Pregnancy At 46.

[Islay]

Has anyone on here gone through a natural pregnancy at 46?
How did you feel and any regrets?

[bednobs]

hi, my last pregnancy was when i was 43. Unfortunately my daughter only lived for 20 minutes, and i sometimes wonder whether it was right for me to go ahead with the pregnancy given the risks. It's still too new and raw for me to make a decision as to whether i have regrets about getting pregnant/continuing the pregnancy. When i had my daughter in 2012 i was a fairly old mum but i have no regrests about becoming a mum to a living child

[bednobs]

this is not "first hand" but when i was a new mum in 2012, at the childrens centre i bumped into a woman who'd had her first at 46, and it cimpletely transformed her life - she had no regrets

[Islay]

Thanks Bednobs, been to the docs today and have been advised its a possibility.
Have had 2 previous pregnancies but they did not go full term, no reason given for that.
Dr's have always stated it was my weight stopping me getting pregnant again now the Dr is stating that is not an issue that I need to make a decision should I prevent it or go with the flow?

[Islay]

A discussion is on the cards with hubby one thinks!

[bednobs]

do you mean you are pregnant or that you are going to try?

[bednobs]

do you know what age your mum was when she had the menopause?

[bednobs]

also meant to add that there is a general trend towards older parents at the moment i think. For example when i drop my child off at school, i don't feel old amongst the other parents (although when i told her her tights wwere a bit "nora batty" today, not one single one of the teachers/parents/ta's knew what on earth i was referring to, and that made me feel old)

[anneasquith]

Personal question I know but, periods normal ?

[Islay]

Am not pregnant at the moment and am really torn about it actually.
Mother was 50plus when she had her menopause - she had a late pregnancy that ended early at 15 weeks she was 48.
Periods are every 6 weeks Annea.

[Peter Pedant]

No I have no regrets at my mother being pregnant at 43 hur hur hur

She was married in 1945 which kinda gives you some idea what was going on and had four children of which I was the last. My eldest brother was 3y 9 m when I was born ( two in between )

atta gurl !

[anneasquith]

Mmmm, interesting issue for you both, good luck .

[chelle7272]

If it is something you want only you can answer whether you want to personally risk it not going to term again. But as far as age goes, I work with 2 women in late 40's who just had babies and are loving being 'older' parents, one was a surprise first child at 45 (she thought it was IBS!) but she adores being a mum now.

[Islay]

Chele - have they considered what will happen regarding retirement etc? We had a plan to retire in our early 50's to live on a Scottish island - and whilst we would be earning money from rentals I am not sure that it would be enough to fund uni etc.
Thank you for all your responses and thank you bednobs for your frankness xx

[Bazile]

Isn't there a greater risk, the older you are of having a baby with abnormalities ?

[Islay]

Baz the Dr said I would be monitored but didn't seem overly concerned.

[Cloverjo]

The possibility of Downs Syndrome always come up in older women's pregnancies.

My sister and my friend both became pregnant in their late 30s, and had to have tests for Downs.

[bednobs]

in medical terms the best time to have a baby is when you are 14/15 i guess. you are now able to get a blood test in early pregnancy that will detect down's syndrome, and then go forward and do what's best for you

[chelle7272]

To be honest Islay I don't know for sure but they haven't spoken of it.
In the end it I suppose it comes down to what you want most. Could you delay retirment if you wanted a child? Could you find some other income without working full time? Although if you have enough to live on that can be enough. Not everyone goes to uni, and there are other ways to fund it if they do. I certainly could never have afforded uni for my son as a single mum, but he was never worried about it :)

[Mamyalynne]

You are offered tests, that's true.

Becoming a parent is always a huge step and I can only wish you well in reaching your decision with good advice.

I was an early birder so no experience of a later pregnancy.

[Islay]

Thanks all for all your help and advice.
BA goes to Bednobs for her complete and utter honesty