now have 2 happy and healthy children.
It is possible, although I realise we are supremely lucky - good luck OP!

Took 18 months at 39 then a chemical at 40 after DC 1 then fell pregnant the next cycle with DC2 born at 41 .

I conceived naturally (while not actually trying) at 44y5m on one tube and half an ovary.

I went to the GP feeling tired and thinking my thyroid was playing up, and ds popped up on the ultrasound.

Slightly awkward since I hadn't been in my relationship long and certainly hadn't discussed children, but a lovely surprise and ds is the best ever, now 18.

Lots of fun, lots of sleep and eat healthily. Wishing you the best OP. 😊

2 children in my 30’s. Tried seriously for number 3 from age 41-43. 3 missed miscarriages . So we gave up. Didn’t bother going on any contraception cause of Covid and I use the coil and couldn’t get it fitted and didn’t think I would get pregnant . Got Pregnant 3 months shy of my 45 birthday. Bit of shock but no problems . I think it’s possible it just takes longer and you have more losses.

With partner for 20 years without ever trying for a DC. Decided at 42 it might be worth a go. Gave birth to DS at 44. I suspect we were lucky.

I got pregnant at 42. I take it you’re using a fertility tracker? - I’m sure it made a difference for us. Good luck.

I’ve been wondering about this I’d love another baby but I’m 43.5, all i see is that it’s apparently near impossible but then I think women in the 1930s/40s/50s had babies mid to late forties ?

Are you tracking your ovulation? That is the first thing you need to do. Use the Premom app and the sticks - the app does it all for you.

Being older, your DP’s semen will be better quality if you don’t do the deed every day - aim for every 2 days around ovulation.

The progesterone test needs to be scheduled for 7 days after you have ovulated. If it is over 30 then that’s a good sign.

It’s definitely possible but at 40 you need to be efficient about it all! First step - find out your ovulation day as that’s half the battle! 😊

I had my first at 41 and second at 43. Took about four months trying each time. We didn’t do anything other than have sex a few times a week, I was somewhat aware of my fertile days obviously but we didn’t live by the calendar by any means.
A friend got married at 29 and left it up to the gods. As she hit her 40s they resigned themselves that it wasn’t going to happen when boom! She had her son at 46 (the lad is 24 now). A cousin has PCOS but got pregnant at 45 (by accident as she was told by the doctor at her age and with PCOS she was very unlikely to get pregnant). Her girl is 16 now.
Neither did anything special either as both thought it wasn’t going to happen.
I also have a friend that tried for ten years to get pregnant- her DH had a low sperm count - and we’re just about to start IVF when she got pregnant naturally. She was in her 30s but after that first two more followed (last within a year of her second).

I came off the pill and got pregnant pretty much straight away, had son just after my forty-first birthday. Sometimes it’s just good luck, being fit and healthy and not worrying about it (and good luck)…

I was 42 when I conceived and had my DS. We used the sperm meets egg plan. We had been trying for 3 years before we tried the plan and in a year I got pregnant 4 times and thankfully the last one stuck. Best wishes to you 🌸

Took Pregnacare. Got the shagging in before ovulation, not during it. Instructed DH when to get naked. No being too tired etc… Did not wait for the perfect date, weight, sexy time. Just did it. Lots. Legs up afterwards. Had DS at 44. Didn’t expect the pregnancy to last (previous miscarriage in my 40s) but somehow it did. Pregnancy was great. Child is a joy!