Looking for other "mature" moms/moms to be...

[mommystieg]

Originally posted by aprilgail2
All they kept saying was "it would tell if the baby had Downs Syndrom"....my thoughts on that were big deal, if the baby has downs it has downs and I will love the baby and deal with it, I don't need advnace notice about it!

That is exactly how we feel, it doesn't matter what the tests show, we are having this baby. My MIL was 41 when her youngest was born and all this testing was unheard of. I go this afternoon for my first visit with the neonatologist so I will let ya'll know how that goes. Thanks again for all the encouraging words

 

[mommystieg]

Ok, well I'm back now. I have been diagnosed with "Advanced Maternal Age" It is too early to really see much of anything they want to see on the sonogram but he wanted to make sure the baby is measuring at the right size according to the due date. He asked if I wanted to do an amnio and I told him no that we were having this baby no matter what. He still strongly suggested that or CVS testing. I wish they didn't have to talk about all this stuff--it kinda takes the fun out of being pregnant. So far everything looks good and the baby scratched its chin while we were peeking -- aaawww

 

[Mishetta]

How exciting for you!! I'm sorry I didn't respond to your question shortly after my post but YES, I was very tired & thought I was coming down with something. I napped all the time! We were driving somewhere & I was talking to my DH & he said that I stopped in mid sentence & he thought I was thinking of something but when he looked over, he saw that I had fallen asleep!! This was all before I knew I was pregnant too.

I also developed Gestational Diabetes but it was a blessing in disguise, since I went on the diet (didn't need insulin being on the diet) & lost about 30 lbs during my pregnancy. (I was monitored weekly BTW due to the weight loss but everything was fine.)

My first DS took 2 days of labor & 4 hours of pushing. My second DS (surprise baby) took about 3 hours of labor & flew out in 7 pushes!

Advanced material age sounds better than what I've heard it called "Senile Pregnancy!"

 

[Nicsmom]

Congratulations!! I, too, am of advanced maternal age. I'll be 41 next month and am 23 weeks pregnant with my second child. I have a 10 year old DD. I was definitely more tired and sick this time around. I'm much better now. I decided against the amnio also. I had a level 2 ultrasound which looked great. That's good enough for me. I didn't have the AFP because of all the false positives. It would just drive me nuts. Good luck with everything and keep us updated.

 

[las3888]

Congrats to you! I have to say that I found this thread encouraging. I am a month shy of 38 and have just gone through 2 miscarriages in the past 6 mos. We have had some testing done and found I have a clotting disorder. I am on baby aspirin for future pregnancies, and may have to give myself blood thinner (i.e. heparin) injections every day during pregnancy. We don't really know if that caused the m/c's or not, but we are going to keep trying.

My Dr. suggested another test that tells the quality of your eggs (as we all know what happens to our eggs with age). I didn't think it was a big deal, but I read up a bit on it, and if this test comes out poorly, I will be sent to an infertility specialist. From the sounds of it, depending on how bad the numbers are (if they even are bad), they can try IVF, but it isn't all that effective. I am going in for the test tomorrow. I didn't realize it was such a hard-core test and now I'm a little scared to find out.

DH says don't put the cart before the horse and just wait and see what the results are, but I can't help being a little pessimistic, after all, I imagine there is degradation in the quality of anybody's eggs at 38, so I have to prepare for some sort of negative result.

Anyways, it is really nice to hear of all of these pregnancy stories at 37, 38, 39 and even in the 40's. I hope to be posting out here someday about going to WDW either pregnant or with our own child!

Sorry for all the detail - It is just really weighing on my mind. I come to the Disney boards to kind of lift my spirits and think about something else. We are going to WDW in less than 2 weeks - and I can't wait. I just hope we don't have some poor test results b4 that.

Best of wishes and God bless! I hope all comes out okay (PS - my sister at 36 had the CVS...was told the risks were less than amnio, and they tell you almost everything an amnio does, but 1 thing - I can't remember what that was. It can be done sooner also. I was about 2 weeks away from having it and then I had my first m/c).

 

[Nicsmom]

Good luck with the tests. Try to be positive and try to relax. I know you've probably heard this a thousand times. I had a MC five years ago. We gave up on trying. After 8 years, surprise!!

 

[DisneyArk]

Congrats to all of you who are pregnant! I just wanted to add that my mom had my brother when she was 41. My sister and I were in high school when he was born. Trey is 15 now and my parents are having so much fun! Everyone thinks my mom looks so young! I think it is because she was having playdates with moms who were in their 20's when she was in her 40's.

Best of luck on your pregnancies! This is so exciting for you!

 

[roliepolieoliefan]

Just wanted to say, congratulations! I had DS at 32 and DD 1 month shy of my 38th birthday. I opted for the CVS test with DD. The test itself wasn't bad, but I developed hard bleeding afterward. I thought for sure I was miscarrying. OB sent me for an U/S and I had a placenta previa. Serious but relieved I wasn't losing the baby. I cried right there on the table. I know the CVS and the previa are not related but if I had to make the decision again, I don't know if I would have the CVS. Good Luck to you.

 

[twinsmomplusone]

Congratulations on your pregnancy

I was also diagnosed as "advance maternal age" with my first.
I was 38 when dd5 was born.

My b/g twins(2) were born when I was 41. Now that was a surprise. No fertility drugs. Only set in the family.

Found out that twins can be a by product of "Advance Maternal Age"

With my first, I did have the amnio and the usual tests (glucose, bloodwork, and two ultrasounds). Had no problems. She came right on her due date.

With the twins, I would go for a weekly test which was an ultrasound where the technician would measure the amniotic fluid, the blood flow, babies movement and other things. I would have a level II ultrasound once a month.

They were born by c-section at 38 weeks. My water broke at 3:30am on the day I was scheduled for a c-section.

Good luck

 

[snoopy]

I had my boys at 30 and 34 and thought that I would be one of the "older moms" at school, on the soccer field, etc. In reality, I'm actually one of the younger moms -- there are many women who I am associated with both through my kids school and at work and around the neighborhood that were 35+ when they had their kids. Its a different world then when our parents/grandparents were having babies -- these days women are waiting longer to have babies, some by choice, some because of problems with infertility that are eventually helped by science (which again, our parents/grandparents didn't have the benefit of).

Best of luck to those of you more mature women having babies! Be sure to post pictures of your little babes when the time comes!

 

[mommystieg]

Originally posted by las3888
Congrats to you! I have to say that I found this thread encouraging. I am a month shy of 38 and have just gone through 2 miscarriages in the past 6 mos. We have had some testing done and found I have a clotting disorder. I am on baby aspirin for future pregnancies, and may have to give myself blood thinner (i.e. heparin) injections every day during pregnancy. We don't really know if that caused the m/c's or not, but we are going to keep trying.

My Dr. suggested another test that tells the quality of your eggs (as we all know what happens to our eggs with age). I didn't think it was a big deal, but I read up a bit on it, and if this test comes out poorly, I will be sent to an infertility specialist. From the sounds of it, depending on how bad the numbers are (if they even are bad), they can try IVF, but it isn't all that effective. I am going in for the test tomorrow. I didn't realize it was such a hard-core test and now I'm a little scared to find out.

DH says don't put the cart before the horse and just wait and see what the results are, but I can't help being a little pessimistic, after all, I imagine there is degradation in the quality of anybody's eggs at 38, so I have to prepare for some sort of negative result.

Anyways, it is really nice to hear of all of these pregnancy stories at 37, 38, 39 and even in the 40's. I hope to be posting out here someday about going to WDW either pregnant or with our own child!

Sorry for all the detail - It is just really weighing on my mind. I come to the Disney boards to kind of lift my spirits and think about something else. We are going to WDW in less than 2 weeks - and I can't wait. I just hope we don't have some poor test results b4 that.

Best of wishes and God bless! I hope all comes out okay (PS - my sister at 36 had the CVS...was told the risks were less than amnio, and they tell you almost everything an amnio does, but 1 thing - I can't remember what that was. It can be done sooner also. I was about 2 weeks away from having it and then I had my first m/c).

We experienced secondary infertility after DD#1 so I can sympathize with you--it is such an emotional rollercoaster ride. We had a lot of testing done but I guess the only test they ran regarding my eggs was some bloodwork to make sure I had plenty left. DH ended up having surgery for varicocele veins and then I had to take Chlomid. The first IUI didn't work and more bloodwork showed that my progesterone level was too low to maintain a pregnancy. The second attempt was successful. I hope everything works out for you. I will keep you in my prayers. We will also be in WDW in less than 2 weeks--wooo hoooo!!

 

[mommystieg]

"I had a level 2 ultrasound which looked great. That's good enough for me. I didn't have the AFP because of all the false positives. It would just drive me nuts. Good luck with everything and keep us updated."
Nicsmom--that is how I feel about all the testing. I am the kind of person that won't get any peace of mind from finding out. The dr told me that I would be better prepared in the event the baby had Down's. I honestly don't think you are ever really prepared for some events in life. You could have a perfectly healthy child grow up to be a mass murderer. I have seen and read plenty of things on Down's so I have a pretty good understanding of the risks.
"I don't know if I would have the CVS."
roliepolieoliefan - I did a lot of thinking and talking to God yesterday and I have decided that I am not going to do either the amnio or the CVS. God chose this time in our lives to give us this gift so he must have His reasons for whatever happens. All the testing in the world won't change that.

Thanks all for the support. We go back the week after we return from WDW for another level II ultrasound. Keep the posts coming, I love to hear what everyone has to say

 

[Mishetta]

mommystieg ~ that's exactly how we felt regarding those tests. It wouldn't change anything anyway, so why chance even the low percentage risks? I have to tell you though that my OB/GYN was very persistent. What calmed him down was that one day we ran into him at church! I just said to him "now you understand why I'm not even interested in those tests you've offered me?" He smiled, nodded his head & that was it. Then there was no more "pressure."

Good luck to you. Hope everything goes well.

 

[4greatboys]

I was 35 with ds #3 and 37 with ds #4. I just need to say how much I hated the term "advanced materal age". Hello I wasnt that advanced, lol.
We did have secondary infertility as well. Took 4 years to conceive after we started trying and we had a miscarriage. Then we got pg again about a month later which was a wonderful suprise. And to get pg with ds #4 I had to have laser surgery and they actully ended up removing 1 of my fallopian tubes. With the help of charting we ended up pg with ds #4.
I did have amnio's both times, mainly because if something was wrong I need time to prepare for it. I didnt want to be blindsided. But thank God both boys were (are) perfect.
Good Luck with your pg!!

 

[SpecialK]

Had my first at 39 and my second at 41 after two miscarriages. I, too, developed a blood disorder and had to take a baby aspirin daily. That did the trick and DS #2 was born big and healthy.

I was lucky enough to have an ob/gyn who was also a "mom of a certain age." She didn't push the testing after offering it once. My husband and I decided we would just wait to see what God gave us. Heard too many horror stories of false info from both ultrasounds and amnios.

Both pregnancies were uneventful. I never even heard the term "advanced maternal age" until recently. Now I love being an older mom. Very few people ever guess your age correctly when you've got a little one calling you mom...

One downside - it's difficult to lose the baby weight when you're heading toward menopause so soon after giving birth!

 

[Otto's Doll]

My Brother and SIL had their DD as soon as they got married, she was 20 when they found out that, contrary to what they had thought for 20 years, yes, they could get pregnant again! Healthy Levi James was born on December 29, 2003 and is the cutest thing ever seen. He is 21 years younger than my neice. SIL was 41 when he was born, and she spotted for the first 2.5 months. She did have an amnio.. actually 2, because they didn't get enough fluid the first time. Everything went fine, and he is such a blessing. Hope your pregnancy proceeds wonderfully. What a great thing! (but I am still glad it's you and not me )

 

[Cindy'sCastle]

Congratulations and blessings on your pregnancy! I'm 36, turning 37 and have 2-DS15 & DD9. My DH who is 38 has never had children so we are hoping to be blessed with one. It's very encouraging to hear how many people have had or having children later in life.

My aunt was in the same situation, had 2 by a previous marriage & my uncle never had any. They have a son, 12 now and she said it was a great experience, she was older and was more calmer with this child.

Cindy

 

[las3888]

I am really encouraged reading all of these stories of people having children later in life. It is also nice to know you are not alone in having issues in trying to get pregnant or difficulties with pregnancies. It makes me feel I am not alone!

 

[Aroura]

I want to say congrats to you all, and wish you lots of happy healthy babies...

Someone in here (sorry, can't remember who) mentioned that at 36 she was still having "baby cravings"... and this just made me go.. " awwww man!!!"... lol..

I am a mommy to 2 DS's.. ages 6 and 4... and having a bit of baby craving myself... But ( oh please don't get insulted or upset when I say this) I felt that I was getting too old... I am... only 24.... ( 25 in July)... And DH says that we're good with the two we have... ( he will be 29).

My BF is preggers with her second, she is 25, and I am just dying.. and I know that when she has him it will be worse... but I say to myself that I will live vicariously through her, and my DN who will be having a baby in Nov..... But lord... if you guys are still having baby cravings in your mid 30's.. I am in big trouble.... I thought I would get over it... LOL

 

[4greatboys]

Aroura--if you still feel that way in a couple of years maybe you and dh talk more about having another. I firmly believe that you know when your family is complete. After my first 3 I still felt my family was not yet complete. I even had to have surgery to get pg with ds #4. After he was born I did feel that was it. No more kiddo's-my family was now complete. Luckily my dh (who is step dad to my first 2 and daddy to the last 2) felt the same way.