I had my first baby at 44 and she is beautiful and healthy. I had no trouble getting pregnant and had an uneventful pregnancy. I had many more doctor's appointments than my younger pregnant friends but it was all for the best. Since you have others kids, you will probably want to line up some extra help for when the baby arrives - family members or a doula.
I have met a couple of women recently that have young children and was shocked to find out that they were each about 45 when they delivered. It truly will keep you young and very tired!! Best wishes!
there have been lots of women that have had healty babies after 40. risk are higher sure. and there are greater chances of down syndrome babies but. u will do fine. get alot of help at home dont stress..u will be very tired. and need the extra help.enjoy..god bless. god dont send babies for no reason..
Congratulations! My mom was 38 when my youngest brother was born. She had a great aunt who was 48 when her youngest was born! My husbands Great Grandmother was 46 when her youngest was born...that baby and my father-in-law were more like siblings than aunt and nephew since they were only about 7 months apart in age! All of the children were healthy and 2 of them are in their 60's now. It sounds like you are very healthy and active yourself and I'm sure this little one will be too.
I had my first (and probably only) baby at 42. My pregnancy was completely uneventful and my baby was healthy. I have not completely ruled out another baby, though it's getting pretty late. I have a friend who had a baby at 46. Two others who each had one at 43. Elizabeth Edwards had hers (twins, maybe?) at 48. If you're healthy, don't worry. You're in plentiful company. Good luck.
My mother in law had a baby (unplanned) at 42... the 'baby' just graduated from high school. Her pregnancy went totally fine with no problems... At this point I would say don't worry so much - with the medical advances now, they are even better at detecting problems, so you will be just fine! Congrats and good luck!
Congratulations! Don't worry! Worry can make you sick! It's awesome that you live such a healthy lifestyle. That alone should be enough to banish your worry, but I know why you do worry. It's because of all that you've heard and read about risky pregnancies. You just need to fill your mind up with positive stories. I finished reading Ina May's Guide to Childbirth by Ina May Gaskin and the first half of the book is filled with birth stories. I do recall that there were at least one or two stories by women in their 40's.
I also wanted to say that my mom is working with a midwife right now (as an apprentice) and the midwife says that she has even done VBAC's for women in their 40's......those VBAC's being after several caesarians. (sp?)
Be confident in your own body! I'm so happy for you!
I have several friends who TRY to get pregnant after 40, and even after 45! They even had a reversal TO have kids after 40! None of them has had any more issues than they had before 40.
The risk is not as great as you may think. It is pretty over-exaggerated. I have had more problems when I was younger and pregnant than I have in my late 30's.
I know a lot more people with problems before 40 than the people I know in their 40's having children.
Worry is going to bring on more problems than just letting nature take its course.
Michelle,
I can't answer for myself personally, but my mom had my youngest brother at 42 via C-section and he was very healthy and probably her happiest kid. He's 21 now! She did say it took longer to recover, but he was #8. She actually wanted to have more children after him, but her Doctor "tricked her into a tubal ligation" while she was under anethesia. She is still upset about that. I just had my second baby at 35 and plan to have another when I'm in my 40s. Why not? A lot of women in the community where I live (Upper Peninsula of Michigan)have babies into their forties. One one my students parents just had a son last year. Her mom was 51 and her dad was 59 years old. OF course all the people that I know of have also taken good care of themselves.
Best wishes for a healthy and happy little one!
Michele S
People have had babies much later in life. My grandmother was born in 1906 and had my mom in 1949. She was 43 and have birth to a healthy baby. Think of all the medical advances since then. Just stay healthy. Do all the testing and try to relax. You being worried doesn't do you any good. I hope and pray everything goes great with you and your pregnancy.
Hi Michelle,
I wouldn't stress about your pregnancy. I am a massage therapist and work with a lot of prenatal mothers. There ages vary from 21 to 54. Yes even 54. The risks are higher but if you are healthy and your babies have been healthy through your other pregnancies you shouldn't be conserned. Your doctor knows and if she was concerned she would send you to a high risk doctor.
Enjoy being pregnant and the new bundle that is coming.
Kathy
Hey Michelle,
Sounds like you're a perfect candidate for a healthy baby - even at 42. I know it can be scary but my advice would be to continue to focus on being healthy have regular check ups with your OB or midwife and try to maintain a positive outlook. I can tell you of a few women I know who've had healthy babies over 40 but the closest one to home for me is my own grandmother. She was 42 when she had my aunt, (who was - and still is perfectly healthy) and this was in 1956 when we certainly didn't have access to all of the medical science we do now. And that was really unplanned - my mom was 19 and her brother was 16! What a joy!
Best of luck with everything!
I had my 1st child, a girl at 39, and had 2 miscarriages trying to get pregnant with the second. When I decided to give up and be happy with 1,boom I was pregnant. Other than gest. diabetes(which I had the 1st time too) everything went great. My son did, however decide to come 4 1/2 wks early, I think due to my own stress over my husband's driving.(long story) I was 43 when he was born Nov.'07 and he's perfect. He was only 5 lbs. 9 oz. but healthy and spent no time in NICU. Everybody's different, But don't worry yourself too much. Good luck an have fun!
I know someone that had one at 49 - and all turned out well. In fact, she always looks so happy. I don't think 42 is as old as it used to be.
Congratulations Michelle! Please don't worry so much about being 42 and pregnant. Last year I became pregnant at 43, and I was afraid, too. Not only had it been 17 years since the birth of my son, I was in not-as-good shape this time around, plus I was taking a strong medication that is not advisable to take during pregnancy, a med I cannot live without. For that reason alone I "knew" I shouldn't have any more children. Well, I got a blessed surprise and I was scared witless for the first couple of months, until I started having tests (ultrasound, etc.) that showed everything was normal. Normal pregnancy, normal and uncomplicated delivery. Fast-forward to today, and here I am with a beautiful and very healthy 11-week-old little girl! So I'm here to say, if I can do it (have a healthy baby at 43) I know you can have a healthy baby as well! Peace! ~melissa :)
my doctors wife had her 5th child at 42 and my daycare lady had her last at 40 she has 7 herself.
My 5th and last child, a girl was born 8 days before I turned 41. I did not undergo any tests because they have their risks and I would have gone through with the pregnancy anyway. I didn't think I could get pregnant because of the timing of my cycle, but a nurse practicianer said as we get older we ovulate earlier in our cycle. I would just try to enjoy the pregnancy, and leave it in God's hands. I know sometimes easier said than done.(After my daughter was born, my husband had a vasectomy.) With my last three I was 37, 38, and almost 41.
Congrats! My husband's mother was born from a 45 year old mother 57 years ago. I also know a 70 year old woman who was born the 15th child to a 45 year old mother, who had at least a couple of other children in her 40's. The odds of a successful outcome are much better than you think. You often hear scary statistics, such as the risk of 'X' is 4 times greater after the age of 35. Well, 4 times greater than 1 in 1000 is still a very low number. Just an arbitrary example, but most of the risks are still pretty low for a healthy woman. Best of luck!
As you are well aware there are serious risks however there are LOTS of success stories of older women having babies. Especially if you a person that takes care of themself and goes to the doctor. My mother in law had her last baby at 41 and she was a beautiful girl with no problems. Best wishes!
hi....found this on the net...hope it helps...the odds are still in your favor..
Researchers have found that the likelihood that a reproductive cell will contain an extra chromosome number 21 increases dramatically as a woman ages. Therefore, an older woman is more likely than a younger one to have a baby with Down syndrome. The National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD) says older mothers account for only about nine percent of all live births each year, but 25 percent of Down syndrome births.
The likelihood that a woman under age 30 will have a baby with Down syndrome is less than 1 in 1,000, but those odds increase with age. Here's a look at how the risk increases, from NICHD:
* under age 30 - less than 1 in 1,000
* age 35 - 1 in 400
* age 38 - 1 in 180
* age 40 - 1 in 105
* age 42 - 1 in 60
* age 46 - 1 in 20
* age 49 - 1 in 12
My sister had her first child at age 41--no problems.
My doula has attended many births where the mom was in her 40s, with usually very good outcomes.
A friend had her two children at ages 40 and 42--both are healthy.
A different friend just had a baby at age 42. He is perfectly healthy, although she was on bed rest for part of her pregnancy (not sure if that had anything to do with her age).
Cherie Blair, the wife of the former prime minister of the United Kingdom, had an unplanned pregnancy at age 45, but delivered a healthy baby boy.
If you are healthy, I encourage you not to focus on your age.