Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

Soooooo.............I'm turning 40 at the end of March.

I always said 40 was my cut-off for any more children. We always wanted 3 kids and we are back and forth with the idea of trying for a third, mostly because I'm really nervous for a third C-section AND I'm so nervous something will go wrong. We have two healthy kids, I feel like going for a third is pressing my luck......especially at this age.

For those who conceived at 40+.......................

1) Did it take long to conceive?

2) Did you have any complications during pregnancy?

3) Was the baby born healthy?

I'm so nervous to try, I feel like it's so much more stress now that I'm basically 40. I'm wondering if maybe I should just stick with two and count my blessings.

Re: Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

Not me, but FIL's wife got pregnant quickly with her first (and only) child at 41 and delivered at 42. FIL was in his late 50s at the time. She got pregnant right away, had an easy pregnancy and her son was born healthy. She ended up with a c-section, but other than that, the delivery was fine.

MIL had her 4th at 40. She didn't have any issues with the pregnancy or delivery.

Good luck!

Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

My aunt had my cousin at 41. Perfectly healthy pregnancy and baby. It was an unplanned pregnancy.

Re: Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

I started trying for my 3rd when i was 39. Had to do iui's finally got pregnant a month before my 42nd birthday. Was my best pregnancy!!! She was born a month early due to a low lying placenta that starting bleeding. She was actually born a premie but had no medical problems.

Re: Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

My friend had an unplanned pregnancy well into her 40s...she already had a daughter in her early 20s! Perfectly healthy pregnancy, delivery and baby.

Good luck

Re: Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

My cousin gave birth to first child at 41 and her second at 46. She conceived the first naturally but had procedures done (IVF I guess, not sure) to have her second. As far as I know both pregnancies were uncomplicated. Her kids are healthy & perfect!

Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

My cousin had her first at 42, second at 45. Absolutely no complications. Baby # 1 was born at 41 weeks, baby # 2 at 39 weeks. Perfect deliveries, healthy babies.

Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

40 is just an age. It doesn't mean you will have trouble getting pg or that it will be a tough pregnancy.

It's more of a norm today. I am 41 trying for my 2nd. I have issues so it's taking a long time but I knew it going in based of how long it took to get my son

Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

I also want to add that I have another friend in her early 20s that had complications during her first pregnancy and had to deliver early.

Age is just a number! Things are diff for everyone at every age.

Re: Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

Thank you so much everyone for sharing. I really appreciate hearing your experiences. It makes me feel a little better about even considering a third!!

Re: Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

Message edited 1/20/2015 9:29:59 PM.

Re: Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

My cousin, who is a dr, had her son at 42. Baby was healthy. I think she was monitored, not because of age, but some pre-existing stuff but her pregnancy was fine.

My cousin's wife just had her fourth son at 41. Large age gap between him and the other three. She had pre-eclampsia and stopped work early to be on bed rest but the baby is totally healthy.

Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

I know a number of women who have had babies in their early forties with no complications at all.

Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

My mother-in- law was 43 when she had my husband, who is now 35. She had a pretty good pregnancy and my husband is healthy as can be.

Re: Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

Both my grandmas had kids in their forties. My mom's mom had my uncle at 44 and my dad's mom had him at 42. I am hoping to have a fourth at 37/38. You just don't know. I wouldn't want to breed false hope but if you have two already then you are clearly at least averagely fertile for your age...give it a shot! I am big believe r that we regret the things we don't do more than the things we do.

Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

My step mother had my sister at 40, 1 year and change after losing twins at 6 months. No complications, no difficulty getting preggo... My sister is a healthy 16 yo now. My aunts bestie had her son at 42, got pregnant 2 months after saying let's try. He is 4 now and was born perfectly healthy.

Re: Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

I don't think it is intellectually honest to say age is just a number. The chance of getting pregnant without assistance at 40 plus is low ( less than 5 percent ? ) We have a limited ovarian reserve that diminishes yearly. The risk of chromosomal abnormalities increases dramatically with age. Down syndrome is 1 in 952 for a 30 year old women. By age 40 it is 1 in 82. That's statistically significant. Your rate of birth defects, gestational diabetes, pregnancy related hypertension ,birth complications are all higher over 40. So while we all have stories where things turned out great that probably isn't the norm for many people. Having said that, there are plenty of people who have beautiful pregnancy and healthy children when they are older. It is a personal choice and if it is right for your family, go for it. I just think it is important to go in with informed consent ,if you will. Knowing the actual risks etc.

Message edited 1/21/2015 9:01:43 AM.

Re: Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

Message edited 1/21/2015 9:06:26 AM.

Re: Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

Message edited 1/21/2015 9:11:01 AM.

Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

Not personally, but I have several friends who have had babies in their 30s. One of my best friends got pregnant at 46 (wasn't trying and never thought it could happen at that age), had a very uneventful pregnancy and has a completely healthy 3 year old. Three other friends have had uneventful pregnancies in their early-mid 40's all resulting in perfectly healthy babies.

Re: Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

My mil got pregnant at 41 with her 4th. Gave birth just after her 42nd birthday! She always said it was her best pregnancy and easiest birth. Completely normal baby!

Re: Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

I have a girlfriend who had her kids at 41 and 44 - no problems at all!

GO FOR IT! What's meant to be will always find a way - I bet you'll try to get pregnant, get pregnant in a jiffy and then you'll realize that it was destined to be!

Look at my parents - they had a girl, then a boy, and many people told them ehh you guys are done! You have one of each!

But my dad, God bless him, just felt like he wanted one more... and my mom was worried sick about having one later on in life... and the age difference too. My brother is over six years older than me and my sister is ten years older than me.

So, they tried and figured - see what happens! And bam, pregnant with me and everything went great... until I was born

And the age difference? Nothing! My brother and sister, growing up, were like second parents to me, and now that we are all adults I am SO close with them. They are my best friends.

Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

The rate of chromosomal abnormalities is higher with age because older eggs have a greater risk of improper chromosome division for several reasons.

Re: Anyone Get Pregnant At Age 40+

Thanks again everyone!!

As it turns out, I think I might ovulate this week SO we decided to throw caution to the wind and just see what happens. If we get pregnant, awesome!!............if not, I am okay with that too. I have two beautiful children and I am happy. A third would be a wonderful bonus but I already feel blessed so I'm OKAY if it doesn't happen.

With my other two it wasn't the easiest road to conceive so I honestly don't know if a third would ever even happen. With my DD I needed Metformin and an IUI. With my DS, it was over two years of IUI's, Clomid, Metformin, injectables, and three miscarriages AND then finally!!!................we conceived him naturally!!! It was crazy.

I had gestational diabetes with both kids but other than that I had normal, uncomplicated pregnancies and my risks for chromosomal abnormalities at the time I was pregnant was ridiculously low, even at ages 32 and 37. So my hope is that should I get pregnant now, right before age 40 and only two years after having my DS, nothing much will have changed and I will have a healthy baby. Fingers crossed.

So for now, we will just see what happens. I'm not going to stress about it and if it never happens I'll be okay. I feel like I'm in a different place mentally and emotionally than I was years ago when I was TTC and at this point in my life, it won't be devastating if I can't conceive again. I understand it might not happen for so many reasons but I think if I don't try at all, I will look back and regret that decision because we always imagined having 3 children.

So until I turn 40 in March, we will try. And then if nothing happens by then it wasn't meant to be and I will just move on happily with my two little blessings. I appreciate you all sharing!!!