July mamas over 35 - Page 3

[morninglark]

Hi!

I just turned 38. Right before I got pregnant, I was feeling in the best physical shape I have felt since before DS was born. But now, with m/s and fatigue, I haven't been on my swimming regimen, my asthma has ramped up, and my lovely whole-food diet changed. I feel like I went downhill fast. Sigh. I am really disturbed that according to medical professionals we are conciderd "of advanced maternal age." (One reason I don't go to the "medical professionals" for pre-natal/pregnancy care!)

I have decided not to do any of the testing that goes along with the "advanced maternal age". How do you other mamas feel about taking all the tests? Or the pressure to take the tests?

[Pavlovs]

Originally Posted by morninglark

I have decided not to do any of the testing that goes along with the "advanced maternal age". How do you other mamas feel about taking all the tests? Or the pressure to take the tests?

I'm probably not the norm here, but I've actually opted to have an amnio because of my age. I am a natural worrier and just need to know that everything is alright. My son has diabetes, and I just feel like I don't want to get blind sided at the birth of our next child. I opted out of the NT scan because it seems likely to just lead to an amnio anyway, and I don't like the odds game ("your baby has an x out of x chance of having some problem). An NT scan also means going to a different doctor, something I don't feel compelled to do. I really do like my OB - he's a rare doctor, of the ones I've encountered. He's quite skilled and very precautious. In 20 years he's never lost a baby to an amnio. He calls it luck, but I know that he's skilled and won't do the procedure if there are any undo risks - so if the placenta is in a bad position and he feels he can't safely do the amnio, even though I'm ready and lying on the table, he won't do it.

Other than that, I'm not doing other testing because of my age - LOL not even sure if there is any other testing. I had a mostly healthy pregnancy with my first child 4 years ago, and other than being "old" I don't think I'm high risk. My OB is open to conversations about his and my comfort level, so I'll take into consideration anything he throws my way, knowing that if I decline he is comfortable with that.

[pinaymommy]

Thanks veganmama! I did have one early miscarriage this time and I never had miscarriages in my life that I knew of so I guess that does come with age huh?

No testing for me except I have never gotten an U/S before and I think I might this time. The kids are dying to know if its a boy or girl and I have never known with the other pregnancies. I do feel more worry than before. With the other pregnancies I just knew everything was fine. This time I allow myself to wonder about other possibilities. What would I do about it anyway if I found out something was not "right". It would feel too late to turn back anyway.

I think I'll go for an U/S at 18 weeks or so just for sex if the babe will let us in on the secret. I'm also fearful of an U/S because I don't want to end up getting news that causes me to worry for no reason- which does happen.

[ATruck]

Originally Posted by morninglark

Hi!

I just turned 38. Right before I got pregnant, I was feeling in the best physical shape I have felt since before DS was born. But now, with m/s and fatigue, I haven't been on my swimming regimen, my asthma has ramped up, and my lovely whole-food diet changed. I feel like I went downhill fast. Sigh. I am really disturbed that according to medical professionals we are conciderd "of advanced maternal age." (One reason I don't go to the "medical professionals" for pre-natal/pregnancy care!)

I have decided not to do any of the testing that goes along with the "advanced maternal age". How do you other mamas feel about taking all the tests? Or the pressure to take the tests?

I am not doing any of the testing, either. The only things definitive is amnio on up-- everything else seems to lead to false positives and more stress. I am 38, but am seeing a midwife and am not getting any pressure about it. I have no idea why anyone would pressure a woman about it-- should totally be her choice.

[morninglark]

Originally Posted by ATruck

I am not doing any of the testing, either. The only things definitive is amnio on up-- everything else seems to lead to false positives and more stress. I am 38, but am seeing a midwife and am not getting any pressure about it. I have no idea why anyone would pressure a woman about it-- should totally be her choice.

Yeah, I am getting pressure from friends and family--NOT my mw, thank goodness. You know how friends and family can be sometimes...

[veganmama719]

I might do the ammnio because i think it might set my mind at ease. I am a worrier by nature too.
I doubt my MW would pressure me, I haven't seen her yet but they generally don't do that kind of thing.

Don't worry MorningLark, once you are feeling better in the second trimester you can get back into your routine. I stopped running for about 4 weeks but I am getting back into it now.

[MominTN]

We're doing the early screening tests (for Down Syndrome, etc.) just as reassurance but have opted (so far) against the CVS and amnio. For us personally, it is mostly a matter of what we would do with the information. We personally don't feel we would terminate a pregnancy based on what we find out except possibly under the most extreme conditions -- like a known defect that would cause the baby to die soon after birth. On the other hand, I'm not sure we'd trust the results enough to terminate a pregnancy even under those circumstances. The early tests, in our view, server either to reassure us or to begin to prepare us for what is to come with our little one. I do agree there is too much pressure and too much emphasis on our age. My OB, who is wonderful, believes the options for these screenings should be presented to women at all ages but without pressure to do them, just the info and odds, what they do and don't tell you, and all of that.

Crystal

[Mama_Michelle]

I did the first trimester screening and have done it with all of my pregnancies. I realize it is only a screening and not diagnostic but, as with my past pregnancies, the "new" risk assessment based on the NT and blood work put my mind at ease. I have decided not to do an amnio based on my new numbers.

[veganmama719]

MamaMichelle, that is what I ahve done with my previous pregnancies too. And I will probably forgo the ammnio if my resutls are good this time too.

How is everyone feeling? I am still tired and I get bad m/s (all day, worse at night) if I don't take my B6 and Unisom combo but other than that I am good.

I've gained 2 lbs but I usually start out slow and then pack it on! Clothes all still fit but are starting get snug around the tummy.

[majorsky]

I've elected not to do testing except for a level II u/s... For one thing I have a stress case DH, and if the tests come back indicating a potential problem, they are not reliable enough to know for sure if there really is a problem. Then further testing becomes a slippery slope with risks that I'm unwilling to take (except for the nuchal fold measurement, but I'm not convinced it's accurate enough at this time). However, trisomy 18 characteristics can possibly be spotted on a level II u/s, so I realize I may still face the question of whether I should do further testing at that time.

Ultimately I ask myself, "Would I terminate a pregnancy for trisomy 21 or trisomy 18?" Most likely not. So I'd rather skip the tests that might not be terribly accurate for women of my age and try to enjoy an uneventful pregnancy. But that's purely my choice at this point, and each mama needs to make the decision that's best for her and her partner.

Kristin

[lonestarmommy]

I don't think I've posted on this thread yet, but I've been following it.
I'm Amy. I'm expecting #4--EDD July 3. I'll be 37. I can't help but wonder if I'd have more energy if I was 10 yrs. younger. lol.

The only screening that we're going to do is a sono. I'm actually looking forward to sneaking a peek on this little one and we're all anxious to see if when get to find out gender. We decided that since we wouldn't terminate regardless of test results, then we didn't need to do any screenings. We're excited (and a little surprised) to be expecting another baby!

[MominTN]

As for whether we'd have had more energy 10 years ago, I think there are trade-offs that even out. My mom was 16 when I was born. She was glad for me always but said later in life, when I was single and traveling and going to graduate school, that watching me as a young adult, she felt like she had missed a whole lifetime by having me at a young age. On the other hand, she was full of life and energy and only 34 when I graduated from high school! So, she enjoyed some middle age free time for her after my sister and I were gone. She also passed away at age 48 from cancer, and although we can't predict these things, I'm glad I was 32 then instead of 12, like my baby would be if I died at 48.

Then on the other hand, another friend had her first at 40 and adopted a 2nd at 45. She said she was so much more financially and emotionally secure than she would have been in her late teens or early 20s. On the other hand (always...), she complained that she didn't have the energy for her boys that she thought other women did.

So, tradeoffs... and we're all -- young, middle, older -- great mommies.

Crystal

[mags]

I am planning to ask my ob for the nuchal fold test. My first ob appt is this Friday, I have no idea if their office has that equipment or if I would get sent elsewhere. I have been really anxious this time around about the baby being healthy. I don't know if it is a combo of me being older (I will be 36 when baby comes), and/or if it is b/c we have known a high # of ppl who have had children in the past couple of yrs who had serious medical problems and special needs children. I was told that the nuchal fold test is very non-invasive, so I would like to do that, and if there is any question that there might be some issues, I might get an amnio. However, other than the nuchal fold test, the only other test I plan to get as of now is the level II u/s, which I have had with both of my other pregnancies.

[veganmama719]

OK, changing the subject a bit. I had to laugh at myself last night. I am a runner (read: slow jogger). There is a transit strike on here, which is a royal pain. Normally it takes me 10 minutes to get the bus home since I live in a smaller city and live close to downtown.
lately it has been taking between half and hour and an hour to drive home because of all the extra cars on the road.

I needed to run after work last night anyway and quite frankly, my all-day-sickness gets worse as the night wears on. So I came up with the brilliant idea that I would run home from work. Kill two birds with one stone, get my run in early and get home from work without possibly having to sit in a car for an hour.

I figured it would take about 45 minutes, which is about 13 minutes more than I've been running lately but I could take some walk breaks right?

So, I'm feeling all tuff as I leave work last night in my running clothes, my colleagues are all suitably impressed with me, LOL. None of them know I am PG so I didn't get any flack about "are you sure that's Ok for the baby" etc.

It took me 29 minutes. Which is less than I normally run. So I had to run around my block a few times before going in.

Too funny, here I think I'm being very brave and tough.....tee hee.

[pinaymommy]

I just remembered that I don't have health insurance! No medicaid this time either- although Mateo is probably going to get on unemployment because there is NO WORK!! Unbelievable. Anyway- I don't think I want to pay cash for an U/S so since I really have no reason for one- I'll end up letting that one go.

I didn't even think about that until now and here I was contemplating my very first U/S! Oh well-

[Let_It_Snow]

Latecomer to this thread

I'll be two weeks from 39 when baby #3 arrives. Back in 2001, when I lived elsewhere, I was a "young" mom at 31. Where I live now, *that* would have been considered old--for a first-time mom. On the up side, people here have bigger families, so are still having kids at my age (so I'm not totally abnormal).

I'm happy to see the issues discussed here; they are different for more "experienced" women like us.

[JudiAU]

I opted to do CVS this week. We did screening on the first but I am 35 this time around.

I did a lot of research and the risk is much lower now, especially if you go with a very experienced provider. No riskier than an amnio and you find out the results much sooner. My midwife referred me the man who practically invented the practice. He has done 20,000!!

We skipped the nucal fold and related testing. Not very accurate. Actually they check nucal fold during the cvs. I was exactly 11 weeks. (My DD is 7/31).

It didn't hurt and I've had no bleeding. The biggest bummer is that I can't lift LO for a few days.

I have to admit it was pretty cool to see the ultrasound at 12 weeks. Arms and legs are there at 6 cm. My midwife doesn't do them unless really necessary so it was a treat.

Results on Monday. Will also do AFP and a structural ultrasound at 20 weeks. Personally, I want all the information I can get.

[veganmama719]

Good luck to everyone who is doing testing.

I have an u/s this afternoon. I am 12w2d. I am very nervous since I ahve had 2 losses this year. One at 7w and 1 at 10w (but baby had stopped dveloping at 6w). I've already had one positive u.s at 7w2d where we saw a HB so hopefully everything will be OK.

[MominTN]

Good luck with the u/s, Vegan Mama!
Crystal

[veganmama719]

Thanks Crystal, it went great! The baby was bopping around in there and the nucha fold measurement was 1.2. Apparently anything under 2.5 is good!

My DD was sooooooo happy when we told her last night!!! DS said "OK, can I go watch batman now?"